Baden-Württemberg Election: Greens Win, CDU Close Behind | Germany News
Stuttgart, Germany – In a result that signals a potential shift in the German political landscape, the Green party has secured victory in the state election in Baden-Württemberg. Preliminary results, following the count of almost all electoral districts, show the Greens garnering 30.2% of the vote, narrowly edging out the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which received 29.7%. The outcome is particularly noteworthy as it positions Green party leader Cem Özdemir as a strong contender for the position of state premier.
The election, held on , saw the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerge as the third-strongest force with 18.8%, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD) barely managed to retain its presence in the state parliament with 5.5% – its worst-ever result. Both the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Left party failed to surpass the 5% threshold required for representation.
This victory builds upon the Greens’ strong performance in the previous state election five years ago, where they achieved a record 32.6% of the vote. However, the CDU’s decline to 24.1% in that election has been partially reversed, demonstrating a competitive race. A continuation of the current coalition between the Greens and the CDU is widely anticipated.
Özdemir has already indicated a willingness to compromise with the CDU in forming a new government. “Both sides must be able to recognize themselves in the coalition agreement,” he stated to ARD television, adding that if he were to lead the state, he would govern from the center, not along party lines. Green party co-leader Franziska Brantner echoed this sentiment, stating that the results represented a positive outcome for Germany as a whole, highlighting the success of both the Greens and the CDU.
The Green’s campaign was heavily focused on Özdemir, who proved to be a popular figure with voters. According to research from Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, Özdemir was perceived as more likeable, credible and competent than his CDU rival, Manuel Hagel. 47% of voters expressed a preference for Özdemir as state premier, compared to 33% for Hagel. The Greens also enjoy a more favorable image in Baden-Württemberg than at the national level.
Despite the CDU’s focus on economic competence – a key issue given the challenges facing the automotive industry in the region – it was ultimately insufficient to secure victory. Hagel acknowledged responsibility for the outcome, without elaborating on the implications. The responsibility for forming a government now rests with the Greens.
Hagel firmly ruled out any possibility of a coalition with the AfD, stating, “No office in the world is so significant that I would allow myself to be elected with the votes of the AfD.” He emphasized that he would not accept being elected as premier with the support of the AfD, even if it were mathematically possible.
The AfD’s co-leader, Alice Weidel, expressed satisfaction with the results, noting that the party had effectively doubled its previous share of the vote. She stated that the AfD would fulfill its role as the opposition. The SPD’s result was described as “bitter” by party leader Lars Klingbeil, who attributed some of the losses to the close contest between Özdemir and Hagel, which may have drawn votes away from the SPD.
While the Greens secured a higher percentage of the overall vote, the CDU performed better in direct mandate contests, winning 34.3% of the votes for individual candidates, compared to 25.5% for the Greens. The SPD’s direct candidates received 8.4% of the vote.
Voter turnout was significantly higher than in the previous election, reaching between 70.2% and 71.5% (: 63.8%). This increase is partly attributable to the fact that this was the first state election in Germany to allow 16-year-olds to vote. The outgoing state premier, Winfried Kretschmann, did not seek re-election, bringing an end to his 15-year tenure as the first and, to date, only Green state premier in Germany. Prior to Kretschmann’s leadership, the CDU had consistently held the position of state premier in Baden-Württemberg for decades.
The outcome of the Baden-Württemberg election is likely to have broader implications for German politics, particularly as the country heads into a “super election year” in , with further regional and national elections scheduled throughout the year. The Greens’ success in Baden-Württemberg could provide momentum for the party in other states and at the federal level. The willingness of Özdemir to govern from the center, as he has indicated, may also signal a broader strategy for the Greens to appeal to a wider range of voters.