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Bavarian state election, 2008

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28 September 2008 (2008-09-28)
  
2013 →

124 seats
  
41 seats

92
  
39

Franz Maget
  
Hubert Aiwanger

41 seats
  
0 seats

39
  
21

Bavarian state election, 2008

The 2008 Bavarian state election was held on 28 September 2008. Voters of the German state of Bavaria elected members to the Bavarian Landtag (state legislature).

Contents

Outcome

  • The CSU had its poorest result since the election of 1954, and in so doing lost its majority in the Landtag of Bavaria for the first time in 46 years. The CSU was forced to enter into coalition with the free-market FDP, reminiscent of the Helmut Kohl era.
  • This result was seen as a stinging defeat for Chancellor Angela Merkel, dampening hopes for the CDU/CSU in the upcoming federal election in 2009.
  • The SPD also fared poorly, itself having its worst result ever in this election, polling just 18.6% and losing 2 seats. This is likely due to the entrance into the race of the left Linke party, among other factors. Surprisingly, some SPD members claimed themselves to be winners of the election, interpreting the lost CSU majority as possibility to form a government coalition without CSU participation.
  • The liberal FDP entered the Landtag again, after a 14-year absence.
  • The Free Voters grassroots movement entered the Landtag for the first time. Its 21 seats in the new Landtag will make it the third largest party.
  • The socialist Linke party stood for the first time in Bavaria. Its 4.3% vote-share failed to surpass the 5% threshold, thus it gained no seats.
  • The far-right NPD made its first serious attempt in Bavaria in decades, but failed to establish itself.

    • Results

    Turnout was at 58.1%, about a percent higher than in 2003.

    References

    Bavarian state election, 2008 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA