Märkischer Kreis II explained

149 Märkischer Kreis II
Constituency Type:electoral district
Constituency Link:Märkischer Kreis II
Parl Name:Bundestag
Region Label:State
Region:North Rhine-Westphalia
Population:268,100 (2019)
Electorate:195,816 (2021)
Towns:Iserlohn
Menden
Hemer
Area:611.7 km2
Year:1980
Party:CDU
Local Council Label:Member
Local Council:Paul Ziemiak
Blank1 Name:Elected
Blank1 Info:2021

Märkischer Kreis II 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 149. It is located in southern North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the northern part of the Märkischer Kreis district.[1]

Märkischer Kreis II was created for the 1980 federal election. Since 2002, it has been represented by Paul Ziemiak of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).[2]

Geography

Märkischer Kreis II is located in southern North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the entirety of the Märkischer Kreis district excluding the municipalities of Halver, Herscheid, Kierspe, Lüdenscheid, Meinerzhagen, and Schalksmühle.[1]

History

Märkischer Kreis II was created in 1980. In the 1980 through 1998 elections, it was constituency 123 in the numbering system. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 151. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 150. From the 2025 election, it has been number 149.

Originally, the constituency comprised the municipalities of Lüdenscheid, Altena, Meinerzhagen, Kierspe, Plettenberg, Werdohl, Halver, Herscheid, and Schalksmühle from the Märkischer Kreis district. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.

Electionwidth=125pxNamewidth=300pxBorders
1980123Märkischer Kreis II
1983
1987
1990
1994
1998
2002151
2005
2009
2013150
2017
2021
2025149

Members

The constituency has been held by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) during all but two Bundestag terms since its creation. It was first represented by Günter Topmann from 1980 to 1983. Wolfgang Lohmann of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won it in 1983 and served a single term. Lisa Seuster regained it for the SPD in 1987, and served until 1998. Dieter Dzewas was then representative from 1998 to 2002. Dagmar Freitag was elected in 2002 and served until 2021. Paul Ziemiak won the constituency for the CDU in 2021.

ElectionMemberParty%
bgcolor=1980Günter TopmannSPD51.0
bgcolor=1983Wolfgang LohmannCDU47.0
1987Lisa SeusterSPD47.3
199045.2
199448.8
bgcolor=1998Dieter DzewasSPD52.0
2002Dagmar FreitagSPD49.7
200547.5
200941.0
201341.7
201738.6
bgcolor=2021Paul ZiemiakCDU33.6

Election results

2009 election

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constituency Märkischer Kreis II. Federal Returning Officer.
  2. Web site: Results for Märkischer Kreis II. Federal Returning Officer.