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2003 Lower Saxony state election
State election in Lower Saxony, Germany
State election in Lower Saxony, Germany
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| election_name | 2003 Lower Saxony state election | |
| country | Lower Saxony | |
| type | parliamentary | |
| ongoing | no | |
| previous_election | 1998 Lower Saxony state election | |
| previous_year | 1998 | |
| next_election | 2008 Lower Saxony state election | |
| next_year | 2008 | |
| seats_for_election | All 183 seats in the Landtag of Lower Saxony | |
| majority_seats | 92 | |
| election_date | 2 February 2003 | |
| turnout | 3,984,009 (67.0%) | |
| 6.8% | ||
| image1 | [[File:Landtag Niedersachsen DSCF7769.JPG | 125px]] |
| leader1 | Christian Wulff | |
| party1 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | |
| last_election1 | 62 seats, 35.9% | |
| seats1 | 91 | |
| seat_change1 | 29 | |
| popular_vote1 | 1,925,055 | |
| percentage1 | 48.3% | |
| swing1 | 12.4% | |
| image2 | [[File:Sigmar Gabriel (2012).jpg | 125px]] |
| leader2 | Sigmar Gabriel | |
| party2 | Social Democratic Party of Germany | |
| last_election2 | 83 seats, 47.9% | |
| seats2 | 63 | |
| seat_change2 | 20 | |
| popular_vote2 | 1,330,156 | |
| percentage2 | 33.4% | |
| swing2 | 14.5% | |
| party4 | Free Democratic Party (Germany) | |
| last_election4 | 0 seats, 4.9% | |
| seats4 | 15 | |
| seat_change4 | 15 | |
| popular_vote4 | 323,107 | |
| percentage4 | 8.1% | |
| swing4 | 3.2% | |
| party5 | Alliance 90/The Greens | |
| last_election5 | 12 seats, 7.0% | |
| seats5 | 14 | |
| seat_change5 | 2 | |
| popular_vote5 | 304,532 | |
| percentage5 | 7.6% | |
| swing5 | 0.6% | |
| map_image | 2003 Lower Saxony state election.svg | |
| map_size | 350px | |
| map_caption | Results for the single-member constituencies | |
| title | Minister-President | |
| before_election | Sigmar Gabriel | |
| before_party | Social Democratic Party of Germany | |
| after_election | Christian Wulff | |
| after_party | Christian Democratic Union of Germany |
6.8%
The 2003 Lower Saxony state election was held on 2 February 2003 to elect the members of the 15th Landtag of Lower Saxony. The incumbent Social Democratic Party (SPD) majority government led by Minister-President Sigmar Gabriel was defeated. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came up one seat short of a majority, and formed a coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP). CDU leader Christian Wulff was subsequently elected minister-president.
Background
The election in Lower Saxony had larger significance than just in the state itself. Defeat for the Social Democrats in the election would mean they lost their slim majority in the upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat. It was thought this might cause the collapse of Gerhard Schröder's national coalition government between the Social Democrats and the Green Party.
Campaign and issues
The economy was seen as the most important issue in the election, with the Social Democrats suffering as a result.
Opinion polls in December 2002 showed the Christian Democrats in the lead with 43% as against 34% for the Social Democrats.
Parties
The table below lists parties represented in the 14th Landtag of Lower Saxony.
| Name | Ideology | Leader(s) | 1998 result | Votes (%) | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party of Germany}} | **SPD** | Social Democratic Party of Germany | |||
| Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands | Social democracy | Sigmar Gabriel | 47.9% | ||
| Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} | **CDU** | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | |||
| Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands | Christian democracy | Christian Wulff | 35.9% | ||
| Alliance 90/The Greens}} | **Grüne** | Alliance 90/The Greens | |||
| Bündnis 90/Die Grünen | Green politics | 7.0% |
Opinion polling
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| size | SPD | CDU | Grüne | FDP | Others | Lead | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};" | Alliance 90/The Greens}};" | Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | ||||
| [2003 state election](http://www.wahlrecht.de/news/2003/ni-2003.htm) | 2 Feb 2003 | – | 33.4 | **48.3** | 7.6 | 8.1 | 2.5 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 14.9 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 27–30 Jan 2003 | 1,014 | 33 | **48** | 8 | 7 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 15 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 20–24 Jan 2003 | 1,103 | 35 | **48** | 8 | 6 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 13 | |||||
| [Emnid](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 23 Jan 2003 | ? | 37 | **46** | 9 | 5 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 16–20 Jan 2003 | 1,000 | 36 | **48** | 7 | 5 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 12 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 13–18 Jan 2003 | 1,008 | 36 | **48** | 8 | 5 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 12 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 9–13 Jan 2003 | 1,000 | 37 | **46** | 8 | 6 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 6–10 Jan 2003 | 1,027 | 37 | **46** | 9 | 5 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||
| [Forschungsgruppe Wahlen](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 6–9 Jan 2003 | 1,044 | 37 | **45** | 8 | 6 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 8 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 27 Dec 2002–3 Jan 2003 | 1,122 | 36 | **46** | 10 | 5 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 10 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 2–4 Dec 2002 | 1,000 | 40 | **45** | 7 | 5 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5 | |||||
| [Emnid](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 14–20 Nov 2002 | 1,003 | 34 | **43** | 12 | 6 | 5 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 23 Sep 2002 | ? | **47** | 36.5 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 11.5 | |||||
| [Emnid](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 30 Aug–4 Sep 2002 | 1,000 | **42** | 38 | 7 | 8 | 5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 14 Jun 2002 | 1,000 | **45** | 35 | 6 | 11 | 3 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 10 | |||||
| [Emnid](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 31 May 2002 | ? | **39** | 37 | 6 | 12 | 6 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 2 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 17 Apr 2002 | ? | **43** | 41 | 6 | 4 | 6 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 2 | |||||
| [Emnid](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 21–27 Feb 2002 | 1,000 | **43** | 37 | 7 | 8 | 5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 6 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 11–27 Feb 2002 | 1,327 | **43** | 39 | 6 | 5 | 7 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 31 Aug 2001 | ? | **44** | 36 | 6 | 9 | 5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 8 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 22 Jun 2001 | ? | **46** | 37 | 7 | 5 | 5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 20 Feb 2001 | ? | **48** | 35 | 7 | 5 | 5 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 13 | |||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 28 Oct 1999 | ? | 41 | **46** | 6 | 4 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5 | |||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 21–24 Oct 1999 | 1,000 | 41 | **46** | 5 | 4 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5 | |||||
| [1998 state election](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 1 Mar 1998 | – | **47.9** | 35.9 | 7.0 | 4.9 | 4.3 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 12.0 |
Election result
|- ! colspan="2" | Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- ! Seats %
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| - |
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References
References
- Hall, Allan. (2002-12-01). "The joke's on Schroder as Germans seek serious answers to economic crisis". [[Scotland on Sunday]].
- (2003-02-03). "State voters reject Schroeder". [[CNN]].
- Hall, Allan. (2002-12-26). "Germany is desperately seeking Schroder as chancellor loses his grip". [[The Scotsman]].
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