2021 Berlin state election
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All 130 seats in the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin (plus overhang and leveling seats) 66+ seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2021 Berlin state election is expected to be held on 26 September 2021 to elect the 19th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin.[1][2] The current government is coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), The Left, and The Greens led by Governing Mayor Michael Müller. Müller will not run for re-election as Mayor, and federal minister Franziska Giffey will instead lead the SPD in the election.[3]
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 has recommended that the election take place on the same date as the 2021 German federal election, which is expected to be held 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. 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 5.7 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.
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.[4] She was formally elected as lead candidate on 12 December.[5]
On 9 October, was state CDU leader Kai Wegner was selected as his party's lead candidate.[6]
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.[6][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.[7]
Opinion polling
Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
SPD | CDU | Linke | Grüne | AfD | FDP | Others | Lead |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;"| | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;"| | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;"| | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;"| | style="background:Template:Alternative for Germany/meta/color;"| | style="background:Template:Free Democratic Party (Germany)/meta/color;"| | |||||
INSA | 11–18 Dec 2020 | 1,002 | 18 | 22 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 7 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
INSA | 28 Sep–5 Oct 2020 | 1,007 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 7 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Infratest dimap | 15–19 Sep 2020 | 1,001 | 15 | 22 | 15 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
INSA | 7–13 Jul 2020 | 1,012 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 9 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Infratest dimap | 22–25 Apr 2020 | 1,002 | 20 | 23 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 7 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 29 Jan–6 Feb 2020 | 1,011 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8 |
INSA | 10–18 Dec 2019 | 1,006 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 5 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
Forsa | 12–19 Dec 2019 | 1,005 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3 |
Forsa | 21–28 Nov 2019 | 1,006 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8 |
Infratest dimap | 11–16 Nov 2019 | 1,003 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 7 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 5 |
Forsa | 22–31 Oct 2019 | 1,002 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
Forsa | 17–26 Sep 2019 | 1,002 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
INSA | 10–16 Sep 2019 | 1,018 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 6 |
Forsa | 20–29 Aug 2019 | 1,003 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
Forsa | 17–25 Jul 2019 | 1,001 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 9 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
Forsa | 17–27 Jun 2019 | 1,004 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 9 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8 |
Forsa | 20–27 May 2019 | 1,006 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 9 |
Infratest dimap | 30 Apr–3 May 2019 | 1,000 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 10 | 6 | 10 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
Forsa | 16–25 Apr 2019 | 1,005 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
INSA | 5–8 Apr 2019 | 1,030 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 6 | Tie |
INSA | 19–28 Mar 2019 | 1,003 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7 |
Forsa | 20–28 Feb 2019 | 1,001 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 5 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 22–31 Jan 2019 | 1,002 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 5 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 11–19 Dec 2018 | 1,009 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 7 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 5 |
INSA | 10–17 Dec 2018 | 1,007 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 7 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3 |
Forsa | 19–29 Nov 2018 | 1,003 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 5 |
Infratest dimap | 14–17 Nov 2018 | 1,002 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 6 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 6 |
INSA | 23 Oct–2 Nov 2018 | 1,019 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 7 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 5 |
Forsa | October 2018 | 1,005 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 13 | 8 | 7 | style="background:Template:Alliance 90/The Greens/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3 |
Forsa | 19–27 Sep 2018 | 1,005 | 16 | 17 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 7 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
Forsa | 21–30 Aug 2018 | 1,004 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 7 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 16–26 Jul 2018 | 1,009 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 6 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
INSA | 9–16 Jul 2018 | 1,012 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 9 | Tie |
Forsa | 20–28 Jun 2018 | 1,009 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 7 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 22–31 May 2018 | 1,004 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 7 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Infratest dimap | 9–12 May 2018 | 1,000 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 7 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 17–26 Apr 2018 | 1,001 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 7 | Tie |
INSA | 3–9 Apr 2018 | 1,039 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 | Tie |
Forsa | 19–28 Mar 2018 | 1,003 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 6 | Tie |
Forsa | 12–22 Feb 2018 | 1,006 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 6 | style="background:Template:The Left (Germany)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 15–25 Jan 2018 | 1,008 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 8 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 12–21 Dec 2017 | 1,002 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 8 | Tie |
Forsa | 13–23 Nov 2017 | 1,002 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 8 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3 |
Forsa | 17–26 Oct 2017 | 1,011 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 26 Sep–5 Oct 2017 | 1,002 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 9 | Tie |
Infratest dimap | 6–9 Sep 2017 | 1,000 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 22–30 Aug 2017 | 1,005 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 9 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 18–27 Jul 2017 | 1,007 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 22–29 Jun 2017 | 1,003 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Forsa | 16–24 May 2017 | 1,001 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 10 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Infratest dimap | 17–20 May 2017 | 1,000 | 22 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 19–27 Apr 2017 | 1,002 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4 |
Forsa | 20–30 Mar 2017 | 1,005 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 11 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 5 |
Forsa | 13–23 Mar 2017 | 1,004 | 25 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 11 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8 |
Forsa | 16–26 Jan 2017 | 1,008 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 9 | Tie |
Forsa | 12–23 Dec 2016 | 1,003 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 8 | Tie |
Forsa | 14–24 Nov 2017 | 1,001 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 8 | style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Union of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 1 |
Infratest dimap | 21–23 Nov 2016 | 1,003 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 8 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
Forsa | 19–27 Oct 2016 | 1,002 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 10 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 2 |
2016 state election | 18 Sep 2016 | – | 21.6 | 17.6 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 14.2 | 6.7 | 7.4 | style="background:Template:Social Democratic Party of Germany/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 4.0 |
Notes
References
- ^ a b "The date for the Abgeordnetenhaus election in 2021 is approaching". Government of Berlin. 20 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Wahlen". Berlin Ministry for the Interior and Sport.
- ^ a b "SPD state executive nominates Franziska Giffey as the top candidate". Der Spiegel. 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Bettina Jarasch is to become the Green top candidate". T-Online. 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Berlin Greens choose Jarasch as the top candidate". Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. 12 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Kai Wegner wants to be mayoral candidate of the CDU in Berlin". Der Spiegel. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Left nominates Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer as lead candidate". Der Tagesspiegel. 8 December 2020.