Germany
German Bundestag
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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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
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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.
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26 Sep 2021
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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26 Oct 2021
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Upon normal expiry
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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23 Feb 2025
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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.
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736
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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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.
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47
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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".
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6,211
Notes: In addition to 4,186 men and 2,024 women, one other person (diverse) stood for the 2021 elections.
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
4,186
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
2,024
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Number of other candidates
Number of other candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
1
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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32.6%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
61,181,072
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Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
46,854,508
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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 -
76.6%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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The 2021 elections led to the first powershift in 16 years. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Mr. Olaf Scholz, became the largest party in the new 736-member legislature (see note). The SPD won nine more seats than the ruling coalition, which comprised the Christian Democratic Union (CDU, led by Ms. Armin Laschet) and Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU). The Green Party (co-led by Ms. Annalena Baerbock and Mr. Robert Habeck) sharply increased its share of seats and became the third largest party. The percentage of women increased from 30.75 per cent (218 women out of 709 members) to 34.92 per cent (257 women out of 736 members). Two transgender women won seats for the first time in Germany. On 26 October, the newly elected Bundestag held its first session and elected Ms. Bärbel Bas (SPD) as its new Speaker. She became the first woman to hold the post since 1998.
On 7 December, the SPD, the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP, led by Mr. Christian Lindner) officially signed a deal to form a coalition government. On 8 December, the Bundestag elected Mr. Scholz as the new Chancellor. He replaced Ms. Angela Merkel (CDU), who had held the post since 2005. Amongst others, the coalition deal aims to accelerate the green transition, allow multiple citizenship and lower the voting age from 18 to 16.
Note:
In addition to the 598 statutory seats, there are a total of 138 additional seats, including 34 overhang seats. (See note on overhang seats in the Other Notes section).
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Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
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8
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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.
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17.0%
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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.
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28.0%
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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.
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Yes
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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3
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Social Democratic Party (SPD), Green Party, Free Democratic Party (FDP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total | Overhang seats | Other extra seats |
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Social Democratic Party (SPD) | 206 | 10 | 26 |
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) | 152 | 12 | 18 |
Green Party | 118 | 0 | 24 |
Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 92 | 0 | 16 |
Alternative for Germany (AfD) | 83 | 1 | 13 |
Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) | 45 | 11 | 0 |
Left Party (Die Linke) | 39 | 0 | 7 |
The South-Schleswigian Voters’ Association | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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479
- Number of women elected
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257
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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34.9%
- Women Directly Elected
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257
- Other notes on the elections
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Note on the overhang seats:
The statutory number of the German Bundestag is 598, of which 299 members are elected under the majority (first-past-the post) system and the remaining seats are filled through the proportional representation system using the party list. 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 keep the additional seats, called "overhang seats" (Überhangmandate).
Based on the 2013 amendments to the Federal Electoral Act, if a party gets overhang seats, extra seats (also known as balance seats) can be attributed to the party to ensure complete proportionality of the share of votes for all parties nationwide.
In 2021, there were a total of 138 additional seats, including 34 overhang seats. The 2021 legislature thus comprises 736 seats in all up from 709 in the 2017 legislature. The 2017 legislature had included 111 additional seats of which 46 were overhang seats.
- Sources
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German Bundestag (08.10.2021, 19.10.2021, 20.10.2021)
The Federal Returning Officer (15.11.2021)
https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundeswahlleiter.html
https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2021.html
https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/service/glossar/u/ueberhangmandate.html
Reuters
BBC Monitoring
BBC
New legislature
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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.
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479
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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 -
257
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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.
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34.9%
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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.
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281
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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.
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38.2%
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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.
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26 Oct 2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Bärbel Bas (Female)
Date of birth: 03 May 1968 -
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.
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Social Democratic Party (SPD)
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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.
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26 Oct 2021