Baden-Württemberg state election, 2011

• SPD: 35
• Green: 36
• FDP: 7
• CDU: 60

In the state elections in Baden- Württemberg on 27 March 2011, the 15th parliament of Baden -Württemberg has been selected. The election took place simultaneously with the state election in Rhineland-Palatinate and held local elections in Hesse and one week after the state election in Saxony- Anhalt.

With a turnout of 66.3 %, the CDU reached 39.0 % (60 seats), the Greens 24.2 % ( 36), the SPD 23.1% (35) and the FDP 5.3% (7). Although the strongest party, the CDU had subsequently after 58 years, the government responsibility to submit a coalition of Greens and SPD; Winfried Kretschmann with a Green politician was elected head of government of a German state for the first time.

• 3.1 Issues 3.1.1 Stuttgart 21
• 3.1.2 Atomausstieg
• 3.1.3 Education Policy
• 3.1.4 EnBW
• 3.1.5 Direct Democracy

• 4.1 campaign issues
• 4.2 CDU
• 4.3 Alliance 90/The Greens
• 4.4 SPD
• 4.5 FDP
• 4.6 The Left
• 4.7 Other parties

Starting position

After the state elections in 2006, a coalition of CDU and FDP was formed. From 2006 to 2010, Günther Oettinger led the Cabinet. As of 2010, Stefan undersecretary the Office of the Prime Minister. The opposition was formed by the SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens.

With the start of the new term May 1, 2011, there were some fundamental changes: The previous " Feierabend Parliament " became a full-time parliament. The state retirement compensation is omitted from 2011, future MPs have to pay for their own pensions.

A characteristic of the electoral process in Baden- Württemberg is that no state or district lists are drawn up, as is usual in other states. The voter has only one vote. The Diet nominally 120 members elected every five years. Who will reach the most votes in the 70 constituencies, the direct mandate receives for that constituency and moves into the state legislature. The 120 seats are distributed nationwide in Sainte-Laguë/Schepers on all parties who have achieved at least 5 % of votes. After that, the seats of each party are - distributed to the four administrative districts of Baden -Württemberg - after Sainte-Laguë/Schepers. Standing of a party in an administrative region of more seats to when it reaches here direct mandates, the other seats the party will be allocated within the administrative district of losing constituency candidates with the highest shares of votes within their party. These mandates are called secondary mandates.

Was allowed to stand, who to vote and was not excluded from eligibility. Nominations could be submitted until January 27, 2011, 18 clock to the competent election supervisor. It 19 parties and six independent candidates were allowed to vote.

Parties

At the parliamentary elections were candidates from 19 political parties and six independent candidates. In addition to the parties represented in the parliament CDU, SPD, Greens and FDP, the Left, the Republicans and the Pirate Party as candidates in all 70 constituencies.

Election result

The state election in 2011 led to an often "historical" evaluated as a change of government in Baden- Württemberg: The previous ruling parties CDU and FDP have in the new parliament together only about 67 seats. The CDU is for the first time since 1953 in opposition and no longer represents the Prime Minister of Baden- Württemberg.

SPD and the Greens together reached 71 seats, the Greens are with 36 seats one seat ahead of the SPD. Winfried Kretschmann was chosen on 12 May 2011 by 73 votes for the first green prime minister in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. His party won a total of 70 constituencies nine, almost all are in university diverse cities and their surrounding areas as well as in the state capital Stuttgart. In the constituency Mannheim I, the SPD was successful, the remaining 60 constituencies were won by the CDU.

The turnout rose sharply by 12.9 points to 66.3 percent, after reaching a historic low in the previous state election.

According to the official results, the votes were distributed as follows among the parties:

A) 2006 WASG; N. A. = Not started

Electioneering

Topics

Stuttgart 21

From the second half of 2010 it became apparent that the sections of the population heavily criticized project Stuttgart 21 is to be rebuilt in the wake of the Stuttgart main station, increasing explosiveness got in the election campaign. Thus, it was demonstrated more frequently, however, in Stuttgart, and there was live broadcast from the station Phoenix conciliation talks with great media attention (see also Protest against Stuttgart 21). While the CDU and FDP in favor of the project, it was rejected by the Greens, Left Party and pirates. The SPD, which also supported the project, urged on this subject now a referendum (see also referendum on Stuttgart 21).

Nuclear phase-out

Another topic was the "abandonment of the nuclear phase-out ", ie the lifetime extension of German nuclear power plants: Had the red- green government a nuclear phase-out by 2022, decided in 2001, which experts was designated as doable or is the Merkel government extended II the nuclear maturities partly to 8, sometimes 14 years. In the province there are the power plants Phillipsburg and Neckarwestheim and the 2005 from the power taken Obrigheim nuclear power plant.

After the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster after the devastating earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011, the debate moved on a nuclear phase-out in Germany at the center of campaign issues. For a long previously planned demonstration the next day protesting instead of the expected 40,000 participants 60,000 people in Baden- Württemberg against nuclear power. Representatives of the CDU and FDP, including in particular the CDU top candidate Stefan undersecretary had pleaded before Fukushima strongly for a significant increase in nuclear terms. After the start of the disaster declared both the CDU and the FDP of the country, they were for a " medium- to long-term " phase-out of nuclear power. SPD, the Left, Greens and most small parties demanded a rapid end.

Education policy

According to a survey commissioned by the Stuttgarter Zeitung held 90 % of voters education policy for " important or very important ", which, it was ranked before the Energy and Environmental Policy ( 88 %) or economic policy ( 86%). CDU and FDP wanted to retain the three -tier school system and expand full-day care on, inter alia through the establishment of all-day schools. Greens and the SPD wanted to promote the establishment of all- day schools as well, but called for a gradual move away from the tripartite school system and the introduction of a ten-year comprehensive school ( would to then be followed by a three-year upper secondary school ). In relation to the funding of higher education, the previous coalition government wanted to continue to levy tuition fees, the FDP was planning, but these downstream in the future and depend on income to rise, so no fees while studying. SPD, Greens and pirates wanted to abolish tuition and replace the missing revenue of universities through grants from the state budget.

EnBW

The state government announced on 6 December 2010 announced by Electricité de France 45.01 % stake in EnBW to buy ( among other operators of four nuclear power plants in Baden- Württemberg). Prime Minister Stefan undersecretary announced first that would cost 4.67 billion euros, but had to concede in a closed session of the Finance Committee in Parliament that the stock purchase actually 5.9 billion euros - so just over 1.2 billion more than initially claimed - costs.

The state government had decided to buy based on the Notbewilligungsrechts the Minister of Finance without asking Parliament for approval prior to binding contract. In contrast, the parliamentary groups of the SPD and the Greens action before the State Court.

Even more circumstances of the purchase were criticized by the Greens and SPD: The sale was not by LBBW or a consortium of Baden-Württemberg banks but by Dirk Notheis, Germany - chief of the U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley, assessors in the CDU Land Executive Board and the witness of Prime Minister Stefan undersecretary, looked after. The amount of compensation will be kept confidential, as usual would be about 0.8 percent of the transaction volume.

The interest on the loan for the purchase of EnBW shares should be financed by the dividends of EnBW. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel ( CDU) announced after the nuclear accidents in Japan nuclear moratorium led to the shutdown of two nuclear reactors operated by EnBW. According to a calculation of the Öko-Institut EnBW missed by at least 45 million euro revenue per month. If this leads to lower dividend payments from EnBW, tax revenue must be used from the state budget in the interest payment instead.

Direct Democracy

The SPD, the Greens, the FDP, the Left and the pirates demand to lower the hurdles for referenda. The subject of referendums is thereby linked by the SPD and Greens with Stuttgart 21.

A Freedom of Information Act (IFG ) at the country level, which is to allow citizens an insight into the regulatory action is supported by the SPD, the Greens, the FDP, and the pirates. The CDU has declined in the past IFG.

Financing

The most expensive election campaign clearly made ​​with 2.3 million euros, the SPD, which a similar amount as in 2006 represented, when the SPD not quite ausschöpfte 2.4 million euros. 75 % of the budget in 2011 was spent on posters, ads and brochures. An additional 20 % cost the Events, the remaining 5 % was in the campaign -site support. The CDU spent about two million euros on; the FDP 850,000 euros, 100,000 euros more than in 2006. Greens 600,000 euros, 250,000 euros more than in 2006. Funding of the state parties shall consist of membership fees, donations and state funding of political parties.

Wahl-O -Mat

For a state election Wahl-O -Mat was served. This was called until just before the election, more than half a million times, which is a multiplication of use over previous elections and is seen as evidence of the extraordinary interest in the election in Baden- Württemberg.

TV debate

Around 490,000 spectators in Baden-Württemberg watched the third program of the SWR broadcast television debate between Nils Schmid and Stefan undersecretary. The audience was almost three times higher than the odds on an average Wednesday night with 12.3 percent. The duel between Günther Oettinger (CDU) and Ute Vogt ( SPD) five years earlier but had a rate of 13.3 percent.

Choice analysis

Campaign issues

In a survey of infra dimap reported 47 percent of respondents believe that the nuclear and environmental policy is the most important problem in the country ( 2006: 7 percent), while this is said about unemployment only 17 per cent ( 2006: 65 percent). After the incidents at the Japanese nuclear power plant in Fukushima, the German government announced that it would review the enforced her lifetime extension of German nuclear power plants. This turnaround was seen by 78 percent of voters as electorally and implausible, only 20 percent thought the change of course credible. According to the survey, 87 percent of respondents shared the opinion that the CDU did not take the public's concerns on the subject of nuclear power seriously; on the FDP said this even 89 percent.

62 percent of the Baden- Württemberg has been criticism that we do not know when undersecretary Minister President Stefan (CDU ) for the policy which it stands; only 33 percent were satisfied with his political work ( Winfried Kretschmann / Green: 44 percent, Nils Schmid / SPD: 42 percent). Nevertheless, undersecretary was kept mostly for implementing stronger and more competent than economic Kretschmann, which in turn is viewed as a sympathetic and credible. About the FDP said 80 percent that they are too strong to take care of certain groups of voters, and 77 percent were of the opinion that they urge tax breaks that are not finance. Overall, only 41 percent were satisfied with the state government (2006: 58 percent 2001: 66 percent) and only 37 percent felt that the CDU and FDP will continue to govern.

Voters with lower educational attainment chose rather CDU, while more educated strata of society the majority chose the countryside.

CDU

The CDU was indeed again by far the most powerful force lost 5.2 percentage points but significantly and reached a vote share of 39.0 percent of their two worst results in an election for the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. The CDU was amongst those most elected in predominantly Catholic areas and in areas with low unemployment and in areas with low population density. After groups of voters, the CDU reached below-average results in unemployment (23 percent), first-time voters (30 percent), young voters ( 18 to 24 years: 31 percent) and employees (34 percent), while above-average results in the self-employed (43 percent), pensioners (48 percent) and older voters (60 years and older: 50 percent ) achieved.

Alliance 90/The Greens

The Greens have their result of 2006 more than doubled, so that it reached its highest share of the vote, while their biggest gains in a German state election. They were the second strongest party with 24.2 percent and can only provide a prime minister. Voters kept the nuclear energy policy of the Greens, who support each other since the party's founding for nuclear-free electricity generation, for the most credible and recognized them in this technical issue the best problem-solving skills to. 59 percent shared the opinion that there was a real change of course in the nuclear policy only with the Greens, 60 percent said that the party was the party that care for the correct use of nuclear power (CDU: 19 percent, SPD: 10 percent). 68 percent found a government of the Greens and 51 per cent a green prime minister well. 50 percent thought that the Greens are a good alternative for those are who are disappointed by the CDU. Of all the possible coalitions was a green - red alliance with 52 percent most preferred ( black-red 47 percent, Black and Yellow: 38 percent, Black and Green: 28 percent). Compared to undersecretary Kretschmann was considered sympathetic and credible. The Greens were strong in uppercase or university towns and mixed sectarian areas with high population density. In the groups of voters, the Greens achieved above-average results among the unemployed (26 percent ), women (27 percent), employees (29 percent), self-employed ( 31 percent) and voters in middle age (35 to 44 years: 32 per cent), below-average results in older voters (60 years and older: 14 percent), pensioners (16 percent), workers (18 percent), quick decisions (19 percent) and men ( 22 percent).

SPD

The SPD lost compared to the already very poor result of 2006 a further 2.1 percentage points. With a vote share of 23.1 percent, the SPD had her at the Baden-Württemberg state elections so far worst result, however, was able to participate for the first time back to the government since the end of the grand coalition in 1996, albeit as a junior partner of the Greens. According infra dimap gave 74 percent of respondents said that the position of the SPD to Stuttgart 21 is unclear, and 52 percent said the same about the profile of the Baden-Württemberg SPD as a whole. Still, would have been in the case of a direct election of the Prime Minister of the SPD candidate Schmid, 50 percent against undersecretary with 37 percent front, while the projection in an election between Kretschmann (47 percent) and undersecretary (42 percent) would have been lower for the green candidate. The SPD has been increasingly chosen in areas with high unemployment, high population density and poor turnout. After groups of voters, the SPD most votes of older voters (60 years and older: 26 percent ) received and retirees (27 percent), while the lowest share of votes voters in middle age (35 to 44 years: 19 percent ) achieved.

FDP

The FDP came with 5.3 percent on her in the history of the State of Baden- Württemberg worst result. She lost half of its voting share (2006: 10.7 percent ) and could barely move back into the state parliament. Compared to the 2009 federal election, in which the FDP in Baden- Württemberg with 18.8 percent almost as many votes as the SPD and significantly more votes than the Greens, the losses are even more dramatic. The FDP has been increasingly chosen in Protestant dominated areas and in areas with high participation and in areas with low unemployment. Particularly strong FDP was chosen by self, in which they scored 10 percent.

The Left

All other parties that came together to 8.4 percent, failed due to the five-percent hurdle. Under these reached as in the previous state election the Left the most votes, but lost easily and could not move back with 2.8 percent in the state legislature. 82 percent of the Baden- Württemberg shared the opinion that the ideas of the left are unrealistic and can not be financed. After voter groups the left (12 percent) and workers achieved above-average results in unemployment (5 percent), while they scored only 1 percent of self-employed.

Other parties

The first time being beaten pirates, who reached a total of 2.1 percent, a particularly large number of votes received first-time voters (9 percent). That are present from 1992 to 2001 in the parliament right-wing populist Republicans had for the fourth time in a row suffered losses and only came to 1.1 percent. The far-right NPD failed with a vote share of 0.97 per cent short of the major party financing one-percent hurdle. The ODP, which had achieved in 1992 barely two percent and since then continuously lost in state elections in Baden- Württemberg, could be increased from 0.55 % in 2006 to 0.85%. In the political segment of the Christian conservative small parties, the PBC, which had achieved in 2006 0.7 % of the votes lost, but took 2011 only in 10 constituencies, more than 80 % of their voters and ended up at 0.1%, and that of her 2008 split- oN only reached a vote share of 0.2%.

Election polls

On the question of the Prime Minister they would vote directly, the Baden- Württemberg responded as follows: