2002 German federal election explained

Country:Germany
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1998 German federal election
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2005 German federal election
Next Year:2005
Outgoing Members:List of members of the 14th Bundestag
Elected Members:List of members of the 15th Bundestag
Seats For Election:All 603 seats in the Bundestag
Majority Seats:302
Registered:61,432,868 1.1%
Turnout:48,582,761 (79.1%) 3.1pp
Candidate1:Gerhard Schröder
Party1:Social Democratic Party of Germany
Last Election1:40.9%, 298 seats
Seats1:251
Seat Change1: 47
Popular Vote1:18,488,668
Percentage1:38.5%
Swing1: 2.4pp
Candidate2:Edmund Stoiber
Party2:CDU/CSU
Last Election2:35.1%, 245 seats
Seats2:248
Seat Change2: 3
Popular Vote2:18,482,641
Percentage2:38.5%
Swing2: 3.4pp
Candidate3:Joschka Fischer
Party3:Alliance 90/The Greens
Last Election3:6.7%, 47 seats
Seats3:55
Seat Change3: 8
Popular Vote3:4,110,355
Percentage3:8.6%
Swing3: 1.9pp
Party4:Free Democratic Party (Germany)
Last Election4:6.2%, 43 seats
Seats4:47
Seat Change4: 4
Popular Vote4:3,538,815
Percentage4:7.4%
Swing4: 1.2pp
Candidate5:Gabi Zimmer
Party5:Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)
Last Election5:5.1%, 36 seats
Seats5:2
Seat Change5: 34
Popular Vote5:1,916,702
Percentage5:4.0%
Swing5: 1.1pp
Map Size:350px
Government
Before Election:First Schröder cabinet
Before Party:SPD–Green
Posttitle:Government after election
After Election:Second Schröder cabinet
After Party:SPD–Greens

Federal elections were held in Germany on 22 September 2002 to elect the members of the 15th Bundestag. Incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's centre-left "red-green" governing coalition retained a narrow majority, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) retained their status as the largest party in the Bundestag by three seats.

Issues and campaign

Several issues dominated the campaign, with the opposition CDU/CSU attacking the government's performance on the economy which fell back into recession due to the Telecoms crash and the introduction of the euro, as well as campaigning on family values and against taxes (particularly on fuel).

In the run up to the election, the CSU/CDU held a huge lead in the opinion polls and Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Edmund Stoiber famously remarked that "...this election is like a football match where it's the second half and my team is ahead by 2–0."[1]

However, event soon overtook Stoiber and the CDU/CSU campaign. The SPD and the Greens were helped by broad support for its opposition to an invasion of Iraq, continued media attention on the CDU funding scandal and by Gerhard Schröder's personal popularity relative to the opposition's candidate for chancellor, Stoiber.

The SPD was also boosted by Schröder's swift response to the August floods in eastern Germany, as compared to Stoiber, who was on vacation and responded late to the events.[2] [3]

With Guido Westerwelle, leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the FDP presented a chancellor candidate for the first time, usually a title reserved for the main election leaders of the SPD and CDU/CSU. This was met with general derision and Westerwelle was excluded from the chancellor television debate, the first one, against which he unsuccessfully sued.

Contesting parties

The table below lists parties represented in the 14th Bundestag:

NameIdeologyLeadcandidate1998 result
Votes (%)Seats
SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanySocial democracyGerhard Schröder40.9%
CDU/CSUCDUChristian democracyEdmund Stoiber35.1%
CSUChristian Social Union in Bavaria6.2%
GrüneAlliance 90/The GreensGreen politicsJoschka Fischer6.7%
FDPFree Democratic PartyClassical liberalismGuido Westerwelle6.2%
PDSParty of Democratic SocialismSocialismGabi Zimmer5.1%

Opinion polls

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
SPDUnionGrüneFDPPDSOthersLead
2002 federal electiondata-sort-value="2002-09-22"22 Sep 200238.538.58.67.44.03.00.01
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-09-13"9–12 Sep 20021,32640.037.07.07.54.54.03.0
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-09-06"2–5 Sep 20021,47638387845data-sort-value="0"Tie
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-08-30"26–29 Aug 20021,254383978441
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-08-23"19–22 Aug 20021,292383979431
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-08-16"12–15 Aug 20021,068364179435
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-08-09"5–8 Aug 20021,106364169535
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-07-26"22–25 Jul 20021,262364169535
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-07-12"8–11 Jul 20021,031374068543
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-06-28"24–27 Jun 20021,281363979543
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-06-14"10–13 Jun 20021,0183539710544
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-05-31"24–29 May 20021,312354069555
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-05-10"6–9 May 20021,014364168545
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-04-26"22–25 Apr 20021,287364168545
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-04-12"8–11 Apr 20021,000364168545
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-03-22"18–21 Mar 20021,274364068644
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-03-08"4–7 Mar 20021,050374158544
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-02-22"18–21 Feb 20021,191384058542
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-02-08"4–7 Feb 20021,027394048631
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-01-18"14–17 Jan 20021,306384057642
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2002-01-11"8–10 Jan 20021,03839395764data-sort-value="0" Tie
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-12-14"10–13 Dec 20011,254413757644
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-11-15"12–14 Nov 20011,098413857633
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-10-12"8–11 Oct 20011,250413857543
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-09-14"12–13 Sep 20011,031403857552
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-08-24"20–23 Aug 20011,245393768552
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-07-20"16–19 Jul 20011,224413559556
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-06-22"18–21 Jun 20011,237413658555
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-05-18"14–17 May 20011,266413658555
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-04-06"2–5 Apr 20011,264413866543
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-03-16"12–15 Mar 20011,264423766545
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2001-03-14"14 Mar 200139.332.47.510.06.24.67.1
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-02-16"12–15 Feb 20011,207433657547
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2001-02-14"14 Feb 200138.732.88.09.66.14.85.9
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2001-01-24"24 Jan 200139.133.17.39.76.34.56.0
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2001-01-19"15–18 Jan 20011,276413866543
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-12-20"20 Dec 200038.135.27.49.66.03.72.9
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-12-15"11–14 Dec 20001,271413866543
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-11-17"13–16 Nov 20001,259413866543
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-11-15"15 Nov 200037.833.87.49.66.15.34.0
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-10-20"16–19 Oct 20001,294413766554
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-10-18"18 Oct 200038.034.06.99.56.05.64.0
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-09-27"27 Sep 200039.033.17.49.86.24.55.9
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-09-22"18–21 Sep 20001,174403866552
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-08-25"21–24 Aug 20001,219423667546
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-08-16"16 Aug 200039.032.46.910.16.35.36.6
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-07-28"24–27 Jul 20001,255403857552
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-07-19"19 Jul 200037.132.37.111.56.85.24.8
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-06-23"23 Jun 2000383967551
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-06-14"14 Jun 200035.933.07.911.16.55.62.9
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-05-19"19 May 2000403767553
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-04-19"19 Apr 200038.632.08.48.47.15.56.6
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-04-14"14 Apr 2000423666556
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-03-22"22 Mar 200039.831.38.57.97.15.48.5
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-03-17"17 Mar 2000433566558
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-02-23"23 Feb 200040.331.38.07.76.76.09.0
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-02-18"18 Feb 2000423576647
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="2000-01-21"21 Jan 2000394065641
Allensbachdata-sort-value="2000-01-19"19 Jan 200036.937.87.56.36.55.00.9
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-12-24"24 Dec 1999354365748
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-12-18"18 Dec 19993545656310
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-12-17"17 Dec 1999373975662
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-12-16"16 Dec 1999374265645
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-12-15"15 Dec 199932.341.67.56.47.15.19.3
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-12-11"11 Dec 19993445755411
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-12-10"10 Dec 1999364554649
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-12-10"10 Dec 1999364065774
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-12-09"9 Dec 19993445656411
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-12-04"4 Dec 19993247556515
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-12-03"3 Dec 19993344557611
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-12-02"2 Dec 19993445547511
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-11-27"27 Nov 19993148547517
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-11-26"26 Nov 19993246547614
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-11-25"25 Nov 19993347547414
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-11-20"20 Nov 19993148656417
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-11-19"19 Nov 19993245647613
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-11-18"18 Nov 19993346646513
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-11-17"17 Nov 199930.444.76.96.96.84.314.3
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-11-13"13 Nov 19993049656419
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-11-12"12 Nov 19993348546415
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-11-12"12 Nov 19993245647613
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-11-11"11 Nov 19993245557613
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-11-06"6 Nov 19993049656519
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-11-05"5 Nov 19993345547612
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-11-04"4 Nov 19993147547616
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-10-30"30 Oct 19993049558319
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-10-29"29 Oct 19993345547612
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-10-28"28 Oct 19993444548510
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-10-23"23 Oct 19993048658318
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-10-22"22 Oct 19993347647314
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-10-21"21 Oct 19993344548611
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-10-16"16 Oct 19993148657317
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-10-15"15 Oct 19993347646414
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-10-15"15 Oct 19993246556614
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-10-14"14 Oct 19993343648610
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-10-13"13 Oct 199930.844.56.85.97.24.813.7
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-10-09"9 Oct 19993148657317
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-10-08"8 Oct 1999354464659
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-10-07"7 Oct 1999344364769
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-10-02"2 Oct 19993148647417
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-10-01"1 Oct 19993444557510
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-09-30"30 Sep 19993345656512
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-09-25"25 Sep 19993148657317
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-09-24"24 Sep 19993447555413
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-09-24"24 Sep 19993345556612
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-09-23"23 Sep 19993246656514
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-09-18"18 Sep 19993247656415
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-09-17"17 Sep 1999354464659
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-09-16"16 Sep 19993147657416
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-09-15"15 Sep 199932.942.07.26.67.04.39.1
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-09-11"11 Sep 19993346655513
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-09-10"10 Sep 1999354365658
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-09-09"9 Sep 19993148557417
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-09-04"4 Sep 19993246765414
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-09-03"3 Sep 1999354356658
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-09-02"2 Sep 19993345756412
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-08-28"28 Aug 19993247656415
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-08-27"27 Aug 1999354266657
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-08-26"26 Aug 19993247656415
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-08-21"21 Aug 19993247656415
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-08-20"20 Aug 1999364555549
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-08-20"20 Aug 1999354365658
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-08-19"19 Aug 19993445557411
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-08-18"18 Aug 199932.642.27.46.66.05.29.6
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-08-14"14 Aug 19993346656413
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-08-13"13 Aug 1999354365658
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-08-12"12 Aug 19993346556513
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-08-07"7 Aug 19993346656413
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-08-06"6 Aug 1999354365568
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-08-05"5 Aug 19993444666410
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-07-31"31 Jul 19993345756412
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-07-30"30 Jul 1999364366547
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-07-29"29 Jul 19993346566513
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-07-24"24 Jul 19993345756412
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-07-23"23 Jul 1999384455536
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-07-23"23 Jul 1999364264666
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-07-22"22 Jul 19993246566514
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-07-21"21 Jul 199932.643.36.77.05.94.510.7
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-07-17"17 Jul 19993444656510
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-07-16"16 Jul 1999374355646
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-07-15"15 Jul 19993245576513
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-07-10"10 Jul 1999354465559
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-07-09"9 Jul 1999364254666
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-07-08"8 Jul 19993345656512
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-07-03"3 Jul 19993345656512
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-07-02"2 Jul 1999364355567
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-07-01"1 Jul 19993346655513
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-06-26"26 Jun 19993345656512
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-06-25"25 Jun 1999384455446
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-06-25"25 Jun 1999374255565
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-06-24"24 Jun 19993245656613
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-06-19"19 Jun 19993346755413
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-06-18"18 Jun 1999374156564
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-06-17"17 Jun 19993445646511
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-06-16"16 Jun 199935.639.76.67.75.84.64.1
1999 European electiondata-sort-value="1999-06-13"13 Jun 199930.748.76.43.05.85.418.0
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-06-12"12 Jun 1999374365546
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-06-11"11 Jun 1999394166532
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-06-10"10 Jun 19993444655610
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-06-05"5 Jun 19993445656411
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-06-04"4 Jun 1999374166554
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-06-03"3 Jun 19993444566510
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-05-29"29 May 1999364365637
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-05-28"28 May 1999384065652
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-05-27"27 May 1999354356658
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-05-22"22 May 1999354475639
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-05-21"21 May 1999404255442
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-05-21"21 May 1999394065651
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-05-20"20 May 19993343666610
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-05-19"19 May 199937.336.87.87.05.95.20.5
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-05-15"15 May 1999364465549
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-05-14"14 May 1999384066552
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-05-12"12 May 1999344366659
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-05-08"8 May 1999374265645
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-05-07"7 May 1999394065651
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-05-06"6 May 1999354266657
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-05-01"1 May 1999374255655
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-04-30"30 Apr 199939396556data-sort-value="0" Tie
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-04-29"29 Apr 1999374266545
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-04-24"24 Apr 1999354365658
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-04-23"23 Apr 1999403965551
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-04-22"22 Apr 1999384156643
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-04-17"17 Apr 1999364365647
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-04-16"16 Apr 199941415544data-sort-value="0" Tie
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-04-16"16 Apr 1999394065551
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-04-15"15 Apr 1999374265645
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-04-14"14 Apr 199937.637.96.57.55.55.00.3
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-04-10"10 Apr 1999354365658
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-04-09"9 Apr 1999384065652
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-04-08"8 Apr 1999374364556
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-04-03"3 Apr 1999364365647
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-04-01"1 Apr 19993444656510
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-03-27"27 Mar 1999364375637
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-03-26"26 Mar 1999384066552
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-03-25"25 Mar 19993444756410
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-03-20"20 Mar 1999384365535
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-03-19"19 Mar 199941415544data-sort-value="0" Tie
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-03-19"19 Mar 1999394165562
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-03-18"18 Mar 1999354375558
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1999-03-17"17 Mar 199937.038.76.87.45.74.41.7
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-03-13"13 Mar 1999384265544
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-03-12"12 Mar 1999394066541
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-03-11"11 Mar 1999374275545
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-03-06"6 Mar 1999384165553
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-03-05"5 Mar 1999394065551
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-03-04"4 Mar 1999384165553
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-02-27"27 Feb 1999404165441
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-02-26"26 Feb 1999423964453
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-02-26"26 Feb 1999394066541
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-02-25"25 Feb 1999374266455
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-02-20"20 Feb 1999394165542
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-02-19"19 Feb 199940406554data-sort-value="0" Tie
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-02-18"18 Feb 1999384165553
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-02-13"13 Feb 1999384165553
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-02-12"12 Feb 1999403865562
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-02-11"11 Feb 1999384066552
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-02-06"6 Feb 1999403975541
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-02-05"5 Feb 1999413775554
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-02-04"4 Feb 199939396655data-sort-value="0" Tie
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-01-30"30 Jan 1999413965452
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-01-29"29 Jan 1999393876551
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-01-28"28 Jan 199939397555data-sort-value="0" Tie
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-01-23"23 Jan 199940406554data-sort-value="0" Tie
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1999-01-22"22 Jan 1999443764457
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-01-22"22 Jan 1999403865562
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-01-21"21 Jan 1999393875561
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-01-16"16 Jan 1999413976432
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-01-15"15 Jan 1999413676645
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-01-14"14 Jan 1999393775662
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1999-01-09"9 Jan 1999413975442
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-01-08"8 Jan 1999403766563
Forsadata-sort-value="1999-01-07"7 Jan 1999393775572
Emniddata-sort-value="1999-01-02"2 Jan 1999413766554
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-12-19"19 Dec 1998403885542
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-12-18"18 Dec 1998403765573
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-12-17"17 Dec 1998403765573
Allensbachdata-sort-value="1998-12-16"16 Dec 199839.436.37.26.03.1
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-12-12"12 Dec 1998393886541
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-12-11"11 Dec 1998403765573
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1998-12-11"11 Dec 1998443674458
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-12-10"10 Dec 1998383965661
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-12-05"5 Dec 199839397555data-sort-value="0" Tie
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-12-04"4 Dec 1998403766563
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-12-03"3 Dec 1998383975561
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-11-28"28 Nov 1998423775545
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-11-27"27 Nov 1998393676563
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-11-26"26 Nov 199838387557data-sort-value="0" Tie
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-11-21"21 Nov 1998423775545
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-11-20"20 Nov 1998403765573
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-11-19"19 Nov 1998393776652
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-11-14"14 Nov 1998413776544
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-11-13"13 Nov 1998423566567
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1998-11-13"13 Nov 1998443574469
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-11-12"12 Nov 1998393866651
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-11-07"7 Nov 1998423775545
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-11-06"6 Nov 1998413665575
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-11-05"5 Nov 1998393876551
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-10-31"31 Oct 1998413676555
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-10-30"30 Oct 1998393776562
Forsadata-sort-value="1998-10-29"29 Oct 199839396655data-sort-value="0" Tie
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-10-24"24 Oct 1998403687544
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-10-23"23 Oct 1998423566567
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-10-17"17 Oct 1998403687544
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-10-16"16 Oct 1998413566576
Forschungsgruppe Wahlendata-sort-value="1998-10-16"16 Oct 1998443565469
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-10-10"10 Oct 1998423676546
Emniddata-sort-value="1998-10-09"9 Oct 1998423566567
Infratest dimapdata-sort-value="1998-10-02"2 Oct 1998413676555
1998 federal electiondata-sort-value="1998-09-27"27 Sep 199840.935.16.76.25.15.95.8

Results

Although most opposition parties gained seats, and the result was in doubt for most of the election night, the governing coalition retained a narrow majority. In particular, the SPD was able to partially offset declines in their vote share in the West with an increase in the East, with the PDS falling below both the 5% threshold and the 3-seat threshold, either of which is required to qualify a party for top-up seats. Consequently, the PDS held only two directly elected seats.

Results by state

Second vote (Zweitstimme, or votes for party list)

State results in %SPDCDU/CSUGRÜNEFDPPDSall others
33.542.811.47.81.03.5
26.158.67.64.50.72.5
36.625.914.66.611.44.9
46.422.34.55.817.23.8
48.624.615.06.72.22.9
42.028.116.26.82.14.8
39.737.110.78.21.33.0
41.730.33.55.416.32.8
47.834.57.37.11.02.3
43.035.18.99.41.22.4
38.240.37.99.31.03.3
46.035.07.66.41.43.6
33.333.64.67.316.24.9
43.229.03.47.614.42.4
42.936.09.48.01.32.4
39.929.44.35.917.03.5

Constituency seats

StateTotal
seats
Seats won
SPDCDUCSUPDSGrüne
Baden-Württemberg37730
Bavaria44143
Berlin12921
Brandenburg1010
Bremen22
Hamburg66
Hesse21174
Lower Saxony29254
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern752
North Rhine-Westphalia644519
Rhineland-Palatinate1578
Saarland44
Saxony17413
Saxony-Anhalt1010
Schleswig-Holstein11101
Thuringia1091
Total299171824321

List seats

StateTotal
seats
Seats won
CDUSPDGrüneFDPCSU
Baden-Württemberg3942096
Bavaria51257415
Berlin11632
Brandenburg6411
Bremen211
Hamburg7421
Hesse2313154
Lower Saxony3418655
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern321
North Rhine-Westphalia7030151213
Rhineland-Palatinate155523
Saarland5311
Saxony12822
Saxony-Anhalt8611
Schleswig-Holstein11722
Thuringia7511
Total30410880544715

Post-election

The coalition between the SPD and the Greens continued in government, with Schröder as chancellor. However, due to the slim majority in the Bundestag, the governing coalition was not stable.

Further reading

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Jess Smee (17 January 2007), Stoiber quits after snooping row The Guardian.
  2. News: 24 August 2002. Flooding makes a delight out of crisis for Schroder. The Irish Times. 21 July 2021. 19 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210719060510/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/flooding-makes-a-delight-out-of-crisis-for-schroder-1.1093020. live.
  3. News: Looking Back at the 2002 Election. dw.com. 21 July 2021. 21 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721135930/https://www.dw.com/en/looking-back-at-the-2002-election/a-1642902. live.