Gotha – Ilm-Kreis Explained

191 Gotha – Ilm-Kreis
Constituency Type:electoral district
Constituency Link:Gotha – Ilm-Kreis
Parl Name:Bundestag
Region Label:State
Region:Thuringia
Population:241,200 (2019)
Electorate:190,519 (2021)
Towns:Gotha
Ilmenau
Arnstadt
Area:1,741.2 km2
Year:1990
Party:AfD
Local Council Label:Member
Local Council:Marcus Bühl
Blank1 Name:Elected
Blank1 Info:2021

Gotha – Ilm-Kreis 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 191. It is located in west-central Thuringia, comprising the districts of Gotha and Ilm-Kreis.[1]

Gotha – Ilm-Kreis was created for the inaugural 1990 federal election after German reunification. Since 2021, it has been represented by Marcus Bühl of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).[2]

Geography

Gotha – Ilm-Kreis is located in west-central Thuringia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the districts of Gotha and Ilm-Kreis.[1]

History

Gotha – Ilm-Kreis was created after German reunification in 1990, then known as Gotha – Arnstadt. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1990 through 1998 elections, it was constituency 299 in the numbering system. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was number 193. In the 2009 through 2021 elections, it was number 192. From the 2025 election, it has been number 191.

Originally, the constituency comprised the districts of Gotha and Arnstadt. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.

Electionwidth=125pxNamewidth=300pxBorders
1990299Gotha – Arnstadt
  • Gotha district
  • Arnstadt district
1994
1998
2002193Gotha – Ilm-Kreis
2005
2009192
2013
2017
2021
2025191

Members

The constituency was first represented by Gerhard Päselt of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1990 to 1998. Gerhard Neumann won it for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in 1998 and served a single term. He was succeeded by fellow SPD member Petra Heß from 2002 to 2009. Tankred Schipanski of the CDU was elected in 2009, and re-elected in 2013 and 2017. Marcus Bühl won the constituency for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in 2021.

ElectionMemberParty%
1990Gerhard PäseltCDU46.7
199443.1
bgcolor=1998Gerhard NeumannSPD40.1
2002Petra HeßSPD41.8
200537.2
2009Tankred SchipanskiCDU29.1
201338.3
201729.0
bgcolor=2021Marcus BühlAfD26.5

Election results

2009 election

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constituency Gotha – Ilm-Kreis. Federal Returning Officer.
  2. Web site: Results for Gotha – Ilm-Kreis. Federal Returning Officer.