2013 German federal election

none September 2022 Germany parliamentary 2009 German federal election 2009 yes 2013 09 22 2017 German federal election 2017 List of members of the 17th Bundestag List of members of the 18th Bundestag All 631 seats in the Bundestag, including 33 overhang and leveling seats 316 Opinion polling for the 2013 German federal election 61,946,900 ( 0.4%) 71.5% ( 0.7 pp) Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel bei einer Wahlkampfveranstaltung 2013 (Recortada).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Angela Merkel CDU/CSU 33.8%, 239 seats 311 72 18,165,446 41.5% 7.7 pp Next Peer Steinbrück (SPD) (3x4 cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Peer Steinbrück Social Democratic Party of Germany 23.0%, 146 seats 193 47 11,252,215 25.7% 2.7 pp Gregor Gysi (2013).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Gregor GysiGysi was the leading candidate on a list of 8 top candidates appointed by the party congress. The others were Sahra Wagenknecht, Jan van Aken, Dietmar Bartsch, Klaus Ernst, Nicole Gohlke, Diana Golze, and Caren Lay. The Left (Germany) 11.9%, 76 seats 64 12 3,755,699 8.6% 3.3 pp German Greens leadership 2013.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Jürgen Trittin & Katrin Göring-Eckardt Alliance 90/The Greens 10.7%, 68 seats 63 5 3,694,057 8.4% 2.3 pp 13-06-10-dosb-wahlhearing-podium-022 (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Rainer Brüderle Free Democratic Party (Germany) 14.6%, 93 seats 0 93 2,083,533 4.8% 9.8 pp 2021-05-19 AfD Alexander Gauland by Olaf Kosinsky (3x4 cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Alexander Gauland Alternative for Germany Did not exist 0 New party 2,056,985 4.7% New party 2013 German federal election.svg 400px Results of the election. The main map shows constituency winners, and results for the proportional list seats are shown in the bottom left. Government Second Merkel cabinet CDU/CSU-FDP Government after election Third Merkel cabinet CDU/CSU–SPD A federal election was held on 22 September to elect the members of the 18th Bundestag of Germany.http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_13/terminkalender_btw13/ Dates and deadlines for the Election to the 18th German Bundestag on 22 September 2013 The Federal Returning Officer 23 September 2013 Casting of votes as a rule from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. https://web.archive.org/web/20131001182505/http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_13/terminkalender_btw13/ 1 October 2013 dead At stake were all 598 seats to the Bundestag, plus 33 overhang seats determined thereafter. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany/Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CDU/CSU) of incumbent chancellor Angela Merkel won their best result since 1990 with nearly 42% of the vote and nearly 50% of the seats, just five short for an overall majority. The co-governing Free Democratic Party (FDP) failed to meet the 5% vote electoral threshold in what was their worst showing ever in a federal election at the time, the electoral wipeout denying them seats in the Bundestag for the first time in their history. As the CDU/CSU's narrowly missed a majority, and the FDP failed to get any seats, any prospective government was required to be a new coalition. The only possible coalition government excluding the CDU/CSU would have been an all-left-wing red–red–green coalition, since a red–green alliance, similar to the German government between 1998 and 2005, would not have enough seats for a majority. Both the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and Alliance 90/The Greens ruled out governing with The Left that had ruled former East Germany. Ultimately, Merkel's party reached a coalition agreement with the then-main opposition party, the SPD, to form another grand coalition, the third in the country's history since World War II. The SPD leadership conducted a ratification vote by their broader membership before the agreement was made final. This grand coalition was renewed after the 2017 German federal election due to failure during the negotiations of a Jamaica coalition. Background In the 2009 German federal election, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) won the election with Angela Merkel as Chancellor of Germany and Guido Westerwelle as Vice-Chancellor of Germany."German elections: Politikverdrossenheit and rightist fears" https://web.archive.org/web/20130925093510/http://www.lejournalinternational.fr/German-elections-Politikverdrossenheit-and-rightist-fears_a1255.html 25 September 2013 , Katrin Heilmann, Le Journal International, 22 September 2013 Date The date of the federal election is governed by the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany's constitution) and the Federal Election Law (Bundeswahlgesetz). Article 39 of the Basic Law states that the Bundestag shall be elected between 46 and 48 months after the beginning of the legislative period.Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany https://web.archive.org/web/20121103110623/http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/englisch_gg.html 3 November 2012 . Official translation. Retrieved 13 August 2012. As the 17th Bundestag convened on 27 October 2009, the election was scheduled between 27 August and 27 October 2013.Stenographic protocol of the first session of the Bundestag https://web.archive.org/web/20160531121940/http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btp/17/17001.pdf 31 May 2016 . 27 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2012. To avoid school holidays, a date in late September is usually chosen; this made 15 or 22 September 2013 the most likely dates.Dates for elections in Germany https://web.archive.org/web/20170225024313/http://www.wahlrecht.de/termine.htm 25 February 2017 . Wahlrecht.de. Retrieved 13 August 2012. The President of Germany ordered 22 September 2013 to be the election day upon the recommendation of the federal government.Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Bundestagswahl 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150224194740/http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2013/02/130208-Bundestagswahl.html?nn=1892032 24 February 2015 . Website of the German Federal President. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013. Polling stations were open from 8:00 to 18:00. Electoral system According to Article 38 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, members of the Bundestag shall be elected in general, direct, free, equal, and secret elections; everyone over the age of eighteen is entitled to vote.https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_38.html GG - Art 38 www.gesetze-im-internet.de de Basic Law: Article 38 2016-08-18 14 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160814195324/http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_38.html live In 2008, some modifications to the electoral system were required under an order of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. The court had found a provision in the Federal Election Law by which it was possible for a party to experience a negative vote weight, namely losing seats due to more votes, violated the constitutional guarantee of the electoral system being equal and direct.http://www.bverfg.de/entscheidungen/cs20080703_2bvc000107.html Federal Constitutional Court decision on the Federal Election Law 3 July 2008 Bverfg.de 20 September 2013 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054240/http://www.bverfg.de/entscheidungen/cs20080703_2bvc000107.html live The court allowed three years for these changes, so the 2009 German federal election was not affected. The changes were due by 30 June 2011 but appropriate legislation was not completed by that deadline. A new electoral law was enacted in late 2011 but was declared unconstitutional once again by the Federal Constitutional Court upon lawsuits from the opposition parties and a group of some 4,000 private citizens.Decision of the Federal Constitutional Court https://web.archive.org/web/20120819083228/http://www.bverfg.de/entscheidungen/fs20120725_2bvf000311.html 19 August 2012 . 25 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012. Four of the five factions in the Bundestag agreed on an electoral reform whereby the number of seats in the Bundestag will be increased as much as necessary to ensure that any overhang seats are compensated through apportioned leveling seats, to ensure full proportionality according to the political party's share of party votes at the national level.Bill amending the Federal Election Law https://web.archive.org/web/20121224192943/http://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/17/118/1711819.pdf 24 December 2012 . 11 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012. The Bundestag approved and enacted the new electoral reform in February 2013.http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2013-02/bundestag-wahlrecht-beschluss Bundestag: Deutschland hat ein neues Wahlrecht 2013-02-22 Die Zeit de Germany has a new electoral law 0044-2070 2016-08-18 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054549/http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2013-02/bundestag-wahlrecht-beschluss live The Bundestag is elected using mixed-member proportional representation, meaning that each voter has two votes, a first vote for the election of a constituency candidate by first-past-the-posthttps://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__5.html BWahlG - § 5 Wahl in den Wahlkreisen www.gesetze-im-internet.de de Federal Election Act: Section 5 2016-08-18 6 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161006104512/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__5.html live and a second vote for the election of a state list.https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__4.html BWahlG - § 4 Stimmen www.gesetze-im-internet.de de Federal Election Act: Section 4 2016-08-18 6 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161006104554/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__4.html live The Sainte-Laguë/Schepers method is used to convert the votes into seats,https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/glossar/texte/Saint_Lague_Schepers.html Der Bundeswahlleiter www.bundeswahlleiter.de 2016-08-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20160923232232/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/glossar/texte/Saint_Lague_Schepers.html 23 September 2016 dead in a two-stage process with each stage involving two calculations. First, the number of seats to be allocated to each state is calculated, based on the proportion of the German population living there. Then the seats in each state are allocated to the party lists in that state, based on the proportion of second votes each party received.https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__6.html BWahlG - § 6 www.gesetze-im-internet.de de Federal Election Act: Section 6 2016-08-18 6 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161006104513/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__6.html live In the distribution of seats among state lists, only parties that have obtained at least five percent of the valid second votes cast in the electoral area or have won a seat in at least three constituencies are taken into consideration. The minimum number of seats for each party at federal level is then determined. This is done by calculating, for each party state list, the number of constituency seats it won on the basis of the first votes, as well as the number of seats to which it is entitled on the basis of the second votes. The higher of these two figures is the party's minimum number of seats in that state. Adding together the minimum number of seats to which the party is entitled in all of the states produces a total representing its guaranteed minimum number of seats in the country as a whole. In order to ensure that each party receives its guaranteed minimum number of seats when the seats are allocated using the Sainte-Laguë/Schepers method, it may become necessary to increase the number of seats in the Bundestag. Then it must be ensured that the seats are distributed to the parties in line with their national share of the second votes. Additional overhang seats, or balance seats, are created to ensure that the distribution of the seats reflects the parties' share of the second votes and that no party receives fewer than its guaranteed minimum number of seats. Balance seats are also necessary to ensure that each party requires roughly the same number of second votes per seat. Once the number of seats which each party is entitled to receive across the country has been determined, the seats are allocated to the parties' individual state lists. Each state list must receive at least as many seats as the number of constituencies which the party won in the state in question. Chancellor-candidates Although the chancellor-candidates (Kanzlerkandidaten) play a very important role in election campaigns, their office is not regulated in any law, and it is up to each party to determine how, and if at all, to name a chancellor-candidate. The SPD names a chancellor-candidate, while the CDU and the CSU name a common one. The smaller Bundestag parties (the FDP, the Left, and the Greens) usuallyThe FDP named their chairman, Guido Westerwelle, chancellor-candidate in 2002. do not name a chancellor-candidate as it is very improbable for such a candidate to actually be elected chancellor. They instead name one or two persons (Spitzenkandidaten) who are to become the faces of that party's campaign. Although there is nearly no chance for them to win seats in the Bundestag, especially due to the required minimum quota of votes required to be granted any seats, and much less have their candidate become chancellor, fringe parties sometimes name a chancellor-candidate, such as the Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität with its chancellor-candidate Helga Zepp-LaRouche in the 2009 federal election.Die BüSo wird Recht behalten: Weltfinanzsystem kurz vor der Desintegration! https://web.archive.org/web/20130927211203/http://www.helga-zepp-larouche.de/node/118 27 September 2013 . Retrieved 13 August 2012. While a sitting chancellor is usually named chancellor-candidate for his or her own party, the main opposition party's process to determine their chancellor-candidate differs. Most times, such a person is determined in an inner party circle and then anointed in a party convention. As the CDU/CSU is the main government party, CDU chairwoman and incumbent chancellor Angela Merkel was not challenged as chancellor-candidate. In the SPD, the situation was a bit less clear, as there were four candidates in the discussion. While the party chairman Sigmar Gabriel, the parliamentary caucus leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Peer Steinbrück, former minister-president of Nordrhein-Westfalen and former federal minister of Finance, were quasi-official contenders for the candidacy, incumbent Nordrhein-Westfalen minister-president Hannelore Kraft denied interest in the candidacy.Steinbrück, Steinmeier - oder doch Hannelore Kraft? https://web.archive.org/web/20130927201828/http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/Steinbrueck-Steinmeier-oder-doch-Hannelore-Kraft-id20425166.html 27 September 2013 . Augsburger Allgemeine. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012. Gabriel, Steinmeier, and Steinbrück all had a bad electoral record, as they all had led their party into painful defeats in state or general elections. Gabriel and Steinbrück lost their inherited minister-president offices in 2003 and 2005, and Steinmeier failed as a chancellor-candidate in 2009. On 28 September 2012, the party announced that Steinbrück would be the SPD's chancellor-candidate.Steinbrück wird Kanzlerkandidat Steinbrück to be chancellor-candidate de 28 September 2012 28 September 2012 ARD http://tagesschau.de/inland/spd930.html 30 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120930230827/http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/spd930.html live Campaign After taking heat domestically for bailing out other European countries, Finance-Minister Wolfgang Schäuble took the step of mentioning that Greece would need a third bailout. This was in stark contrast to his colleagues who had refrained from making such measures in light of the election, in particularly following Merkel's dismissal of a potential future bailout. In reaction to the statement and the dithering, Peer Steinbrueck of the SPD said that it was "time that Mrs. Merkel tells people the truth", while Jürgen Trittin of the Greens also criticized Merkel.Financial Crisis https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/10255527/Greece-needs-third-bail-out-admits-German-finance-minister.html Greece needs third bail-out, admits German finance minister The Telegraph 20 August 2013 20 September 2013 23 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130823054522/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/10255527/Greece-needs-third-bail-out-admits-German-finance-minister.html live Merkel also became the first chancellor to visit Dachau concentration camp after an invitation by former inmate Max Mannheimer, who leads a survivor group, saying: "What happened at the concentration camps was and continues to be incomprehensible." Merkel also warning of a rising tide of antisemitism and racism as a threat to democracy in Europe. Her visit was welcomed by residents of the town due to its historic nature but was also suggested as a vote ploy ahead of the election.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/08/20138212732885348.html German chancellor visits former Nazi camp - Europe Al Jazeera English 21 August 2013 20 September 2013 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921065621/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/08/20138212732885348.html live She also campaigned on Germany's unemployment record that fell to a two-decade low during her premiership, progress towards a balanced budget, and the Eurozone's advantages for Germany's exports. There were questions asked about her legacy and a potential heir to the party leadership.Czuczka Tony https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/merkel-seeks-mandate-to-top-thatcher-as-third-term-risks-loom.html Merkel Seeks Mandate to Top Thatcher as Third-Term Risks Loom Bloomberg 19 September 2013 20 September 2013 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055443/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/merkel-seeks-mandate-to-top-thatcher-as-third-term-risks-loom.html live Campaigning in the "hot phase"http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2013/09/20139211330063866.html Germany's election campaign draws to a close Sam Bollier Al Jazeera 21 September 2013 22 September 2013 25 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130925025902/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2013/09/20139211330063866.html live ended on 21 September, as Merkel appealed to voters to support her against Eurosceptics.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/09/2013921141238756448.html Germany rivals conclude election campaigns Al Jazeera 21 September 2013 22 September 2013 22 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130922134058/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/09/2013921141238756448.html live Televised debates A 90-minute televised debate between the lead candidates of the CDU/CSU and the SPD, the two leading contenders, was held on 1 September.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/09/20139182555766505.html Merkel to face rival in German TV debate - Europe Al Jazeera English 20 September 2013 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921065625/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/09/20139182555766505.html live The smaller-party top-ranking candidates Rainer Brüderle (FDP), Jürgen Trittin (Alliance 90/The Greens), and Gregor Gysi (The Left) held a separate debate on 2 September.Rösler bleibt FDP-Chef - Brüderle als Spitzenkandidat http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/roesler-bleibt-fdp-chef-bruederle-als-spitzenkandidat-a-878784.html 21 January 2013 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065233/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/roesler-bleibt-fdp-chef-bruederle-als-spitzenkandidat-a-878784.html live Opinion polling Opinion polling for the 2013 German federal election thumb|center|700px|15-point average trend line of poll results from 2 October 2009 to 22 September 2013, with each line corresponding to a political party. 18em CDU/CSU solid 5px CDU/CSU Social Democratic Party of Germany solid 5px SPD Free Democratic Party (Germany) solid 5px FDP The Left (Germany) solid 5px LINKE Alliance 90/The Greens solid 5px GRÜNE Pirate Party Germany solid 5px PIRATEN Alternative for Germany solid 5px AfD In Germany, there are regular opinion polls during the whole of the legislative period. Germany's major polling agencies are Allensbach, Emnid, Forsa, Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, GMS, Infratest dimap, and INSA/YouGov. August 2013 opinion polls suggested that the CDU/CSU and the FDP (black–yellow coalition) would be just short of or just above an absolute majority, rather than the SPD and Greens (red–green coalition), partners in Gerhard Schröder-led government (1998–2005).http://pollytix.eu/pollytix-german-election-trend Average of polling chart by pollytix Pollytix.eu 20 September 2013 21 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054205/http://pollytix.eu/pollytix-german-election-trend live Results results by state and constituency Results of the 2013 German federal election thumb|right|Parliamentary districts won by ■ – CDU ■ – CSU ■ – SPD ■ – The Left ■ – Greens thumb|Results of the second vote by state Only four parties were present in the Bundestag for the first time since the 1987 West German federal election, as the CDU/CSU operates as one Bundestag group. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) scored 42 percent of the vote, their best result since tallying 44% in 1990. Since 15.7 percent of the vote went to parties that fell short of the 5% electoral threshold, the CDU/CSU came up just five seats short of a majority. The Free Democratic Party (FDP), junior partner in the outgoing coalition government, failed to pass the 5% threshold. It also failed to win any directly elected seats, as it has not won any directly elected seats since 1990, shutting it out of the Bundestag altogether for the first time in the party's history. A new Eurosceptic party, Alternative for Germany, nearly won seats but was shut out by narrowly missing the 5% electoral threshold.http://newsok.com/merkel-triumphs-in-german-vote-but-allies-crushed/article/feed/594439 Merkel triumphs in German vote but allies crushed News OK 18 September 2013 23 September 2013 28 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130928095747/http://newsok.com/merkel-triumphs-in-german-vote-but-allies-crushed/article/feed/594439 live Wittrock Philipp http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/conservatives-react-to-success-of-merkel-in-german-election-a-923824.html Conservatives React to Success of Merkel in German Election Der Spiegel 23 September 2013 Spiegel Online 23 September 2013 25 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130925022119/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/conservatives-react-to-success-of-merkel-in-german-election-a-923824.html live Party-list Constituency File:Deutschland Bundestag 2013.svg Christian Democratic Union 14921877 64 16233642 191 255 +61 Social Democratic Party 11252215 135 12843458 58 193 +47 The Left 3755699 60 3585178 4 64 −12 Alliance 90/The Greens 3694057 62 3180299 1 63 −5 Christian Social Union 3243569 11 3544079 45 56 +11 Free Democratic Party 2083533 0 1028645 0 0 −93 Alternative for Germany 2056985 0 810915 0 0 New Pirate Party Germany 959177 0 963623 0 0 0 National Democratic Party 560828 0 635135 0 0 0 Free Voters 423977 0 431640 0 0 New Human Environment Animal Protection Party 140366 0 4437 0 0 0 Ecological Democratic Party 127088 0 128209 0 0 0 The Republicans 91193 0 27299 0 0 0 Die PARTEI 78674 0 39388 0 0 0 Pro Germany Citizens' Movement 73854 0 4815 0 0 New Bavaria Party 57395 0 28430 0 0 0 Democracy by Referendum 28654 0 1748 0 0 0 Volksabstimmung Pensioners' Party 25134 0 920 0 0 0 Pensioners' Party Party of Reason 24719 0 3861 0 0 New Marxist–Leninist Party 24219 0 12904 0 0 0 Party of Bible-abiding Christians 18542 0 2081 0 0 0 Alliance for Innovation and Justice 17743 0 2680 0 0 New Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität 12814 0 17988 0 0 0 Feminist Party 12148 0 0 0 Party of the Non-voters 11349 0 0 0 #EC7113 Alliance 21/RRP 8578 0 5324 0 0 0 Alliance 21/RRP The Violets 8211 0 2516 0 0 0 Family Party 7449 0 4478 0 0 0 Party for Social Equality 4564 0 0 0 The Right 2245 0 0 New German Communist Party 1699 0 0 0 Federation for a Complete Germany 1431 0 0 0 #EDB800 Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei" 624 0 0 New NO! Idea 290 0 0 New #4D4C49 Independents and voter groups 77306 0 0 0 583069 684883 +9 61946900 61946900 Bundeswahlleiterhttps://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2013/ergebnisse/bund-99.html Bundestag election 2013 Results by state Below are second votes (Zweitstimme, or votes for party list), by state.http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_13/ergebnisse/landesergebnisse/ The Federal Returning Officer 24 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130925030833/http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_13/ergebnisse/landesergebnisse/ 25 September 2013 dead State CDU/CSU SPD LINKE GRÜNE FDP AfD Other Baden-Württemberg 45.7 20.6 4.8 11.0 6.2 5.2 6.5 Bavaria 49.3 20.0 3.8 8.4 5.1 4.2 9.2 Berlin 28.5 24.6 18.5 12.3 3.6 4.9 7.6 Brandenburg 34.8 23.1 22.4 4.7 2.5 6.0 6.5 Bremen 29.3 35.7 10.1 12.1 3.4 3.7 5.7 Hamburg 32.2 32.4 8.8 12.6 4.8 4.1 5.1 Hesse 39.2 28.8 6.0 9.9 5.6 5.6 4.9 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 42.5 17.8 21.5 4.3 2.2 5.6 6.1 Lower Saxony 41.1 33.1 5.0 8.8 4.2 3.7 4.1 North Rhine-Westphalia 39.8 31.9 6.1 8.0 5.2 3.9 5.1 Rhineland-Palatinate 43.3 27.5 5.4 7.6 5.5 4.8 5.9 Saarland 37.8 31.0 10.0 5.7 3.8 5.2 6.5 Saxony 42.6 14.6 20.0 4.9 3.1 6.8 8.0 Saxony-Anhalt 41.2 18.2 23.9 4.0 2.6 4.2 5.9 Schleswig-Holstein 39.2 31.6 5.2 9.4 5.6 4.6 4.4 Thuringia 38.8 16.1 23.4 4.9 2.6 6.2 8.0 Constituency seats StateTotalseatsSeats wonCDUSPDCSULinkeGrüneBaden-Württemberg3838Bavaria4545Berlin125241Brandenburg1091Bremen22Hamburg615Hesse22175Lower Saxony301713Mecklenburg-Vorpommern66North Rhine-Westphalia643727Rhineland-Palatinate15141Saarland44Saxony1616Saxony-Anhalt99Schleswig-Holstein1192Thuringia99Total299191584541 List seats StateTotalseatsSeats wonSPDCDUGrüneLinkeCSUBaden-Württemberg40205105Bavaria46229411Berlin156432Brandenburg10415Bremen4211Hamburg7421Hesse2311453Lower Saxony36121464Mecklenburg-Vorpommern7313North Rhine-Westphalia7425261310Rhineland-Palatinate169232Saarland5311Saxony176128Saxony-Anhalt10415Schleswig-Holstein137231Thuringia9315Total33213564626011 Reactions Incumbent chancellor Angela Merkel said: "It was a strong vote to take responsibility in Germany, but also in Europe and the world."https://news.yahoo.com/more-merkel--the-upshot-from-the-german-election-142122721.html More Merkel: The upshot of the German election Yahoo! News 23 September 2013 1 October 2013 Marc Young 27 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130927213246/http://news.yahoo.com/more-merkel--the-upshot-from-the-german-election-142122721.html live Peer Steinbrück announced his withdrawal from top politics and his intention to focus on his ordinary tasks as a member of parliament.http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/press-review-and-news-roundup-on-german-coalition-talks-a-925327.html World From Berlin: Coalition Talks Could Last into January Spiegel Online 30 September 2013 David Crossland 1 October 2013 30 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130930170859/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/press-review-and-news-roundup-on-german-coalition-talks-a-925327.html live Government formation As in the red-baiting and Red Scare campaign ("red socks") during the 1994 German federal election, Merkel scared off that the alternative was a left-wing red–red–green coalition government, since the FDP lost all its seats.Ottens Nick 3 September 2021 https://euobserver.com/opinion/152799 Scholz would be foolish to rule out a left-wing coalition EUobserver 1 October 2021 1 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033935/https://euobserver.com/opinion/152799 live Many SPD insiders did not want to work with The Left. One day after the election, Merkel announced that she had already spoken with the SPD but would not rule out other possibilities.http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/09/201392495038862444.html Germany's Merkel looks for 'grand coalition' Al Jazeera Sam Bollier Sam Bollier 24 September 2013 15 December 2013 15 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115083902/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/09/201392495038862444.html live An opinion poll conducted shortly after the election showed that 65% of SPD members were opposed to entering a Merkel-led grand coalition;https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-spd-poll-idUSBRE98Q0QY20130927 Majority of SPD members oppose coalition with Merkel: poll Reuters 27 September 2013 1 October 2013 Michelle Martin Gareth Jones 6 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200906203441/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-spd-poll-idUSBRE98Q0QY20130927 live however, the SPD executive voted to enter coalition talks 2013-09-29 Germany's Social Democrats agree to talks with Merkel https://www.thedailystar.net/news/germanys-social-democrats-agree-to-talks-with-merkel 2025-11-08 The Daily Star en Agence France-Presse with the proviso that they would seek a vote from their membership before making a final agreement on entering a coalition.http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=17145 Merkel ally attacks left plan to poll members over tie-up Oman Daily Observer 28 September 2013 1 October 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131003143005/http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=17145 3 October 2013 The Greens were open to coalition talks with the CDU/CSU,http://www.dw.de/greens-open-to-coalition-talks-with-merkels-cdu/a-17121330 Greens open to coalition talks with Merkel's CDU Deutsche Welle 28 September 2013 1 October 2013 AFP, dpa, Reuters 29 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130929073958/http://www.dw.de/greens-open-to-coalition-talks-with-merkels-cdu/a-17121330 live but CSU leaders said they opposed a coalition with the Greens.http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2013/09/24/Merkel-camp-eyes-tieup-with-Social-Democrats-shuns-Greens.aspx Merkel camp eyes tie-up with Social Democrats, shuns Greens The Star 24 September 2013 1 October 2013 Annika Breidthardt https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014038/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2013/09/24/Merkel-camp-eyes-tieup-with-Social-Democrats-shuns-Greens.aspx 3 December 2013 dead The Greens announced they would not consider going into coalition with the Left.http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ab5476ac-2406-11e3-b506-00144feab7de.html#axzz2fjUu6AUF Merkel begins search for coalition partner after election win Financial Times 23 September 2013 15 December 2013 30 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172747/https://www.ft.com/content/ab5476ac-2406-11e3-b506-00144feab7de#axzz2fjUu6AUF live Formal talks began in the first week of October when Merkel met SPD leaders on 4 October. She said: "Europe is watching us, the world is watching us. We have the common responsibility to build a stable government." She also planned to hold talks with the Greens the following week.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/10/merkel-set-for-tricky-coalition-talks-201310461129632480.html Merkel, rivals to continue coalition talks Al Jazeera Reuters 4 October 2013 15 December 2013 15 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115155127/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/10/merkel-set-for-tricky-coalition-talks-201310461129632480.html live After five weeks of negotiations that culminated in an all-night session 27–28 November, the CDU/CSU reached agreement with the SPD to form a new coalition government. Issues resolved in the talks included the planned introduction of a minimum hourly wage of €8.50 in 2015 and no new taxes. The deal depended on approval by the SPD rank and file, with a poll set for 6 December.http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-reaches-agreement-to-form-new-german-government-a-935934.html Coalition Deal: Merkel Reaches Agreement on Next Government Spiegel Online 27 November 2013 Daryl Lindsey 15 December 2013 13 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131213193216/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-reaches-agreement-to-form-new-german-government-a-935934.html live https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25116115 Deal reached on new government for Germany under Merkel 27 November 2013 BBC News 15 December 2013 4 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131204190013/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25116115 live https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/world/europe/merkel-and-rivals-strike-deal-on-new-german-government.html?hp&_r=0 German Rivals Reach Pact for Coalition Government The New York Times 27 November 2013 Alison Smale Melissa Eddy 15 December 2013 24 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180924175809/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/world/europe/merkel-and-rivals-strike-deal-on-new-german-government.html?hp&_r=0 live On 14 December, 76% of the SPD's members voted for the coalition to go ahead. The Third Merkel cabinet was sworn in on 17 December.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/12/german-party-clears-way-third-merkel-term-20131214142726226800.html German party clears way for third Merkel term Al Jazeera 15 December 2013 15 December 2013 16 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131216065633/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/12/german-party-clears-way-third-merkel-term-20131214142726226800.html live This grand coalition continued after the 2017 German federal election. See also List of Bundestag constituencies Merkel-Raute – described by The Guardian as "probably one of the most recognisable hand gestures in the world", Angela Merkel's trademark has become a political symbol used by both her supporters and opponents.'Merkel diamond' takes centre stage in German election campaign https://www.theguardian.com/world/german-elections-blog-2013/2013/sep/03/angela-merkel-diamond-german-election-campaign 8 September 2013 The Guardian 3 September 2013 21 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141021230626/http://www.theguardian.com/world/german-elections-blog-2013/2013/sep/03/angela-merkel-diamond-german-election-campaign live Further reading Arzheimer, Kai. "The AfD: Finally a successful right-wing populist Eurosceptic party for Germany?." West European Politics 38.3 (2015): 535–556 online Berbuir, Nicole, Marcel Lewandowsky, and Jasmin Siri. "The AfD and its sympathisers: Finally a right-wing populist movement in Germany?." German Politics 24.2 (2015): 154–178 onlineJanuary 2025 medicmedic. Faas, Thorsten. "The German federal election of 2013: Merkel's triumph, the disappearance of the liberal party, and yet another grand coalition." West European Politics 38.1 (2015): 238–247. Jungherr, Andreas, Harald Schoen, and Pascal Jürgens. "The mediation of politics through Twitter: An analysis of messages posted during the campaign for the German federal election 2013." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 21.1 (2016): 50–68. online Kayser, Mark Andreas, and Arndt Leininger. "A Predictive Test of Voters' Economic Benchmarking: The 2013 German Bundestag Election." German Politics 25.1 (2016): 106–130. onlineJanuary 2025 medicmedic Nuernbergk, Christian, et al. "The German Election Campaign 2013." in The Routledge companion to social media and politics (2015) pp: 419+. Selb, Peter, and Simon Munzert. "Forecasting the 2013 German Bundestag election using many polls and historical election results." German Politics 25.1 (2016): 73–83. Wüst, Andreas M. "Immigration into Politics: Immigrant-origin candidates and their success in the 2013 Bundestag election." German Politics and Society 32.3 (2014): 1–15. online Zeh, Reimar, and Christina Holtz-Bacha. "Internet, Social Medie Use and Political Participation in the 2013 Parliamentary Election in Germany." in Political Parties in the Digital Ages. The Impact of New Technologies in Politics (2015) pp: 43–57. Notes References External links Official voting results from the Federal Returning Officer Germany Federal Category:Federal elections in Germany Category:Angela Merkel Federal