Thuringian state election, 2009

• Left: 27
• SPD: 18
• Green: 6
• FDP: 7
• CDU: 30

The state elections in Thuringia in 2009 was the fifth election to the Thuringian state parliament since 1990 and was held together with the parliamentary elections in Saarland and Saxony on August 30, 2009. It was the last election before the general election on 27 September 2009.

According to the official results, the CDU lost of premier Dieter Althaus more than 10 percentage points and thus their absolute majority, but remained the strongest party. Left and SPD won the voting shares; addition to a possible CDU - SPD coalition possessed also left and SPD together hold a majority of the parliament seats. Green and FDP attracted first time since 1990 back in the Thuringian state parliament, while FDP and NPD failed with results by 4%.

Following the outcome of Prime Minister Althaus resigned on 3 September 2009. The CDU formed a coalition with the SPD with Christine Dear servant as Prime Minister (Cabinet Dear servant ).

• 6.1 Direct Mandates
• 6.2 Land votes by county
• 6.3 Extreme Values
• 6.4 parties

• 7.1 Withdrawal from Althaus and reformation of the CDU
• 7.2 Exploratory talks between the SPD, the Left Party and the Alliance 90/The Greens
• 7.3 formation of the red-black coalition
• 7.4 Choice of Prime Minister

Final official final result

The turnout was 56.2 %.

Parties

The following parties entered the state parliament election in Thuringia in 2009 with its own country list:

For the state election could enter a total of 16 parties state lists because they had been continuously represented in the Bundestag or a Landtag since the last election because of his own nominations or recognized by the State Election Commission as parties. Of these, 13 submitted by the deadline of 25 June 2009, a national list. At the public hearing of the National Election Committee on July 3, finally, the lists of the parties listed nine were admitted a total of 359 candidates for election. Not allowed the Communist Party of Germany, the Thuringian People's Union ( TVU ) and the party, the good from Jena were (KPD ), the Family Party of Germany ( FAMILY ).

In the 44 constituencies as candidates a total of 273 constituency candidates, including 90 without list place. In addition to the CDU, SPD and Die Linke presented only the NPD in each constituency a direct candidates. In the constituency Saale- Orla-Kreis I, a constituency candidates entered for the Independent Citizens' Committee - Free Wählergemeinschaft of Saale- Orla -Kreis ( UBV ) to.

Initial situation ( 2004 election )

In the state election on 13 June 2004, the CDU Thuringia had despite losses against the state election in 1999 defended the absolute majority. It was formed by Dieter Althaus (Cabinet Althaus II) a CDU - party government. The PDS was, in 1999, become the strongest opposition party ahead of the SPD. FDP and Alliance 90/The Greens were like 1994 and 1999 failed at the 5- percent threshold.

Electioneering

Campaign of the Junge Union against Bodo Ramelow

The Junge Union (JU ) Thüringen launched in late July 2009, the campaign "Stop Ramelow " against candidates on the left, Bodo Ramelow. Among other things, the JU occurred during the campaigning Ramelow as part of its "Summer Tour", which began on August 1, with banners and leaflets about alleged election goals and political views on Ramelow. Ramelow took legal action, after the Berlin Regional Court on August 5, forbade large parts of the campaign. So the boy henceforth Union can no longer spread, Ramelow wanted to " close all schools in Thüringen" and " introduce the three old East German districts again " or had expressed, the regime had been " no wrong state." The Deputy JU state chairman Stefan Gruhner accused Ramelow that he was trying " a debate about its real goals for the country to go out of the way " and had " so scared that he is behind lawyers and paragraphs have to hide ." Prime Minister and CDU top candidate Dieter Althaus said he was " not informed and not involved " in relation to the campaign of the JU.

A postcard with the slogan "real Thuringian - wrong Thuringian " and " none of us - none of us," the image of a Thuringian bratwurst and a photo Ramelow ( in allusion to its West German origin) faced, the JU Thuringia had already the end of July withdrawn in accordance with instructions of the CDU regional managing director Andreas Minschke.

Racist incident during the election campaign

During the election campaign the German - Angolan CDU member Zeca sound of the Thuringian NPD was insulted and threatened. The incident caused nationwide and international attention. In the local elections in Thuringia in 2009 sound ran for council Hildburghausen, without a mandate to win. Sound works with the established early 2008 AG " integration of foreign citizens " of the Thuringian CDU without passing them or speak for them. In the press he was erroneously referred to as " integration agent" of the Thuringian CDU.

The CDU had shown him in the country's election campaign election posters, among others, along with Prime Minister Althaus. In a press release, the NPD sound called a "quota negro " and announced that " a direct dialogue " and " animate to return " to want him. Then informed the CDU state security. The party filed a criminal complaint and issued a statement of solidarity, but nevertheless went with the already launched on 10 May pasting over the posters gone by motives without sound image. This exchange of posters met with criticism from other parties.

Regional Magazine "Great Thuringia "

A week before the state election, the magazine "Great Thuringia " was distributed to all households in the country. As the main content and politicians of the CDU contains (such as a recommendation to vote for the CDU of the PR consultant and Althaus confidant Wolfgang floor), where the opposition parties accused of covert electioneering for the CDU. Although the magazine also includes interviews with the candidates on the left, Bodo Ramelow, or with the star Vice Chief Hans -Ulrich Jörges, but these were " come into existence under false pretenses ." Another indication of the alleged CDU - authorship of the magazine can be found on page 8, where the non-commencement of the family party is presented as support for the CDU policy. In fact, the family party had rejected the requested support of the CDU and a choice recommendation for Ecological- Democratic Party of Thuringia ( ödp - Family, justice, environmental ) cast. As in the booklet also advertising the lottery company Thuringia was included, the SPD expressed the criticism that the head of the lottery company Jörg Schwäblein (CDU ) have thus possibly violating the financial rules of the law on political parties, and filed a complaint. The CDU denied a collaboration on the issue, but was pleased with the positive coverage of the country and the government.

Surveys

Election results

Direct mandates

This continued in 28 constituencies, the candidate of the CDU, in 14 of the candidate of the left and in two constituencies of the SPD candidate through. The CDU lost over 2004 nine constituencies on the left and two to the SPD.

Land votes by county

Extreme values

For the second vote distribution.

The Greens received no votes in a total of 19 municipalities (all below 500 inhabitants). The NPD received in 13 municipalities under 500 inhabitants no votes. The Free Voters received no votes in 24 municipalities. With the exception Bendel Ebens these communities have fewer than 500 inhabitants.

Parties

• The CDU had everywhere suffered heavy losses, but generally remained the strongest party. Their strongholds are still in the calibration field and the southern Wartburg circuit and thus in the two larger traditionally Catholic areas of Thuringia. Also in eastern Thuringia, the CDU could do relatively well in the country, while they lost some constituencies of the Left Party in the Thuringian Forest. Traditionally weaker the CDU is in state elections in the larger cities of the country, so they could not win any of the eleven constituencies of the independent cities.
• The left section inconsistently from: in some areas, they won easily to other lost easily. Profits they could, especially in the rural, far CDU - dominated areas, while they lost in the larger cities in popularity. However, the home side's left to reduce the gap to the CDU to now only three seats in the parliament. For the first time she could also nationwide gain direct mandates beyond their traditional strongholds, the prefab satellite cities were.
• The SPD was able to record voice gains in most areas. Their strongholds are in addition to the city of Jena also the districts Gotha and Nordhausen, a trend that was evident in the local elections already in June. However, your time very high voice gains in Erfurt they could not repeat in the regional elections. Weak cut the SPD in this election as it did in the previous in many rural communities from. For the first time in a long time, the SPD was also able to gain direct mandates ( in Gotha and Jena ).
• The FDP could its results compared with the last election more than doubled, and benefited from the weakness of the CDU. Here, their results are relatively uniform across the country and vary greatly either between regions, or between urban and rural areas.
• The Greens were able to record a little voice gains and managed as the FDP for the first time since 1990, the re-entry into the state parliament. Their results are nationally very different. While it hardly comes in many rural areas and small towns than 3% of the votes, they scored in Weimar and Jena in five constituencies results of over 25% of the vote. In the two other university cities (Erfurt and Ilmenau) cut the greens as well as in Nordhausen and Eisenach well above average.
• The NPD was able income compared to 2004, more than double, but missed a place in the state legislature. She cut in very small rural communities as well. This was the case especially in villages of the Rhön and the Thuringian Slate Mountains. In the big cities they received contrast, significantly fewer votes, there could only in some housing estates skip the 5 - percent threshold or her come at least close.
• The Free Voters increased their earnings significantly, they could - like the FDP - benefit from the weakness of the CDU and scored especially in their strongholds such as the calibration field. In some other areas, for example in Gera and Jena, the Free Voters hardly received votes.
• The ödp received, as in 2004, barely voices and again remained below 0.5%. Its activities relate primarily to the calibration field where she could reach 2.5 % and 0.9 % of the vote.
• The Republicans lost significantly votes, especially on the NPD, which overtook them as the strongest right-wing party in the country. Their results varied little between regions, cities and towns.

Coalition formation

The absolute majority in the Landtag of Thuringia is 45 seats.

The CDU offered only in a coalition with the SPD (48 seats in parliament ) a realistic opportunity to be further involved in the government. Dieter Althaus already announced on election night on exploratory talks with the SPD. A coalition of CDU, FDP and Greens ( 43 seats in parliament ) has no majority in parliament and was also rejected by the top candidate for the Greens, Astrid Rothe - Beinlich.

Resignation of Althaus and reformation of the CDU

On September 3, Dieter Althaus announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Regional Chairman of the CDU Thuringia with immediate effect. Previously, the SPD had stressed their rejection of Althaus as Prime Minister in terms of possible coalition negotiations with the CDU; also members of the CDU had expressed criticism of the leadership style of Althaus. The Presidium of the Thuringian CDU unanimously appointed Christine Dear servant of the party candidate for the premiership.

Exploratory talks between the SPD, the Left Party and the Alliance 90/The Greens

A coalition of the SPD and the Left would have a slim majority of 45 seats, a red-red- green alliance would bring it to 51 seats. However, remained open, who could ask the Prime Minister in such a coalition: the SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens reaffirmed after the election their rejection of a prime minister Ramelow while Ramelow said in a radio interview, Christoph Matschie will of his party's " not an order get to be Prime Minister ". On September 17 Ramelow finally declared his willingness to forego a possible red-red- green coalition on the premiership, although Matschie renounce and Linke, SPD and Greens " equal rights make a personal proposal " would. This push Ramelow also met with his own party leadership to criticism.

Christoph Matschie declared September 29, 2009 his resignation to the prime minister's office, but continued to insist that the SPD should provide the Prime Minister with the participation of the left in a coalition. However, the Left claimed as a stronger party than the SPD, the Office of the Prime Minister continues for themselves. On 30 September 2009, Ramelow was willing to compromise, to accept an SPD minister president when the three coalition partners LEFT, SPD and the Greens could agree on it.

Formation of the red-black coalition

After the SPD had done with both the CDU as well as with leftists and Greens exploratory talks, the SPD's national board of directors decided on the night of October 1, take coalition negotiations with the CDU, as the talks with Left and the Greens have failed. Then began the coalition talks between the CDU and the SPD.

Within the Thuringian SPD resistance formed against coalition negotiations with the CDU; as a prominent critic stood out among other things the Saalfeld country Councillor Marion Philipp, the Mayor of Erfurt and Gera, Andreas Bausewein and Norbert gentility, and the Young Socialist state chairman and newly elected member of parliament Peter Metz. Matschie intraparty opponents appealed for 10 October a SPD - based conference in Erfurt and started a petition against the proposed coalition.

On 20 October 2009 the CDU and the SPD presented the final coalition agreement. Both coalition parties blessed the contract from their party days of October 25 - while the CDU ( where both Christine Dear servant was elected state chairman ), the 133 delegates agreed unanimously, it was the SPD at 148 votes in favor 44 against and seven abstentions.

Choice of Prime Minister

On October 30, Christine Dear servant was elected in the third ballot for prime minister. In the first two ballots, dear servant received only 44 of the 48 votes of the coalition, while 45 are needed for an absolute majority. In the third ballot came Bodo Ramelow, top candidate of the left, as opposition candidate at what dear servant now voices from the opposition brought in, so she was elected with 55 votes for prime minister.

Implications of the election results to the Federal

In combination with the results of the regional elections in Saarland state election meant the possible end of the majority of the CDU and FDP in the Bundesrat. By the election results of the state elections in Schleswig -Holstein and the black-yellow coalition formed there the black-yellow majority in the Bundesrat was still preserved.