2005 German federal election

A federal election was held in Germany on 18 September 2005 to elect the members of the 16th Bundestag. The snap election was called after the government's defeat in the North Rhine-Westphalia state election, which caused them to intentionally lose a motion of confidence to trigger an early federal election. The outgoing government was a coalition of the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and Alliance 90/The Greens, led by federal chancellor Gerhard Schröder. The election was originally intended for the autumn of 2006. The opposition Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), with its sister party the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), started the campaign with a strong lead over the SPD in opinion polls. The government was generally expected to suffer a major defeat and be replaced by a coalition of the CDU/CSU and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), with CDU leader Angela Merkel becoming chancellor. However, the CDU/CSU ultimately lost vote share compared to its 2002 result, falling to 35%. The SPD suffered losses but finished just one percentage point behind the CDU/CSU, winning 34%. Exit polls showed clearly that neither the SPD–Green nor CDU/CSU–FDP coalitions had won a majority of seats in the Bundestag. The FDP placed third on just under 10% of votes, its best result since 1990, while the Greens suffered small losses. The major stumbling block to a parliamentary majority was the new Left Party, led by Gregor Gysi and former SPD chairman Oskar Lafontaine, which won 8.7% of votes and 54 seats. The CDU/CSU and SPD both rejected cooperation with the Left Party. Both Schröder and Merkel claimed victory, but the formation of a new government required careful negotiations, as no conventional arrangement could achieve a majority. The CDU/CSU sought talks with the Greens, but were unable to find common ground. Discussions ultimately began for a grand coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD. On 10 October, officials from both parties indicated that negotiations had concluded successfully and that they would form a coalition government with Angela Merkel as chancellor. The Bundestag met on 22 November and Merkel was elected chancellor, with 397 votes in favour.

Infobox

Registered

61,870,711 0.7%

Turnout

48,044,134 (77.7%) 1.4pp

Candidate

Gregor Gysi & Oskar Lafontaine

Party

The Left.PDS

Last election

4.0%, 2 seats

Seats won

Seat change

Popular vote

4,118,194

Percentage

8.7%

Swing

4.7 pp

Tables

· Contesting parties

Votes (%)

Name

Votes (%)

Name

Seats

CSU

Name

CSU

Name

Christian Social Union in BavariaChristlich-Soziale Union in Bayern

Name

9.0%

Name				Ideology	Leadcandidate	2002 result
Name				Ideology	Leadcandidate	Votes (%)	Seats
	SPD		Social Democratic Party of GermanySozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands	Social democracy	Gerhard Schröder	38.5%	251 / 603
	CDU/CSU	CDU	Christian Democratic Union of GermanyChristlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands	Christian democracy	Angela Merkel	29.5%	248 / 603
	CDU/CSU	CSU	Christian Social Union in BavariaChristlich-Soziale Union in Bayern	Christian democracy	Angela Merkel	9.0%	248 / 603
	Grüne		Alliance 90/The GreensBündnis 90/Die Grünen	Green politics	Joschka Fischer	8.6%	55 / 603
	FDP		Free Democratic PartyFreie Demokratische Partei	Classical liberalism	Guido Westerwelle	7.4%	47 / 603
	Linke		The Left Party.PDSDie Linkspartei.PDS	Democratic socialism	Gregor Gysi &Oskar Lafontaine	4.0%	2 / 603

· Opinion polls

2005 federal election

Polling firm

2005 federal election

Fieldwork date

18 Sep 2005

Samplesize

–

SPD

34.2

Union

35.2

Grüne

8.1

FDP

9.8

Linke

8.7

Others

4.0

Lead

1.0

Allensbach

Polling firm

Allensbach

Fieldwork date

10–15 Sep 2005

Samplesize

1,682

SPD

32.5

Union

41.5

Grüne

7.0

FDP

8.0

Linke

8.5

Others

2.5

Lead

9.0

Forsa

Polling firm

Forsa

Fieldwork date

12–16 Sep 2005

Samplesize

2,004

SPD

32−34

Union

41−43

Grüne

6−7

FDP

7−8

Linke

7−8

Others

−

Lead

7−11

Emnid

Polling firm

Emnid

Fieldwork date

9–12 Sep 2005

Samplesize

~2,000

SPD

33.5

Union

42.0

Grüne

7.0

FDP

6.5

Linke

8.0

Others

3.0

Lead

8.5

GMS

Polling firm

GMS

Fieldwork date

7–10 Sep 2005

Samplesize

1,008

SPD

Union

Grüne

FDP

Linke

Others

Lead

TNS Forschung

Polling firm

TNS Forschung

Fieldwork date

6–7 Sep 2005

Samplesize

1,000

SPD

Union

Grüne

FDP

6.5

Linke

8.5

Others

Lead

Forschungsgruppe Wahlen

Polling firm

Forschungsgruppe Wahlen

Fieldwork date

6–8 Sep 2005

Samplesize

1,299

SPD

Union

Grüne

FDP

Linke

Others

Lead

2002 federal election

Polling firm

2002 federal election

Fieldwork date

22 Sep 2002

Samplesize

–

SPD

38.5

Union

38.5

Grüne

8.6

FDP

7.4

Linke

4.0

Others

3.0

Lead

0.01

Polling firm	Fieldwork date	Samplesize	SPD	Union	Grüne	FDP	Linke	Others	Lead
Polling firm	Fieldwork date	Samplesize	2005 federal election	18 Sep 2005	–	34.2	35.2	Others	Lead	8.1	9.8	8.7	4.0	1.0
Allensbach	10–15 Sep 2005	1,682	32.5	41.5	7.0	8.0	8.5	2.5	9.0
Forsa	12–16 Sep 2005	2,004	32−34	41−43	6−7	7−8	7−8	−	7−11
Emnid	9–12 Sep 2005	~2,000	33.5	42.0	7.0	6.5	8.0	3.0	8.5
GMS	7–10 Sep 2005	1,008	33	42	8	8	8	3	9
TNS Forschung	6–7 Sep 2005	1,000	34	41	7	6.5	8.5	3	7
Forschungsgruppe Wahlen	6–8 Sep 2005	1,299	34	41	7	7	8	3	7
2002 federal election	22 Sep 2002	–	38.5	38.5	8.6	7.4	4.0	3.0	0.01

· Results

Party

Col 1

Party

Col 2

Party-list

Col 3

Constituency

Col 4

Totalseats

Col 5

+/–

Votes

Col 1

Votes

Col 2

Col 3

Seats

Col 4

Votes

Col 5

Col 6

Seats

Total

Col 1

Total

Col 2

47,287,988

Col 3

100.00

Col 4

315

Col 5

47,194,062

Col 6

100.00

Col 7

299

Col 8

614

Col 9

+11

Valid votes

Col 1

Valid votes

Col 2

47,287,988

Col 3

98.43

Col 5

47,194,062

Col 6

98.23

Invalid/blank votes

Col 1

Invalid/blank votes

Col 2

756,146

Col 3

1.57

Col 5

850,072

Col 6

1.77

Total votes

Col 1

Total votes

Col 2

48,044,134

Col 3

100.00

Col 5

48,044,134

Col 6

100.00

Registered voters/turnout

Col 1

Registered voters/turnout

Col 2

61,870,711

Col 3

77.65

Col 5

61,870,711

Col 6

77.65


Party		Party-list			Constituency			Totalseats	+/–
Party		Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Totalseats	+/–
	Social Democratic Party	16,194,665	34.25	77	18,129,100	38.41	145	222	−29
	Christian Democratic Union	13,136,740	27.78	74	15,390,950	32.61	106	180	−10
	Free Democratic Party	4,648,144	9.83	61	2,208,531	4.68	0	61	+14
	The Left Party.PDS	4,118,194	8.71	51	3,764,168	7.98	3	54	+52
	Alliance 90/The Greens	3,838,326	8.12	50	2,538,913	5.38	1	51	−4
	Christian Social Union	3,494,309	7.39	2	3,889,990	8.24	44	46	−12
	National Democratic Party	748,568	1.58	0	857,777	1.82	0	0	0
	The Republicans	266,101	0.56	0	38,678	0.08	0	0	0
	The Grays – Gray Panthers	198,601	0.42	0	6,340	0.01	0	0	0
	Family Party	191,842	0.41	0	76,064	0.16	0	0	0
	Human Environment Animal Protection Party	110,603	0.23	0	7,341	0.02	0	0	0
	Party of Bible-abiding Christians	108,605	0.23	0	57,027	0.12	0	0	0
	Marxist–Leninist Party	45,238	0.10	0	16,480	0.03	0	0	0
	Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität	35,649	0.08	0	40,984	0.09	0	0	0
	Bavaria Party	35,543	0.08	0	16,047	0.03	0	0	0
	Feminist Party	27,497	0.06	0	1,327	0.00	0	0	0
	Alliance for Health, Peace and Social Justice	21,350	0.05	0	570	0.00	0	0	New
	Party for Social Equality	15,605	0.03	0				0	0
	50Plus	10,536	0.02	0				0	New
	Die PARTEI	10,379	0.02	0	6,923	0.01	0	0	New
	Pro DM	10,269	0.02	0				0	0
	Alliance for Germany	9,643	0.02	0	1,473	0.00	0	0	0
	Anarchist Pogo Party	4,233	0.01	0	3,018	0.01	0	0	0
	Centre Party	4,010	0.01	0	1,297	0.00	0	0	0
	Party for a Rule of Law Offensive	3,338	0.01	0	5,401	0.01	0	0	0
	Independents for Citizen-oriented Democracy				11,703	0.02	0	0	New
	Humanist Party				2,029	0.00	0	0	0
	German Social Union				1,655	0.00	0	0	0
	Christian Centre				1,011	0.00	0	0	0
	Human Economy Party				639	0.00	0	0	0
	Statt Party				496	0.00	0	0	0
	Independents and voter groups				118,130	0.25	0	0	0
Total		47,287,988	100.00	315	47,194,062	100.00	299	614	+11
Valid votes		47,287,988	98.43		47,194,062	98.23
Invalid/blank votes		756,146	1.57		850,072	1.77
Total votes		48,044,134	100.00		48,044,134	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		61,870,711	77.65		61,870,711	77.65

· Results › Results by state

Baden-Württemberg

State results in %

Baden-Württemberg

SPD

30.1

CDU/CSU

39.2

FDP

11.9

LINKE

3.8

GRÜNE

10.7

NPD

1.1

all others

3.2

Bavaria

State results in %

Bavaria

SPD

25.5

CDU/CSU

49.2

FDP

9.5

LINKE

3.4

GRÜNE

7.9

NPD

1.3

all others

3.0

Berlin

State results in %

Berlin

SPD

34.3

CDU/CSU

22.0

FDP

8.2

LINKE

16.4

GRÜNE

13.7

NPD

1.6

all others

3.7

Brandenburg

State results in %

Brandenburg

SPD

35.8

CDU/CSU

20.6

FDP

6.9

LINKE

26.6

GRÜNE

5.1

NPD

3.2

all others

1.8

Bremen

State results in %

Bremen

SPD

42.9

CDU/CSU

22.8

FDP

8.1

LINKE

8.4

GRÜNE

14.3

NPD

1.5

all others

1.9

Hamburg

State results in %

Hamburg

SPD

38.7

CDU/CSU

28.9

FDP

9.0

LINKE

6.3

GRÜNE

14.9

NPD

1.0

all others

1.1

Hesse

State results in %

Hesse

SPD

35.6

CDU/CSU

33.7

FDP

11.7

LINKE

5.3

GRÜNE

10.1

NPD

1.2

all others

2.3

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

State results in %

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

SPD

31.7

CDU/CSU

29.6

FDP

6.3

LINKE

23.7

GRÜNE

4.0

NPD

3.5

all others

1.1

Lower Saxony

State results in %

Lower Saxony

SPD

43.2

CDU/CSU

33.6

FDP

8.9

LINKE

4.3

GRÜNE

7.4

NPD

1.3

all others

1.3

North Rhine-Westphalia

State results in %

North Rhine-Westphalia

SPD

40.0

CDU/CSU

34.4

FDP

10.0

LINKE

5.2

GRÜNE

7.6

NPD

0.8

all others

2.0

Rhineland-Palatinate

State results in %

Rhineland-Palatinate

SPD

34.6

CDU/CSU

36.9

FDP

11.7

LINKE

5.6

GRÜNE

7.3

NPD

1.3

all others

2.6

Saarland

State results in %

Saarland

SPD

33.3

CDU/CSU

30.2

FDP

7.4

LINKE

18.5

GRÜNE

5.9

NPD

1.8

all others

2.8

Saxony

State results in %

Saxony

SPD

24.5

CDU/CSU

30.0

FDP

10.2

LINKE

22.8

GRÜNE

4.8

NPD

4.8

all others

2.9

Saxony-Anhalt

State results in %

Saxony-Anhalt

SPD

32.7

CDU/CSU

24.7

FDP

8.1

LINKE

26.6

GRÜNE

4.1

NPD

2.6

all others

1.2

Schleswig-Holstein

State results in %

Schleswig-Holstein

SPD

38.2

CDU/CSU

36.4

FDP

10.1

LINKE

4.6

GRÜNE

8.4

NPD

1.0

all others

1.3

Thuringia

State results in %

Thuringia

SPD

29.8

CDU/CSU

25.7

FDP

7.9

LINKE

26.1

GRÜNE

4.8

NPD

3.7

all others

2.0

State results in %	SPD	CDU/CSU	FDP	LINKE	GRÜNE	NPD	all others
Baden-Württemberg	30.1	39.2	11.9	3.8	10.7	1.1	3.2
Bavaria	25.5	49.2	9.5	3.4	7.9	1.3	3.0
Berlin	34.3	22.0	8.2	16.4	13.7	1.6	3.7
Brandenburg	35.8	20.6	6.9	26.6	5.1	3.2	1.8
Bremen	42.9	22.8	8.1	8.4	14.3	1.5	1.9
Hamburg	38.7	28.9	9.0	6.3	14.9	1.0	1.1
Hesse	35.6	33.7	11.7	5.3	10.1	1.2	2.3
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	31.7	29.6	6.3	23.7	4.0	3.5	1.1
Lower Saxony	43.2	33.6	8.9	4.3	7.4	1.3	1.3
North Rhine-Westphalia	40.0	34.4	10.0	5.2	7.6	0.8	2.0
Rhineland-Palatinate	34.6	36.9	11.7	5.6	7.3	1.3	2.6
Saarland	33.3	30.2	7.4	18.5	5.9	1.8	2.8
Saxony	24.5	30.0	10.2	22.8	4.8	4.8	2.9
Saxony-Anhalt	32.7	24.7	8.1	26.6	4.1	2.6	1.2
Schleswig-Holstein	38.2	36.4	10.1	4.6	8.4	1.0	1.3
Thuringia	29.8	25.7	7.9	26.1	4.8	3.7	2.0

· Results › Results by state › Constituency seats

SPD

State

SPD

Totalseats

CDU

Seats won

CSU

Seats won

Linke

Seats won

Grüne

Baden-Württemberg

State

Baden-Württemberg

Totalseats

Seats won

Bavaria

State

Bavaria

Totalseats

Seats won

Berlin

State

Berlin

Totalseats

Seats won

Brandenburg

State

Brandenburg

Totalseats

Seats won

Bremen

State

Bremen

Totalseats

Seats won

Hamburg

State

Hamburg

Totalseats

Seats won

Hesse

State

Hesse

Totalseats

Seats won

Lower Saxony

State

Lower Saxony

Totalseats

Seats won

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

State

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Totalseats

Seats won

North Rhine-Westphalia

State

North Rhine-Westphalia

Totalseats

Seats won

Rhineland-Palatinate

State

Rhineland-Palatinate

Totalseats

Seats won

Saarland

State

Saarland

Totalseats

Seats won

Saxony

State

Saxony

Totalseats

Seats won

Saxony-Anhalt

State

Saxony-Anhalt

Totalseats

Seats won

Schleswig-Holstein

State

Schleswig-Holstein

Totalseats

Seats won

Thuringia

State

Thuringia

Totalseats

Seats won

Total

State

Total

Totalseats

299

Seats won

145

Seats won

106

Seats won

State	Totalseats	Seats won
		SPD	CDU	CSU	Linke	Grüne
		Baden-Württemberg	37	4	33
Bavaria	45	1		44
Berlin	12	7	1		3	1
Brandenburg	10	10
Bremen	2	2
Hamburg	6	6
Hesse	21	13	8
Lower Saxony	29	25	4
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	7	4	3
North Rhine-Westphalia	64	40	24
Rhineland-Palatinate	15	5	10
Saarland	4	4
Saxony	17	3	14
Saxony-Anhalt	10	10
Schleswig-Holstein	11	5	6
Thuringia	9	6	3
Total	299	145	106	44	3	1

· Results › Results by state › List seats

SPD

State

SPD

Totalseats

CDU

Seats won

FDP

Seats won

Linke

Seats won

Grüne

Seats won

CSU

Baden-Württemberg

State

Baden-Württemberg

Totalseats

Seats won

Bavaria

State

Bavaria

Totalseats

Seats won

Berlin

State

Berlin

Totalseats

Seats won

Brandenburg

State

Brandenburg

Totalseats

Seats won

Bremen

State

Bremen

Totalseats

Seats won

Hamburg

State

Hamburg

Totalseats

Seats won

Hesse

State

Hesse

Totalseats

Seats won

Lower Saxony

State

Lower Saxony

Totalseats

Seats won

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

State

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Totalseats

Seats won

North Rhine-Westphalia

State

North Rhine-Westphalia

Totalseats

Seats won

Rhineland-Palatinate

State

Rhineland-Palatinate

Totalseats

Seats won

Saarland

State

Saarland

Totalseats

Seats won

Saxony

State

Saxony

Totalseats

Seats won

Saxony-Anhalt

State

Saxony-Anhalt

Totalseats

Seats won

Schleswig-Holstein

State

Schleswig-Holstein

Totalseats

Seats won

Thuringia

State

Thuringia

Totalseats

Seats won

Total

State

Total

Totalseats

315

Seats won

State	Totalseats	Seats won
		SPD	CDU	FDP	Linke	Grüne	CSU
		Baden-Württemberg	39	19		9	3	8
Bavaria	44	23		9	3	7	2
Berlin	10	1	4	2	1	2
Brandenburg	11		4	1	5	1
Bremen	2		1			1
Hamburg	8		4	1	1	2
Hesse	22	3	7	5	2	5
Lower Saxony	33	2	17	6	3	5
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	6		1	1	3	1
North Rhine-Westphalia	66	14	22	13	7	10
Rhineland-Palatinate	16	6	2	4	2	2
Saarland	6		3	1	2
Saxony	19	5		4	8	2
Saxony-Anhalt	13		5	2	5	1
Schleswig-Holstein	11	4	2	2	1	2
Thuringia	9		2	1	5	1
Total	315	77	74	61	51	50	2

References

The sum of the CDU and CSU votes was 38.5%.
The Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria call themselves sister parties. They do not com
CSU received 58.6% in Bavaria. It only fields candidates in Bavaria, where the CDU does not field candidates.
"Early Elections in Germany"
https://www.dw.com/en/early-elections-in-germany/a-1592656
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/23/world/europe/german-leader-losing-a-state-calls-for-early-election-by-fall.html
"German parties back new coalition"
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4434812.stm
"Merkel becomes German Chancellor"
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4458430.stm
"Schröder wants new elections"
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/politisches-beben-schroeder-will-neuwahlen-a-357076.html
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
https://www.nzz.ch/articleCUBK5-1.139537
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/world/europe/schrder-forges-strategy-on-confidence-vote.html
Reuters
https://web.archive.org/web/20050911001655/http://de.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-07-25T144452Z_01_DEO552966_RTRDEOC_0_DEUTSCHLAND-WAHL-FDP-PROGRAMM-20050725.xml
Wahlrecht.de
https://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/index.htm
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/merkel-victory-in-doubt-as-gaffes-erode-support-304639.html
Die Tageszeitung: Taz
https://taz.de/Macht-der-Meinungsumfragen/!5155707/
www.bundeswahlleiter.de
https://web.archive.org/web/20151222180849/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/fruehere_bundestagswahlen/Landesergebnisse/btw2005land.xls
politico.eu
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-election-playbook/weber-woos-smaller-parties-berlin-blunders-on-old-elephants-in-the-room/
Expatica
https://www.expatica.com/de/uncategorized/belligerent-schroeder-in-tv-talk-show-draws-fire-100100/
latestpagenews.com
https://latestpagenews.com/news/bundestag-election-2005-when-the-merkel-era-began-with-schroders-rumble/
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4262638.stm
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4275694.stm
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4304088.stm
"CNN.com – Schroeder aide is foreign minister – Oct 13, 2005"
https://web.archive.org/web/20051015003826/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/10/13/germany.government.ap/
Reuters News
http://global.factiva.com/aa/?ref=LBA0000020051013e1ad000v4
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4325600.stm
Reuters
https://web.archive.org/web/20050620200549/http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4434812.stm
BBC News
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4458430.stm