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2013 Lower Saxony state election
State election in Lower Saxony, Germany
State election in Lower Saxony, Germany
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| election_name | 2013 Lower Saxony state election | |
| country | Lower Saxony | |
| type | parliamentary | |
| ongoing | no | |
| previous_election | 2008 Lower Saxony state election | |
| previous_year | 2008 | |
| next_election | 2017 Lower Saxony state election | |
| next_year | 2017 | |
| seats_for_election | All 137 seats in the Landtag of Lower Saxony | |
| majority_seats | 69 | |
| election_date | 20 January 2013 | |
| turnout | 3,574,900 (59.4%) | |
| 2.4% | ||
| image1 | [[File:Landtag Niedersachsen DSCF7646 - McAllister cropped.jpg | 150x150px]] |
| leader1 | David McAllister | |
| party1 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | |
| last_election1 | 68 seats, 42.5% | |
| seats1 | 54 | |
| seat_change1 | 14 | |
| popular_vote1 | 1,287,549 | |
| percentage1 | 36.0% | |
| swing1 | 6.5% | |
| image2 | [[File:2013-01-20-niedersachsenwahl-346.jpg | 150x150px]] |
| leader2 | Stephan Weil | |
| party2 | Social Democratic Party of Germany | |
| last_election2 | 48 seats, 30.3% | |
| seats2 | 49 | |
| seat_change2 | 1 | |
| popular_vote2 | 1,165,538 | |
| percentage2 | 32.6% | |
| swing2 | 2.3% | |
| image3 | [[File:Anja Piel Pressefoto.jpg | 75x75px]] |
| [[File:Landtag Niedersachsen DSCF7803.JPG | 75x75px]] | |
| leader3 | Anja Piel & | |
| Stefan Wenzel | ||
| party3 | Alliance 90/The Greens | |
| last_election3 | 12 seats, 8.0% | |
| seats3 | 20 | |
| seat_change3 | 8 | |
| popular_vote3 | 489,473 | |
| percentage3 | 13.7% | |
| swing3 | 5.7% | |
| image4 | [[File:Stefan Birkner.jpg | 150x150px]] |
| leader4 | Stefan Birkner | |
| party4 | Free Democratic Party (Germany) | |
| last_election4 | 13 seats, 8.2% | |
| seats4 | 14 | |
| seat_change4 | 1 | |
| popular_vote4 | 354,970 | |
| percentage4 | 9.9% | |
| swing4 | 1.7% | |
| image5 | [[File:Landtag Niedersachsen DSCF7470.JPG | 150x150px]] |
| leader5 | Manfred Sohn | |
| party5 | The Left (Germany) | |
| last_election5 | 11 seats, 7.1% | |
| seats5 | 0 | |
| seat_change5 | 11 | |
| popular_vote5 | 112,212 | |
| percentage5 | 3.1% | |
| swing5 | 4.0% | |
| map_image | 2013 Lower Saxony state election.svg | |
| map_size | 400px | |
| map_caption | Results for the single-member constituencies | |
| title | Minister-President | |
| before_election | David McAllister | |
| before_party | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | |
| after_election | Stephan Weil | |
| after_party | Social Democratic Party of Germany |
2.4%
Stefan Wenzel
The 2013 Lower Saxony state election was held on 20 January 2013 to elect the members of the 17th Landtag of Lower Saxony. The incumbent coalition government of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) led by Minister-President David McAllister was defeated. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) formed a government with The Greens which held a slim, one-seat majority. Stephan Weil was subsequently elected Minister-President.
Background
The CDU–FDP coalition had governed since the 2003. In the 2008 state election, the SPD under Wolfgang Jüttner lost more than three percentage points, suffering its worst ever result in Lower Saxony. The FDP retained their status as the third strongest party, leading the Greens by just 0.2%. The Left won 7.1 percent of the vote, crossing the electoral threshold and winning seats for the first time.
Most polls taken in early 2012 showed a SPD–Green majority. However, in the lead-up to the election, polls tightened, with the CDU–FDP coalition virtually neck and neck with the SPD–Green coalition. Polling suggested that the FDP's vote could be very close to 5%, which led some officials in the CDU to suggest tactically voting FDP to ensure it met the threshold.
Before the election, the SPD and Greens announced their plan to govern and campaign together. The CDU acted independently of the FDP during the campaign, but sought to continue the incumbent coalition. If a CDU–FDP coalition could not be formed, the CDU stated that the SPD would be their second choice. However, the SPD itself rejected the idea of a grand coalition.
Electoral system
The system used was Mixed-member proportional representation. The results in the electoral districts were determined using FPTP and the overall result using the D'Hondt method.
Parties
The table below lists parties represented in the 16th Landtag of Lower Saxony.
| Name | Ideology | Leader(s) | 2008 result | Votes (%) | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} | **CDU** | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | |||
| *Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands* | Christian democracy | David McAllister | 42.5% | ||
| Social Democratic Party of Germany}} | **SPD** | Social Democratic Party of Germany | |||
| *Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands* | Social democracy | Stephan Weil | 30.3% | ||
| Free Democratic Party (Germany)}} | **FDP** | Free Democratic Party | |||
| *Freie Demokratische Partei* | Classical liberalism | Stefan Birkner | 8.2% | ||
| Alliance 90/The Greens}} | **Grüne** | Alliance 90/The Greens | |||
| *Bündnis 90/Die Grünen* | Green politics | Anja Piel | |||
| Stefan Wenzel | 8.0% | ||||
| The Left (Germany)}} | **Linke** | The Left | |||
| *Die Linke* | Democratic socialism | Manfred Sohn | 7.1% |
Opinion polling
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| size | CDU | SPD | FDP | Grüne | Linke | Piraten | Others | Lead | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};" | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" | Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | Alliance 90/The Greens}};" | The Left (Germany)}};" | Pirate Party Germany}};" | ||||||
| [2013 state election](http://www.wahlrecht.de/news/2013/landtagswahl-niedersachsen-2013.html#absolut) | 20 Jan 2013 | – | **36.0** | 32.6 | 9.9 | 13.7 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 3.4 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 14–16 Jan 2013 | 1,006 | **41** | 33 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 8 | |||||||||
| [INFO GmbH](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 2–6 Jan 2013 | 1,002 | **38.0** | 31.5 | 4.5 | 14.5 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 6.5 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 8–10 Jan 2013 | 1,001 | **40** | 33 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 7 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 7–9 Jan 2013 | 1,007 | **41** | 33 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 8 | |||||||||
| [Forschungsgruppe Wahlen](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 7–9 Jan 2013 | 1,040 | **39** | 33 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 6 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 28 Dec 2012–2 Jan 2013 | 1,000 | **40** | 34 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 6 | |||||||||
| [INFO GmbH](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 7–14 Dec 2012 | 1,001 | **38.5** | 33.0 | 3.5 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5.5 | |||||||||
| [Forschungsgruppe Wahlen](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 3–5 Dec 2012 | 1,043 | **39** | 32 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 7 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 30 Nov–4 Dec 2012 | 1,000 | **40** | 33 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 7 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 28–30 Nov 2012 | 1,006 | **41** | 32 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 9 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 2–6 Nov 2012 | 1,003 | **41** | 34 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 7 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 17–19 Sep 2012 | 1,003 | **37** | 33 | 3 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 10–14 Sep 2012 | 1,002 | **38** | 33 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5 | |||||||||
| [Forsa](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 11–20 Jul 2012 | 1,108 | **38** | 33 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 5 | |||||||||
| [YouGov](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 5–13 Jul 2012 | 1,025 | 31 | **35** | 4 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 4 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 14–15 May 2012 | 1,005 | 32 | **36** | 4 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 4 | Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 16–19 Apr 2012 | 1,005 | **37** | 33 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 2 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 20–24 Jan 2012 | 1,001 | **36** | 32 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [GMS](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 10–14 Jan 2012 | 1,003 | **37** | 33 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 4 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 2–4 May 2011 | 1,000 | **34** | 31 | 5 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 2 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 3 | |||||||||
| [Infratest dimap](http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm) | 7–11 Jan 2010 | 1,000 | **41** | 29 | 9 | 11 | 6 | – | 4 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 12 | |||||||||
| [2008 state election](http://www.wahlrecht.de/news/2008/ni-2008.htm) | 27 Jan 2008 | – | **42.5** | 30.3 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 7.1 | – | 3.9 | Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;" | 12.2 |
Election result
| - |
|---|
| ! colspan="2" |
| ! Votes |
| ! % |
| ! +/- |
| ! Constituencies |
| ! List seats |
| ! Total seats |
| ! +/- |
| ! Total seats % |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| ! colspan=8 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| ! align=right colspan=2 |
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| - |
| ! align=right colspan=2 |
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| ! colspan="5" |
| - |
| - |
| } |
Sources
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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