2009 Thuringian state election explained

Election Name:2009 Thuringia state election
Country:Thuringia
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 Thuringia state election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2014 Thuringian state election
Next Year:2014
Seats For Election:All 88 seats of the Landtag of Thuringia
Election Date:30 August 2009
Registered:1,910,074 2.5%
Turnout:1,054,297 (56.2%)
2.4%
Leader1:Dieter Althaus
Party1:Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Leaders Seat1:Eichsfeld I
Last Election1:45 seats, 43.0%
Seats1:30
Seat Change1: 15
Popular Vote1:329,302
Percentage1:31.2%
Swing1: 11.8%
Leader2:Bodo Ramelow
Party2:The Left (Germany)
Leaders Seat2:Erfurt III (won seat)
Last Election2:28 seats, 26.1%
Seats2:27
Seat Change2: 1
Popular Vote2:288,915
Percentage2:27.4%
Swing2: 1.3%
Leader3:Christoph Matschie
Party3:Social Democratic Party of Germany
Leaders Seat3:Jena I (won seat)
Last Election3:15 seats, 14.5%
Seats3:18
Seat Change3: 3
Popular Vote3:195,363
Percentage3:18.5%
Swing3: 4.0%
Leader4:Uwe Barth
Party4:Free Democratic Party (Germany)
Leaders Seat4:List
Last Election4:0 seats, 3.6%
Seats4:7
Seat Change4: 7
Popular Vote4:80,600
Percentage4:7.6%
Swing4: 4.0%
Leader5:Astrid Rothe-Beinlich
Party5:Alliance 90/The Greens
Leaders Seat5:List
Last Election5:0 seats, 4.5%
Seats5:6
Seat Change5: 6
Popular Vote5:64,912
Percentage5:6.2%
Swing5: 1.7%
Map Size:350px
Minister-President
Before Election:Dieter Althaus
Before Party:Christian Democratic Union of Germany
After Election:Christine Lieberknecht
After Party:Christian Democratic Union of Germany

The 2009 Thuringian state election was held on 30 August 2009 to elect the members of the 5th Landtag of Thuringia. It was held on the same day as the 2009 Saarland state election and the 2009 Saxony state election. The incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU) government led by Minister-President Dieter Althaus was defeated. The CDU subsequently formed a grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Althaus resigned after the election due to his party's poor performance, which was far below expectations. He was succeeded by fellow CDU member Christine Lieberknecht, who was elected as the new Minister-President.[1]

Parties

The table below lists parties represented in the 4th Landtag of Thuringia.

NameIdeologyLeader(s)2004 result
Votes (%)Seats
bgcolor= CDUChristian Democratic Union of Germany
Christian democracyDieter Althaus43.0%
bgcolor= LinkeThe Left
Democratic socialismBodo Ramelow26.1%
bgcolor= SPDSocial Democratic Party of Germany
Social democracyChristoph Matschie14.5%

Opinion polling

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
CDULinkeSPDGrüneFDPOthersLead
2009 state electiondata-sort-value="2009-08-30"30 Aug 200931.227.418.56.27.69.13.8
TU Ilumenaudata-sort-value="2009-08-25"10–22 Aug 2009369412315108318
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2009-08-21"17–20 Aug 2009~1,000352518510710
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2009-08-20"18–20 Aug 20091,00034241968910
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2009-08-22"10–13 Aug 200980537232059614
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2009-08-12"7–11 Aug 20091,00034242069710
Forsadata-sort-value="2009-07-29"13–24 Jul 20091,00440241666816
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2009-06-25"19–23 Jun 20091,00036241869712
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2009-05-25"11–13 May 200980136232358513
Forsadata-sort-value="2009-05-19"4–15 May 20091,00540261846614
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2009-05-15"8–12 May 20091,00039252056514
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2009-03-25"18–22 Mar 20091,00036252058611
GESSdata-sort-value="2009-03-10"4–7 Mar 20091,00439251848614
Forsadata-sort-value="2009-01-22"12–16 Jan 200975139281655711
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2008-11-05"21–23 Oct 20088053330185673
Forsadata-sort-value="2008-09-10"25 Aug–9 Sep 20088633732154575
dimapdata-sort-value="2008-07-30"26 Jun–10 Jul 20081,001313120567data-sort-value="0"Tie
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2008-05-08"5–7 May 20081,0003329235554
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2008-04-15"8–10 Apr 20088043329216564
Emniddata-sort-value="2008-03-02"13–27 Feb 2008~50036252445?11
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2007-12-17"10–12 Dec 200780335252554610
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="2008-02-28"Oct 20071,00035262355?9
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2007-08-29"21–22 Aug 20078013629253347
dimapdata-sort-value="2007-07-17"9–13 Jul 20071,00340252444315
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2007-05-24"12–15 May 20078013425265558
Emniddata-sort-value="2007-05-20"30 Apr–16 May 20075163227226665
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2007-02-23"23 Feb 2007?3026286552
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2006-12-15"15 Dec 20068023425275457
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2006-08-28"16–17 Aug 20068103326304343
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2006-03-07"7–8 Feb 200680234242934610
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2006-01-03"12–15 Dec 20058063626273539
Uni Jenadata-sort-value="2005-07-19"Jul 2005~1,0004031154559
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2005-06-06"28–30 May 200580345212045524
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2005-01-24"24 Jan 200580639222344816
IfM Leipzigdata-sort-value="2004-09-30"Sep 2004?41251864616
2004 state electiondata-sort-value="2009-06-13"13 Jun 200443.026.114.54.53.68.316.9

Outcome

Minister-President and CDU leader Dieter Althaus resigned in the wake of the election, stating he took responsibility for his party's losses.[2] However, observers noted that his resignation also helped clear the way for a grand coalition between the CDU and SPD, which was preferred by both parties, and would be easier to manage under new leadership. The only viable alternative to a grand coalition was a government led by The Left with SPD and Green support, which both the CDU and SPD sought to avoid; the CDU because such a coalition would leave them in opposition, and the SPD because of personal animosity between its leader Christoph Matschie and Left leader Bodo Ramelow.[2] Ultimately, a grand coalition of the CDU and SPD was formed under the leadership of the CDU's Christine Lieberknecht, who was elected Minister-President.

Notes

A.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20091019-22675.html CDU and SPD form Thuringia state coalition
  2. Web site: Merkel Loyalist Resigns (Published 2009) . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220828044817/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/world/europe/04iht-germany.html?_r=1 . 2022-08-28 . live .