Germany
German Bundestag
-
Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Parliamentary system
-
Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
View field in the data dictionary -
Bicameral
-
IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
-
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
View field in the data dictionary -
24 Sep 2017
-
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
View field in the data dictionary -
24 Oct 2017
-
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
View field in the data dictionary -
Upon normal expiry
-
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
709
-
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
View field in the data dictionary -
Full renewal
Candidates
-
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
View field in the data dictionary -
48
Notes:
Number of parties contesting the election: 48. 34 parties fielded candidates under the proportional representation system.
In addition 14 more parties ran under the Majority system.
-
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
View field in the data dictionary -
4,828
Notes:
Number of seats at stake: 709, including 46 overhang seats (Überhangmandate) and 65 balance seats (Ausgleichsmandate).
Number of candidates: 4,828 : 1,674 candidates ran under both majority and proportional representation (PR ) systems. In addition, 2,269 candidates ran only under the PR and 885 others stood only for the majority system.
-
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
3,428
-
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
1,400
-
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
View field in the data dictionary -
29.0%
Voter turnout
-
Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
61,688,485
-
Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
46,976,341
-
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
76.2%
Results
-
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), remained the largest parliamentary group, taking 246 seats in the 709-member German Bundestag (see note). The CDU/CSU's coalition partner in the outgoing government, the Social Democratic Party (SPD, led by former European Parliament President Martin Schulz), came second. The populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the German Bundestag for the first time, becoming the third largest party. The newly elected legislature convened on 24 October and elected former Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) as new Speaker. He succeeded Mr. Norbert Lammert (CDU), who didn't stand for re-election after 37 years in parliament.
The major electoral issues in 2017 included immigration, the economy, euro zone reforms and climate change. Following the elections, the SPD leader announced that his party would join the opposition. Lengthy coalition talks followed. Initial talks involving the CDU/CSU, the Free Democratic Party (FDP, led by Mr. Christian Lindner,) and the Green Party (led by Ms. Simone Peter) collapsed on 19 November, plunging the country into an unprecedented political stalemate. On 19 December, the CDU and the SPD agreed to hold exploratory talks on forming a new government. On 14 March 2018, Prime Minister Merkel formed a new coalition government comprising the CDU/CSU and the SPD.
Note:
In Germany, if a party wins more seats in the majority system (the first vote) than the results of the proportional representation system (second vote) would normally entitle it to, it can keep the additional seats, called "overhang seats" (Überhangmandate). Based on the 2013 amendments to the Federal Electoral Act, in cases where some parties obtain overhang seats, "balance seats" (Ausgleichsmandate) are added to other parties in order to ensure complete proportionality of the share of votes for all parties nationwide.
In 2017, the CDU and CSU won a total of 43 overhang seats and the SPD, three (thus there are 46 overhang seats in all). Seven parties (instead of five in 2013) entered the Bundestag. The entry of two more parties in 2017 required more balance seats, for a total of 65 seats. The 2017 legislature thus comprises 111 more members than the statutory 598 seats, or 709 in all. In comparison, the 2013 legislature comprised 631 members in all (including four overhang seats and 29 balance seats).
-
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
7
-
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
14.6%
-
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
28.2%
-
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
View field in the data dictionary -
No
-
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
2
-
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total | Overhang seats | Balance seats | Overhang seats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) | 200 | 36 | 0 | |
Social Democratic Party (SPD) | 153 | 19 | 3 | |
Alternative for Germany (AfD) | 94 | 11 | 0 | |
Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 80 | 15 | 0 | |
Left Party (Die Linke) | 69 | 10 | 0 | |
Green Party | 67 | 10 | 0 | |
Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) | 46 | 0 | 7 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
-
491
- Number of women elected
-
218
-
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
30.7%
- Women Directly Elected
-
218
- Sources
-
German Bundestag (29.09.2017, 25.10.2017)
The Federal Returning Officer
Deutsche Welle
The Economist
CNBC
New legislature
-
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
491
-
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
218
-
Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
30.7%
-
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
262
-
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
37.0%
-
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
View field in the data dictionary -
24 Oct 2017
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
-
Wolfgang Schäuble (Male)
Date of birth: 1942 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
View field in the data dictionary -
Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
-
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
24 Oct 2017