Status: 10/10/2022 8:56 p.m
On the day after the elections in Lower Saxony, the SPD and the Greens are speeding up: Prime Minister and SPD leader Stephan Weil expects the first preliminary talks on a possible government formation on Thursday.
Then it should be discussed whether there are in-depth negotiations, he said on Monday. After that, there could be consultations in specialist groups. “I assume that after yesterday’s result we will have a red-green state government,” said Weil after a meeting with the leaders of the federal SPD in Berlin. The goals of both parties are “to a large extent identical,” he added. In view of the energy crisis, talks should start quickly. After a meeting of their state executive, the Greens declared that they wanted to form a “government of change”. “We take the responsibility seriously,” said co-boss Anne Kura in the evening. The best election result so far in Lower Saxony with 14.5 percent of the vote and three direct mandates strengthens the party.
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Greens: “Will be able to lay claim to three to four ministries”
At the moment, the main thing is to get a state rescue package off the ground as quickly as possible. The most controversial thing could be in transport policy, said the Greens’ top candidate Julia Willie Hamburg. “We have a party with the SPD that still looks very closely at cars, and we want to go more in the direction of a mobility turnaround, i.e. more trains and buses, more bicycle traffic. There could also be a crunch.” The Greens hope that the government will stand until the constituent session of the new state parliament on November 8th. With a view to the political future, the Greens are self-confident: “We will be able to lay claim to three to four ministries,” said state chairman Hans-Joachim Janssen. The layout of the ministries will also play a role.
Associations are pushing for a government to be formed quickly
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Hanover, the Industrial Union (IG) Metall and the Social Association Germany (SoVD) in Lower Saxony are also calling for a government to be formed quickly. “In view of the energy crisis, which is dramatic for the economy and which is already massively threatening the existence of more than a third of the companies in our region alone, there is an acute need for speed in political operations,” said IHK President Gerhard Oppermann on Monday. Many companies are up to their necks in water. “The problems and questions that need quick and reasonable answers are immense,” said IG Metall district manager Thorsten Gröger. Fast and lasting relief is needed for people in the energy crisis, an airbag for low incomes and average earners and a rescue package for small and medium-sized businesses. The SoVD also expects quick action – especially in the fight against poverty, the enormously increasing costs in nursing homes as well as housing and inclusion, said the state chairman Bernhard Sackarendt. The same applies to the opposition.
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SPD strongest party despite losses, Greens gain
According to preliminary official final results, the SPD won 33.4 percent of the votes in Sunday’s election. A drop of 3.5 percentage points compared to 2017, but the Social Democrats are the strongest party. The Greens come to 14.5 percent (plus 5.8) – a record for the party. According to an analysis by the Wahlen research group, the SPD owes its good election result to the top candidate. “Only 26 percent want Althusmann as head of government, but 55 percent want Weil, who, according to those surveyed, is most likely to lead the country through the uncertain times,” it says. “The number one success factor for the SPD is Stephan Weil.”
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CDU with historically bad result
It was a bitter evening for the CDU, previously the government partner in the grand coalition. It comes to 28.1 percent (down 5.5 percentage points), its worst national result in more than 60 years. The CDU lost, said top candidate Althusmann. “We humbly accept this vote.” The SPD has a clear government mandate. Althusmann, who wanted to inherit Weil as prime minister, has his Resignation as CDU state leader in Lower Saxony announced. CDU faction leader Dirk Toepffer also wants to give up his post.
AfD two digits – FDP out
The AfD was able to get 10.9 percent of the votes – and the FDP is out of the state parliament. With the Liberals it was only enough for 4.7 percent (minus 2.8). The left also missed out on entering the state parliament: they won 2.7 percent of the votes (minus 1.9). Other parties accounted for 5.7 percent of the vote.
Numerous CDU voters have migrated
The CDU lost many voters compared to the 2017 state election. According to infratest dimap, 25,000 former CDU voters have migrated to the SPD. Even more, namely 45,000, switched to the Greens, 40,000 to the AfD. 55,000 voters who checked the CDU in 2017 did not vote at all this time.
According to the opinion research institute, the SPD has lost 55,000 voters to the Greens, 25,000 to the AfD and 35,000 to non-voters.
Allocation of seats in Parliament
According to the provisional official final result, the SPD has 57 seats in the Lower Saxony state parliament. Together with the Greens (24 seats), she certainly has an absolute majority. The CDU has 47 seats and the AfD 18.
Voter turnout has fallen
Almost 6.1 million Lower Saxony were called to vote – that is almost 76 percent of all residents of the state. Among those entitled to vote were around 215,000 young voters who were allowed to cast their vote in a state election for the first time. According to the state election authority, turnout was 60.3 percent. In the 2017 state election, it was 63.1 percent. The proportion of postal voters has risen sharply: from 19.9 percent in 2017 to 28.5 percent now.
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