2021 Berlin state election

Last updated

2021 Berlin state election
Flag of Berlin.svg
  2016 26 September 2021 2023  

All 147 seats in the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin, including 17 overhang and leveling seats
74 seats needed for a majority
Turnout1,844,278 (75.4%)
Increase2.svg 8.5 pp
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
2021-09-26 Abgeordnetenhauswahlabend SPD Berlin by Sandro Halank-030.jpg
Pressefoto Bettina-Jarasch 2014.jpg
2014-09-09 - Kai Wegner MdB - 7002.jpg
Candidate Franziska Giffey Bettina Jarasch Kai Wegner
Party SPD Greens CDU
Last election38 seats, 21.6%27 seats, 15.2%31 seats, 17.6%
Seats won363230
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 5Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote390,329343,871328,587
Percentage21.4%18.9%18.0%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.1 ppIncrease2.svg 3.7 ppIncrease2.svg 0.4 pp

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
2017-11-16 Klaus Lederer (Wiki Loves Parliaments 2017 in Berlin) by Sandro Halank.jpg
Kristin Brinker, AfD (Martin Rulsch) 2017-11-16.jpg
Portrait Sebastian Czaja.jpg
Candidate Klaus Lederer Kristin Brinker Sebastian Czaja
Party Left AfD FDP
Last election27 seats, 15.6%25 seats, 14.2%12 seats, 6.7%
Seats won241312
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 3Decrease2.svg 12Steady2.svg 0
Popular vote256,063145,712130,201
Percentage14.1%8.0%7.1%
SwingDecrease2.svg 1.6 ppDecrease2.svg 6.2 ppIncrease2.svg 0.5 pp

2021 Berlin state election.svg

Government before election

Second Müller senate
SPDLeftGreen

Government after election

Giffey senate
SPDGreenLeft

The 2021 Berlin state election, ruled invalid in 2022 and repeated in 2023, was held on 26 September 2021, on the same day as the 2021 German federal election, which also had to be repeated in parts of Berlin due to irregularities. Thus, the 19th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin [1] [2] was elected twice.

Contents

The incumbent government was a red-red-green coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), The Left, and The Greens led by Governing Mayor Michael Müller. Müller did not run for re-election as Mayor, and former federal minister Franziska Giffey led the SPD in the election. [3] The Berlin expropriation referendum was held on the same day, as well as the Borough council elections who function as the municipal elections of Berlin.

The SPD remained the largest party with 21.4% of votes cast, recording minimal change compared to 2016. The Greens narrowly surpassed the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to become the second largest party with 19% of the vote. The Left recorded a small decline to 14%, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) lost almost half its vote share and finished on 8%. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) remained the smallest party in the Abgeordnetenhaus with 7%. [4]

Post-election, SPD's Giffey and Bettina Jarasch of the Greens both spoke out in favour of a coalition involving their parties. [4] They ultimately renewed the outgoing government with The Left. Franziska Giffey was elected as Governing Mayor on 21 December and her cabinet was sworn in the same day. [5]

Due to numerous irregularities that took place during the election, the Constitutional Court of the State of Berlin annulled the results in November 2022. As a result, repeat elections were scheduled for the next year. [6]

Election date

The last election took place on 18 September 2016. The Abgeordnetenhaus has a term of five years, so the next regular elections must take place no later than September 2021. [2] Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer recommended that the election take place on the same date as the 2021 German federal election, which took place on 26 September 2021. [1]

Electoral system

The Abgeordnetenhaus is elected via mixed-member proportional representation. 78 members are elected in single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting. 52 members are then allocated using compensatory proportional representation, distributed in each of Berlin's twelve boroughs. German voters have two votes: the "first vote" for candidates in single-member constituencies, and the "second vote" for party lists, which are used to fill the proportional seats. The minimum size of the Abgeordnetenhaus is 130 members, but if overhang seats are present, proportional leveling seats will be added to ensure proportionality. An electoral threshold of 5% of valid votes is applied to the Abgeordnetenhaus; parties that fall below this threshold are excluded from the Abgeordnetenhaus. However, parties which win at least one single-member constituency are exempt from the threshold and will be allocated seats proportionally, even if they fall below 5%. [2]

Background

In the previous election held on 13 March 2016, the SPD remained the largest party with 21.6% of the vote, a loss of 6.7 percentage points. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was the second largest party with 17.6%, a loss of 5.7 points. The Left overtook The Greens to become the third largest party on 15.6%, while The Greens won 15.2%. Alternative for Germany (AfD) contested their first election in Berlin, winning 14.2%. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) re-entered the Abgeordnetenhaus with 6.7%.

The SPD had led a coalition with the CDU since 2011, but this government lost its majority in the election. The SPD subsequently formed a coalition with The Left and The Greens.

Parties

The table below lists parties currently represented in the 18th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin.

NameIdeologyLead
candidate
Leader(s)2016 result
Votes (%)Seats
SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
Social democracy Franziska Giffey Franziska Giffey
Raed Saleh
21.6%
38 / 160
CDU Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands
Christian democracy Kai Wegner Kai Wegner 17.6%
31 / 160
Linke The Left
Die Linke
Democratic socialism Klaus Lederer Katina Schubert 15.6%
27 / 160
Grüne Alliance 90/The Greens
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Green politics Bettina Jarasch Nina Stahr
Werner Graf
15.2%
27 / 160
AfD Alternative for Germany
Alternative für Deutschland
Right-wing populism Kristin BrinkerKristin Brinker14.2%
25 / 160
FDP Free Democratic Party
Freie Demokratische Partei
Classical liberalism Sebastian Czaja Christoph Meyer 6.7%
12 / 160

Campaign

Lead candidates

On 5 October 2020, the Greens nominated Bettina Jarasch, spokeswoman for integration and refugees, as their lead candidate for the election. She previously served as chairwoman of the state party from 2011 to 2016. [7] She was formally elected as lead candidate on 12 December. [8]

On 9 October, state CDU leader Kai Wegner was selected as his party's lead candidate. [9]

Prior to the election, incumbent mayor Michael Müller voiced his desire to move into federal politics rather than seek another term. On 30 November 2020, the state party executive nominated Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Franziska Giffey as lead candidate for the election. She was simultaneously elected co-leader of the Berlin branch of the party alongside parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh. [9] [3]

On 8 December, The Left nominated incumbent Deputy Mayor and Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer as its lead candidate for the election. Lederer is noted as one of the most popular politicians in Berlin, achieving consistently high approval ratings. [10]

On 27 March 2021, the FDP elected parliamentary group leader Sebastian Czaja as their lead candidate for the election. [11]

Opinion polling

Graphical summary

Opinion polls Berlin 2021.svg
Local regression of polls conducted.

Party polling

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
SPD CDU Linke Grüne AfD FDP OthersLead
2021 state election26 Sep 202121.418.014.118.98.07.112.52.5
INSA 22–24 Sep 20211,0002315141711812 [lower-alpha 1] 6
Wahlkreisprognose 22–23 Sep 20211,0402515.514.515.510.57.5129.5
Forschungsgruppe Wahlen 20–22 Sep 20211,1032217131997133
Forschungsgruppe Wahlen 13–16 Sep 20211,0002117122098131
Infratest dimap 13–15 Sep 20211,5102416131810712 [lower-alpha 2] 6
Wahlkreisprognose 9–14 Sep 20211,5532514.514.514.510.58.512.510.5
Wahlkreisprognose 23–24 Aug 20211,05024.5151515.5119.59.59
Infratest dimap 18–21 Aug 20211,16023191217118104
INSA 16–23 Aug 20211,000221615181298 [lower-alpha 3] 4
Forsa 5–10 Aug 20212,0072117142110710Tie
Wahlkreisprognose 24–31 Jul 20212,42024181515.5999.56
Wahlkreisprognose 29 Jun–6 Jul 20212,950212014169.510.59.51
INSA 16–22 Jun 20211,0001818132212107 [lower-alpha 4] 3
Infratest dimap 9–14 Jun 20211,1981721122210991
Wahlkreisprognose 3–10 Jun 20211,55320.51813168.512.511.5 [lower-alpha 5] 2.5
INSA 11–17 May 20211,000201613251295 [lower-alpha 6] 5
Infratest dimap 20–24 Apr 2021 ?171814279789
INSA 12–20 Apr 20211,02419161425121046
Infratest dimap 16–20 Feb 20211,007182215239671
INSA 11–18 Dec 20201,0021822161812774
INSA 28 Sep–5 Oct 20201,0071821162012671
Infratest dimap 15–19 Sep 20201,0011522152610664
INSA 7–13 Jul 20201,0121621181912592
Infratest dimap 22–25 Apr 20201,0022023142110572
Forsa 29 Jan–6 Feb 20201,01115161725116108
INSA 10–18 Dec 20191,0061518192313754
Forsa 12–19 Dec 20191,00515171922116103
Forsa 21–28 Nov 20191,00616171725115108
Infratest dimap 11–16 Nov 20191,0031618172314575
Forsa 22–31 Oct 20191,00215181625115107
Forsa 17–26 Sep 20191,00216171624116107
INSA 10–16 Sep 20191,0181517182414666
Forsa 20–29 Aug 20191,00316161724116107
Forsa 17–25 Jul 20191,0011617182510597
Forsa 17–27 Jun 20191,0041517172510798
Forsa 20–27 May 20191,0061615172611789
Infratest dimap 30 Apr–3 May 20191,00015171923106104
Forsa 16–25 Apr 20191,0051617182511767
INSA 5–8 Apr 20191,030161919191296Tie
INSA 19–28 Mar 20191,0031518182510867
Forsa 20–28 Feb 20191,0011720182211752
Forsa 22–31 Jan 20191,0021619202111851
Forsa 11–19 Dec 20181,0091517182313775
INSA 10–17 Dec 20181,0071618162114873
Forsa 19–29 Nov 20181,0031518182313765
Infratest dimap 14–17 Nov 20181,0021518182413666
INSA 23 Oct–2 Nov 20181,0191616172215775
Forsa October 20181,0051516192213873
Forsa 19–27 Sep 20181,0051617221813774
Forsa 21–30 Aug 20181,0041719211812672
Forsa 16–26 Jul 20181,0091719211713762
INSA 9–16 Jul 20181,012171817181479Tie
Forsa 20–28 Jun 20181,0091918211611872
Forsa 22–31 May 20181,0041819201811771
Infratest dimap 9–12 May 20181,0001821221511671
Forsa 17–26 Apr 20181,001191919181177Tie
INSA 3–9 Apr 20181,039191919171385Tie
Forsa 19–28 Mar 20181,003202018171276Tie
Forsa 12–22 Feb 20181,0061919201812661
Forsa 15–25 Jan 20181,0082019181711781
Forsa 12–21 Dec 20171,002202018171168Tie
Forsa 13–23 Nov 20171,0021821181611883
Forsa 17–26 Oct 20171,0111920181411991
Forsa 26 Sep–5 Oct 20171,002181919151199Tie
Infratest dimap 6–9 Sep 20171,0002123191410762
Forsa 22–30 Aug 20171,0051921171491192
Forsa 18–27 Jul 20171,007202218148992
Forsa 22–29 Jun 20171,003212217148991
Forsa 16–24 May 20171,0012223161388101
Infratest dimap 17–20 May 20171,0002224171310862
Forsa 19–27 Apr 20171,0022420161298114
Forsa 20–30 Mar 20171,0052520161387115
Forsa 13–23 Mar 20171,00425171613108118
Forsa 16–26 Jan 20171,008202016151289Tie
Forsa 12–23 Dec 20161,003202017161278Tie
Forsa 14–24 Nov 20171,0011920161713781
Infratest dimap 21–23 Nov 20161,0032119171513782
Forsa 19–27 Oct 20161,00220181616137102
2016 state election 18 Sep 201621.617.615.615.214.26.77.44.0

Results

Results of the party list vote by voting precinct (Wahlbezirk). 2021 Berlin state election by voting precinct.svg
Results of the party list vote by voting precinct (Wahlbezirk).
2021 Berlin state election - composition chart.svg
PartyConstituencyParty listTotal
seats
+/–
Votes%+/–SeatsVotes%+/–Seats
Social Democratic Party (SPD)422,75423.36–1.4325390,32921.43–0.131136–2
Alliance 90/The Greens (GRÜNE)361,63619.99+4.2324343,87118.88+3.69832+5
Christian Democratic Union (CDU)355,69619.66–0.1721328,58718.04+0.43930–1
The Left (LINKE)252,47013.95–1.486256,06314.06–1.581824–3
Alternative for Germany (AfD)146,0918.07–6.052145,7128.00–6.161113–12
Free Democratic Party (FDP)119,2266.59+1.030130,2017.15+0.4512120
Human Environment Animal Protection 60,9903.37+3.37040,1282.20+0.33000
Die PARTEI 36,3052.01+0.79032,8001.80–0.15000
Grassroots Democratic Party 29,7701.65New023,0551.27New00New
Volt Germany 20,2051.11New00New
Team Todenhöfer 18,8531.03New00New
Free Voters 16,8970.93New015,2970.84New00New
The Greys 12,6540.69New00New
Grey Panthers 8,9100.49–0.62000
Animal Protection Here!8,0590.44New00New
Climate List Berlin 7,8990.43New00New
Pirate Party Germany 1,6710.09–1.8907,4400.41–1.32000
Party for Health Research 4,8870.27–0.21000
Renters' Party1,0790.06+±0.0004,2610.23+0.23000
The Humanists 3,8800.21New00New
The Urbans. A HipHop Party 6980.04New03,5870.20New00New
Ecological Democratic Party 1,0720.06+0.0502,4460.13+0.12000
Bildet Berlin! 2,4860.14New00New
National Democratic Party 8520.05–0.2702,3490.13–0.45000
German Communist Party 2,3590.13–0.08000
Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei" 1,7130.09+0.06000
Liberal Conservative Reformers 9790.05+0.0401,2630.07–0.34000
The Pinks/Alliance 21 740.00New09700.05New00New
Civil Rights Movement Solidarity 5750.03–0.05000
Socialist Equality Party 4920.03New00New
Human World 1740.01–0.04000
The New Democrats950.01New00New
The Republicans 180.00New0550.00New00New
German Conservative90.00New00New
The Women1200.01New00New
Liberal Democrats 280.00New00New
Democratic Left210.00–0.00000
Independents 1,0390.06–0.21000
Total1,809,486100.00781,821,664100.0069147-13
Total votes1,844,2781,844,278
Registered voters/turnout2,447,60075.35+8.462,447,60075.35+8.46
Source: State Returning Officer
Popular vote
SPD
21.43%
GRÜNE
18.88%
CDU
18.04%
LINKE
14.06%
AfD
8.00%
FDP
7.15%
Other
12.46%
Abgeordnetenhaus seats
SPD
24.49%
GRÜNE
21.77%
CDU
20.41%
LINKE
16.33%
AfD
8.84%
FDP
8.16%

By constituency

ConstituencyPersonal voteList vote
Previous memberElected memberVotes %MarginRunner-up % SPD Grüne CDU Linke AfD FDP Other
Mitte 1 Ramona Pop Silke Gebel 8,68035.24,374Astrid Hollmann17.515.431.313.414.23.410.911.3
Mitte 2 Carola Bluhm Max Landero5,55521.8305Stefan Lehmkühler20.719.719.614.620.76.08.810.6
Mitte 3Thomas IsenbergJian Omar7,20831.92,231Thomas Isenberg22.020.028.315.013.53.98.111.2
Mitte 4Marc UrbatschTaylan Kurt7,83236.93,961Stephan Rauhut18.216.732.39.218.24.05.514.1
Mitte 5Bruni Wildenhein-LauterbachMathias Schulz4,76525.6648Ario Mirzaie22.122.820.514.015.77.65.114.2
Mitte 6 Ralf Wieland Tuba Bozkurt5,09129.81,290Stephan Böhme22.217.526.28.222.84.84.316.3
Mitte 7 Maja Lasić Laura Neugebauer 5,17928.1790 Maja Lasić 23.819.925.010.018.65.05.316.2
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 1 Katrin Schmidberger Katrin Schmidberger 9,15341.25,010Hannah Lupper18.616.936.38.319.22.25.012.2
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 2Marianne Burkert-EulitzMarianne Burkert-Eulitz7,83338.82,206Elif Eralp27.912.937.35.126.41.93.313.1
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 3Turgut AltuğTurgut Altuğ7,01035.02,938Ali Reza Amiri20.417.530.97.722.72.73.614.8
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 4Steffen ZillichDamiano Valgolio5,32624.7211Monika Herrmann23.818.221.710.325.35.85.712.8
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 5Daniela BilligVasili Franco8,10934.72,327Steffen Zillich24.812.932.56.825.43.34.814.5
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 6New seatJulian Schwarze8,98838.63,747Kerstin Wolter-Ehling22.512.335.27.123.12.95.913.5
Pankow 1Christian Buchholz Johannes Kraft 6,39025.41,104Willi Francke21.021.710.319.713.714.07.013.6
Pankow 2Torsten HoferTorsten Hofer5,69222.6510Lars Bocian20.621.415.118.813.411.07.512.8
Pankow 3Torsten SchneiderOda Hassepaß6,19023.824 Klaus Lederer 23.719.323.511.919.37.55.612.9
Pankow 4 Dennis Buchner Dennis Buchner 5,14924.11,208 Dirk Stettner 18.422.113.317.016.411.86.113.3
Pankow 5Udo WolfLouis Krüger5,03621.9180Katrin Seidel21.119.620.611.620.48.44.914.5
Pankow 6 Andreas Otto Andreas Otto 10,45141.35,204Katja Rom20.813.037.76.921.92.85.712.1
Pankow 7Clara West Julia Schneider 7,13630.72,452Sandra Brunner20.216.327.49.121.46.45.613.8
Pankow 8 Stefan Gelbhaar Daniela Billig9,10838.24,437Janine Walter19.613.335.28.720.53.27.211.8
Pankow 9Tino SchopfTino Schopf6,87827.4740Stefanie Remlinger24.518.925.110.620.66.55.612.8
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 1Fréderic VerryckenChristian Hochgrebe5,46627.61,216Jana Brix21.524.420.317.49.47.38.213.0
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 2Andreas StatzkowskiAriturel Hack7,00728.91,379Alexander Sempf23.222.719.725.86.84.911.58.6
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 3Ülker RadziwillPetra Vandrey7,55531.01,789Ülker Radziwill23.621.728.515.511.43.88.610.5
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 4Frank JahnkeChristoph Wapler6,56427.0583Reinhard Naumann24.622.025.118.78.94.011.59.7
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 5Claudio JupeSandra Khalatbari7,00030.01,756Claudia Buß22.521.217.627.86.45.014.08.1
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 6Franziska BeckerAlexander Kaas Elias6,40326.419Franziska Becker26.322.725.519.29.33.99.410.0
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 7Florian DörstelmannFlorian Dörstelmann6,68126.2526Stefanie Bung24.123.821.822.08.35.09.39.9
Spandau 1Bettina DomerSebahat Atli6,34628.7752Bettina Meißner25.326.410.824.45.911.07.214.2
Spandau 2 Raed Saleh Raed Saleh 6,07332.32,114Ersin Nas21.127.511.621.56.711.06.914.8
Spandau 3Daniel BuchholzStephan Machulik6,28829.21,488Kerstin Brauner22.325.213.422.47.09.77.514.8
Spandau 4Heiko MelzerHeiko Melzer6,89231.2485Hannah Erez-Hübner29.026.69.229.94.610.57.711.5
Spandau 5Peter Trapp Kai Wegner 8,97036.52,817Uwe Ziesak25.023.313.033.04.28.19.19.2
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 1Andreas KuglerBenedikt Lux7,37628.92,817Andreas Kugler23.822.724.619.58.54.69.210.9
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 2 Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen 6,51927.91,307Tonka Wojahn22.324.421.320.08.15.69.211.4
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 3Christian GoinyChristian Goiny8,61131.32,188Martin Matz23.322.320.527.45.24.711.88.2
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 4 Cornelia Seibeld Cornelia Seibeld 7,17831.72,188Carolyn Macmillan25.724.416.028.35.16.310.19.7
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 5Oliver FriedericiOliver Friederici6,49329.4812Mirjam Golm25.724.914.326.05.67.69.911.7
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 6Adrian GrasseAdrian Grasse8,02531.02,247Ina Czyborra22.420.520.827.66.34.312.28.3
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 7Stephan StandfußStephan Standfuß7,78730.72,137Susanne Mertens22.320.219.928.94.74.214.18.1
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 1Notker SchweikhardtSebastian Walter8,55233.22,606Wiebke Neumann23.120.529.913.813.73.77.111.2
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 2Catherina Pieroth-ManelliCatherina Pieroth-Manelli9,12135.92,997Michael Biel24.119.833.010.615.33.35.412.5
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 3 Dilek Kalayci Orkan Özdemir8,83832.1999Annabelle Wolfsturm28.522.430.815.410.43.57.210.2
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 4 Michael Müller Aferdita Suka6,26725.7421Jens Fischwasser24.021.923.117.311.95.46.513.9
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 5Frank ZimmermannLars Rauchfuß6,46028.0389Roman Simon26.325.613.324.57.27.97.713.8
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 6Florian GrafScott Körber7,65833.11,518Sinem Taşan-Funke26.525.210.630.94.59.19.010.7
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 7 Hildegard Bentele Christian Zander8,72735.62,722Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow24.523.610.633.94.28.78.610.4
Neukölln 1Anja KofbingerAndré Schulze7,95833.81,703 Lucy Redler 26.616.932.15.626.43.02.713.2
Neukölln 2Susanna KahlefeldSusanna Kahlefeld7,42932.9630Jorinde Schulz30.116.931.95.126.93.12.513.6
Neukölln 3 Joschka Langenbrinck Derya Çağlar5,57127.2630 Georg Kössler 20.525.619.810.519.25.94.015.1
Neukölln 4Derya ÇağlarMarcel Hopp7,74636.11,943Christopher Förster27.136.36.123.75.210.36.412.0
Neukölln 5Robbin JuhnkeNina Lerch7,33330.3392Robbin Juhnke28.733.19.424.85.09.27.311.3
Neukölln 6Karin Korte Franziska Giffey 9,77140.83,116Olaf Schenk27.834.26.926.74.110.57.310.4
Treptow-Köpenick 1 Katalin Gennburg Katalin Gennburg 7,00526.21,666Alexander Freier-Winterwerb20.018.720.69.823.18.54.814.5
Treptow-Köpenick 2Lars DüsterhöftLars Düsterhöft8,15631.43,197Philipp Wohlfeil19.124.012.711.619.111.55.915.3
Treptow-Köpenick 3Frank ScholtysekEllen Haußdörfer5,95222.91,314Stefan Evers17.821.79.816.714.814.97.314.7
Treptow-Köpenick 4Robert SchaddachRobert Schaddach7,29226.62,728André Schubert16.721.412.115.817.312.07.913.5
Treptow-Köpenick 5Tom SchreiberTom Schreiber5,78026.01,680Stefanie Fuchs18.423.18.515.017.914.67.013.9
Treptow-Köpenick 6 Carsten Schatz Dunja Wolff5,90922.0441 Carsten Schatz 20.421.213.516.519.610.46.811.8
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 1Gunnar LindemannGunnar Lindemann4,04922.770Gordon Lemm22.320.15.312.718.621.75.216.3
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 2Manuela SchmidtManuela Schmidt5,15624.0140 Iris Spranger 23.423.15.515.620.917.24.713.1
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 3 Jessica Bießmann Jeannette Auricht4,33522.0250Steffen Ostehr20.819.95.413.918.320.94.916.8
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 4Christian GräffChristian Gräff9,27835.54,399Regina Kittler18.717.57.927.518.312.54.711.5
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 5 Mario Czaja Katharina Günther-Wünsch9,46133.54,251Luise Lehmann18.518.88.929.014.711.86.410.3
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 6 Kristian Ronneburg Alexander Herrmann5,54127.91,860 Kristian Ronneburg 18.619.55.920.917.916.65.014.2
Lichtenberg 1Kay NerstheimerDanny Freymark5,63525.51,475Ines Schmidt18.820.65.119.817.418.14.714.1
Lichtenberg 2 Wolfgang Albers Martin Pätzold5,05521.377Robert Schneider21.021.08.018.819.413.76.312.9
Lichtenberg 3Marion PlattaClaudia Engelmann5,52624.4302Karsten Strien23.123.110.112.521.212.35.715.2
Lichtenberg 4Sebastian SchlüsselburgSebastian Schlüsselburg7,19829.42,002Tamara Lüdke21.319.516.89.924.59.15.015.2
Lichtenberg 5Hendrikje KleinHendrikje Klein6,44126.41,527Patricia Holland-Moritz20.120.115.310.423.110.35.015.8
Lichtenberg 6Harald Wolf Andreas Geisel 6,63627.11,527Norman Wolf21.222.417.212.820.28.25.813.4
Reinickendorf 1Burkard DreggerBettina König4,82027.2592Burkard Dregger23.823.713.221.49.110.75.616.3
Reinickendorf 2Emine Demirbüken-WegnerJörg Stroedter5,03126.861Emine Demirbüken-Wegner26.524.711.025.06.011.96.814.6
Reinickendorf 3Stephan SchmidtStephan Schmidt7,94633.41,742Nicola Böcker-Giannini26.123.514.031.54.07.68.910.6
Reinickendorf 4Tim ZeelenBjörn Wohlert7,02628.4485Sven Meyer26.423.913.427.05.39.48.412.5
Reinickendorf 5Michael DietmannMichael Dietmann5,04330.7563Sevda Boyraci27.326.28.327.84.912.37.013.5
Reinickendorf 6Jürn Jakob Schultze-BerndtFrank Balzer8,76436.63,560Kai Kottenstede21.820.417.734.33.95.810.08.1
BerlinN/AN/AN/A21.418.918.014.18.07.112.5

Aftermath

Government formation

The results showed that the next government would have to consist of three parties, in order to get a majority; all parties ruled out the possibility of working with the AfD. Before the results, the SPD's candidate Franziska Giffey had stated that she was looking to form a coalition involving the CDU and the FDP. Post-election, both the SPD's Giffey and Bettina Jarasch of the Greens spoke out in favour of a coalition involving their parties but differed on a third partner, as Giffey favoured a traffic light coalition with the FDP, while the Greens voiced their desire to renew the incumbent red–red–green coalition with The Left. Giffey faced resistance within her party for her stance. The SPD and Greens agreed to seek preliminary discussions with both the FDP and Left. [12] [13] On 14 October, Giffey announced that the SPD would enter coalition negotiations with the Greens and The Left. [14]

The three parties finalised a coalition agreement on 28 November. [15] It was approved by 91.5% of delegates at an SPD congress on 5 December. [16] On, 12 December, it was passed by the Greens congress 96.4% approval. [17] The Left carried out a membership ballot on the coalition pact. Most party representatives endorsed the agreement, though some, such as Katalin Gennburg, campaigned against it. The results were announced on 17 December, with 74.9% of members voting in favour of the agreement. [18]

Giffey was elected as Governing Mayor by the Abgeordnetenhaus on 21 December, winning 84 votes out of 139 votes. The Giffey senate, comprising four SPD, three Green, three Left, and one independent senator, was sworn in the same day. [5]

Irregularities and annulment

Numerous irregularities were reported during the elections in Berlin, including shortages of ballot papers, unusually long queues to vote, ballots being delivered to the wrong locations, and in some cases voters being turned away or offered only ballot papers for the federal election. Problems were exacerbated by a marathon taking place in the city on the same day. Irregularities were especially common in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Friedrichshain districts. State electoral officer Petra Michaelis resigned three days after the election, taking responsibility for the failures in the election process. The state interior minister announced an inquiry into the events and stated that investigations would take place concerning incidents at approximately 100 of Berlin's 2,245 polling stations. This was later revised to 207 of 2,257 polling stations. Reviews and corrections are considered unlikely to change the overall results of the state or federal elections, but may affect the outcome of results in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 6 and Marzahn-Hellersdorf 1 constituencies for the state election. [19] [20] [21] Preliminary results showed the SPD candidate ahead by 8 votes in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 6; a recount saw the seat flip to the Greens by a margin of 23 votes. The new result was later certified by the electoral office. [22]

On 22 November, the state electoral committee and interior ministry requested that the Constitutional Court of the State of Berlin rule on the validity of the election results in the Pankow 3, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 6, and Marzahn-Hellersdorf 1 constituencies. The court may determine that a repeat of the elections is necessary in the affected constituencies; it is expected to take several months to deliver its verdict. The interior ministry clarified that, although irregularities were recorded in many constituencies, they were only significant enough to change the result in the three specified. Nonetheless, the state government plans to establish an expert committee to investigate the irregularities. [23]

After months of investigation and hearings, on 28 September 2022, the Constitutional Court of the State of Berlin issued a preliminary assessment declaring that a full repeat of both the state and district council elections was likely necessary. [24] The court handed down its official ruling on 16 November, voiding the results and mandating a new election within 90 days.The president of the court Ludgera Selting  [ de ] stated that the frequency and gravity of irregularities were severe enough to affect the outcome of the results, and that serious systemic flaws were present during preparation for the election. [6]

The new election must take place within 90 days – 14 February 2023 at the latest. [25] [6] A likely date is Sunday 12 February. The repeat election will not reset the legislative period, meaning another full state election must still take place in 2026 or earlier. [26]

In addition, the Election Audit Committee of the Bundestag reviewed the findings of the Berlin Constitutional Court to determine whether a repeat of the federal election was required in Berlin. On 7 November, the committee recommended that the elections be repeated in 431 affected polling stations. This was put forward by the governing coalition of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, who formed the majority in the committee. The CDU/CSU and AfD factions opposed this, insisting that a full repeat in the six affected constituencies should take place. The committee's recommendation was approved by the Bundestag on 10 November. [6] [27] [28] Due to a differing process and anticipated legal challenges which could bring the issue before the Federal Constitutional Court, any repeat of the federal election in Berlin is unlikely to take place for a longer period of time, and may be delayed to 2024. [25] [26]

See also

Notes

  1. Free Voters 3%, Tierschutzpartei 3%, Others 6%
  2. Tierschutzpartei 3%, Others 9%
  3. Free Voters 3%, Others 5%
  4. Free Voters 2%, Others 5%
  5. PARTEI 5%, Others 6.5%
  6. Free Voters 3%, Others 2%

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