Saarland state election, 2009
Encyclopedia
State elections were held in Saarland on 30 August 2009, the same date as the Saxony
and Thuringia
state elections. The election decided control of the Landtag of Saarland
(Saarland
's parliament).
(CDU) and SPD
were matched by a substantial rise in the Left vote and smaller rises for the Greens and Free Democratic Party
(FDP). Neither the Black–Yellow (center-right) nor Red–Red (center-left/left) coalitions won enough seats for an absolute majority to elect a Minister-President
and form a government. As a result, the Greens held the balance of power. In the end, the Greens chose to support a "Jamaica coalition" (named after the color combination of the Jamaican flag - black, yellow and green) of the CDU, FDP, and Greens, with Peter Müller (CDU) continuing as Minister-President.
of the CDU won a second term in the previous election
. He and his party won an absolute majority of 27 out of 51 seats.
Saxony state election, 2009
State elections took place in Saxony on 30 August 2009, the same day as the Saarland and Thuringia state elections. The election results decided control of the Landtag of Saxony...
and Thuringia
Thuringia state election, 2009
Thuringia held state elections on 30 August 2009, the same day as the Saarland and Saxony state elections. The election established the composition of the Landtag of Thuringia...
state elections. The election decided control of the Landtag of Saarland
Landtag of Saarland
The Landtag of Saarland is the state diet of the German federal state of Saarland. It convenes in Saarbrücken and currently consists of 51 members of four Parties. Currently governed by the minority coalition of Christian Democratic Union and Free Democratic Party that holds only 24 seats, 2...
(Saarland
Saarland
Saarland is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken. It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the city-states...
's parliament).
Results
Significant loses by the CDU Christian Democratic UnionChristian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
(CDU) and SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
were matched by a substantial rise in the Left vote and smaller rises for the Greens and Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
(FDP). Neither the Black–Yellow (center-right) nor Red–Red (center-left/left) coalitions won enough seats for an absolute majority to elect a Minister-President
Minister-President
A minister-president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments, in which a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government prevails, who presides over the council of ministers...
and form a government. As a result, the Greens held the balance of power. In the end, the Greens chose to support a "Jamaica coalition" (named after the color combination of the Jamaican flag - black, yellow and green) of the CDU, FDP, and Greens, with Peter Müller (CDU) continuing as Minister-President.
Prior election
Minister-President Peter MüllerPeter Müller (German politician)
Peter Aloysius Müller is a German politician belonging to the Christian Democratic Union . From 1999 to 2011, he has held the position of Premier of the state of Saarland, serving as President of the Upper House of Germany's federal parliament, the Bundesrat from 1 November 2008 to 1 November...
of the CDU won a second term in the previous election
Saarland state election, 2004
The Saarland state election, 2004, was conducted on September 5, 2004, to elect members to the Landtag of Saarland.-Results:-Post-election:Peter Müller remained Prime Minister and the CDU maintained an absolute majority.-Sources:...
. He and his party won an absolute majority of 27 out of 51 seats.
| Party | Party List votes | Vote percentage | Total Seats | Seat percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Democratic Union (CDU) | 209,690 | 47.5% (+2.0) | 27 (+1) | 52.9% |
| Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... (SPD) |
136,224 | 30.8% (-13.6) | 18 (-7) | 35.3% |
| Alliance '90/The Greens Alliance '90/The Greens Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir... (Grüne) |
24,830 | 5.6% (+2.4) | 3 (+3) | 5.9% |
| Free Democratic Party Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... (FDP) |
22,842 | 5.2% (+2.6) | 3 (+3) | 5.9% |
| National Democratic Party National Democratic Party of Germany The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"... (NPD) |
17,590 | 4.0% (+4.0) | 0 (+0) | 0.0% |
| Family Party Family Party of Germany The Family Party of Germany is a minor conservative German political party . It was created in 1981 and is led since 1989 by pediatrician Dr. Franz-Josef Breyer. It has elected members to several local councils in the Saarland. In the 2005 federal elections, the Family Party received 0.4% of the... |
13,106 | 3.0% (+2.0) | 0 (+0) | 0.0% |
| Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) | 10,240 | 2.3% (+1.5) | 0 (+0) | 0.0% |
| The Grays | 6,285 | 1.4% (+1.4) | 0 (+0) | 0.0% |
| All Others | 821 | 0.2% (-2.3) | 0 (+0) | 0.0% |
| Totals | 441,628 | 100.0% | 51 | 100.0% |
Parties
The following parties are contesting the election:- Christian Democratic Union
- Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
- Alliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
- Free Democratic PartyFree Democratic Party (Germany)The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
- National Democratic PartyNational Democratic Party of GermanyThe National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
- The LeftThe Left (Germany)The Left , also commonly referred to as the Left Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. The Left is the most left-wing party of the five represented in the Bundestag....
- Family PartyFamily Party of GermanyThe Family Party of Germany is a minor conservative German political party . It was created in 1981 and is led since 1989 by pediatrician Dr. Franz-Josef Breyer. It has elected members to several local councils in the Saarland. In the 2005 federal elections, the Family Party received 0.4% of the...
- Free Citizens Union
- Free Voters/Citizens Alliance
- Health is our right (only in the Saarlouis district)
Opinion polling
The following opinion polls have been conducted during the campaign:| Pollster | Date | CDU | SPD | Green | FDP | The Left | Family | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forschungs-gruppe Wahlen | 21 Aug 2009 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 16 | – | 7 |
| Infratest dimap | 20 Aug 2009 | 38 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 3 |
| Infratest dimap | 22 April 2009 | 36 | 27 | 7 | 9 | 18 | – | 3 |
| Emnid | 16 April 2009 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 22 | – | 4 |
| Infratest dimap | 28 Oct 2008 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 23 | – | 3 |
| Forsa | 3 Sept 2008 | 37 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 24 | – | 4 |