| 72 Burgenland – Saalekreis | |
| Constituency Type: | electoral district |
| Constituency Link: | Burgenland – Saalekreis |
| Parl Name: | Bundestag |
| Region Label: | State |
| Region: | Saxony-Anhalt |
| Population: | 225,700 (2019) |
| Electorate: | 184,352 (2021) |
| Towns: | Weißenfels Merseburg Naumburg |
| Area: | 1,753.27 km2 |
| Year: | 1990 |
| Party: | CDU |
| Local Council Label: | Member |
| Local Council: | Dieter Stier |
| Blank1 Name: | Elected |
| Blank1 Info: | 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021 |
Burgenland – Saalekreis is an electoral constituency (German: Wahlkreis) represented in the Bundestag. It elects one member via first-past-the-post voting. Under the current constituency numbering system, it is designated as constituency 72. It is located in southern Saxony-Anhalt, comprising the Burgenlandkreis distinct and eastern parts of the Saalekreis district.[1]
Burgenland – Saalekreis was created for the inaugural 1990 federal election after German reunification. Since 2009, it has been represented by Dieter Stier of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).[2]
Burgenland – Saalekreis is located in southern Saxony-Anhalt. As of the 2025 federal election, it comprises the entirety of the Burgenlandkreis district and the municipalities of Bad Dürrenberg, Braunsbedra, Leuna, Merseburg, and Schkopau from Saalekreis district.[1]
Burgenland – Saalekreis was created after German reunification in 1990, then known as Zeitz – Hohenmölsen – Naumburg – Nebra. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was named Burgenland. It acquired its current name in the 2009 election. In the 1990 through 1998 elections, it was constituency 294 in the numbering system. In the 2002 through 2009 elections, it was number 74. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 73. From the 2025 election, it has been number 72.
Originally, it comprised the districts of Zeitz, Hohenmölsen, Naumburg, and Nebra. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election, but without the municipality of Merseburg. Merseburg was acquired ahead of the 2025 election.
| Election | width=125px | Name | width=300px | Borders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 294 | Zeitz – Hohenmölsen – Naumburg – Nebra |
| ||
| 1994 | |||||
| 1998 | |||||
| 2002 | 74 | Burgenland |
| ||
| 2005 | |||||
| 2009 | Burgenland – Saalekreis | ||||
| 2013 | 73 | ||||
| 2017 | |||||
| 2021 | |||||
| 2025 | 72 |
|
The constituency was first represented by Harald Schreiber of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1990 to 1994, followed by Margarete Späte from 1994 to 1998. It was won by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in 1998, and Eckhart Lewering served until 2005, followed by Maik Reichel until 2009. Dieter Stier of the CDU was elected in 2009, and re-elected in 2013, 2017, and 2021.
| Election | Member | Party | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | 1990 | Harald Schreiber | CDU | 45.5 | |
| bgcolor= | 1994 | Margarete Späte | CDU | 43.6 | |
| 1998 | Eckhart Lewering | SPD | 38.6 | ||
| 2002 | 35.5 | ||||
| bgcolor= | 2005 | Maik Reichel | SPD | 31.6 | |
| 2009 | Dieter Stier | CDU | 33.0 | ||
| 2013 | 44.8 | ||||
| 2017 | 34.0 | ||||
| 2021 | 26.3 | ||||