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2004 Saxony state election

{{Short description|State election in Saxony, Germany}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2004 Saxony state election

| country = Saxony

| type = parliamentary

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1999 Saxony state election

| previous_year = 1999

| next_election = 2009 Saxony state election

| next_year = 2009

| seats_for_election = All 124 seats in the Landtag of Saxony

| majority_seats = 63

| election_date = 19 September 2004

| turnout = 2,080,135 (59.6%)
{{decrease}} 1.5 pp

| image1 = x160px

| leader1 = Georg Milbradt

| party1 = Christian Democratic Union of Germany

| last_election1 = 76 seats, 56.9%

| seats1 = 55

| seat_change1 = {{decrease}} 21

| popular_vote1 = 855,203

| percentage1 = 41.1%

| swing1 = {{decrease}} 15.8 pp

| image2 = x160px

| color2 = BE3075

| leader2 = Peter Porsch

| party2 = Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)

| last_election2 = 30 seats, 22.2%

| seats2 = 31

| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 1

| popular_vote2 = 490,488

| percentage2 = 23.6%

| swing2 = {{increase}} 1.4 pp

| image3 = x160px

| leader3 = Thomas Jurk

| party3 = Social Democratic Party of Germany

| last_election3 = 14 seats, 10.7%

| seats3 = 13

| seat_change3 = {{decrease}} 1

| popular_vote3 = 204,438

| percentage3 = 9.8%

| swing3 = {{decrease}} 0.9 pp

| image4 = x160px

| leader4 = Holger Apfel

| party4 = National Democratic Party of Germany

| last_election4 = 0 seats, 1.4%

| seats4 = 12

| seat_change4 = {{increase}} 12

| popular_vote4 = 190,909

| percentage4 = 9.2%

| swing4 = {{increase}} 7.8 pp

| image5 = x160px

| leader5 = Holger Zastrow

| party5 = Free Democratic Party (Germany)

| last_election5 = 0 seats, 1.1%

| seats5 = 7

| seat_change5 = {{increase}} 7

| popular_vote5 = 122,605

| percentage5 = 5.9%

| swing5 = {{increase}} 4.8 pp

| image6 = x160px

| leader6 = Antje Hermenau

| party6 = Alliance 90/The Greens

| last_election6 = 0 seats, 2.6%

| seats6 = 6

| seat_change6 = {{increase}} 6

| popular_vote6 = 106,771

| percentage6 = 5.1%

| swing6 = {{increase}} 2.5 pp

| map_image = 2004 Saxony state election.svg

| map_size = 400px

| map_caption = Results for the single-member constituencies

| title = Minister-President

| before_election = Georg Milbradt

| before_party = Christian Democratic Union of Germany

| after_election = Georg Milbradt

| after_party = Christian Democratic Union of Germany

}}

The 2004 Saxony state election was held on 19 September 2004 to elect the members of the 4th Landtag of Saxony. The incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU) government led by Minister-President Georg Milbradt lost its majority. The CDU subsequently formed a grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and Milbradt was re-elected as Minister-President.

The Far Right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) won 12 seats. This is the first time since the 1960s that the party had seats in a state parliament.

Parties

The table below lists parties represented in the 3rd Landtag of Saxony.

class="wikitable"

! rowspan=2 colspan=3| Name

! rowspan=2| Ideology

! rowspan=2| Leader(s)

! colspan=2| 1999 result

Votes (%)

! Seats

bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} |

| align=center| CDU

| Christian Democratic Union of Germany
{{small|Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands}}

| Christian democracy

| Georg Milbradt

| align=center| 56.9%

| {{Composition bar|76|120|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}}}

bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}} |

| align=center| PDS

| Party of Democratic Socialism
{{small|Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus}}

| Democratic socialism

| Peter Porsch

| align=center| 22.2%

| {{Composition bar|30|120|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}}}

bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}} |

| align=center| SPD

| Social Democratic Party of Germany
{{small|Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands}}

| Social democracy

| Thomas Jurk

| align=center| 10.7%

| {{Composition bar|14|120|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}}}

Opinion polling

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px;"
style="height:40px;"

! style="width:160px;" rowspan="2"| Polling firm

! style="width:120px;" rowspan="2"| Fieldwork date

! style="width:35px;" rowspan="2"| Sample
size

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| CDU

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| PDS

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| SPD

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| Grüne

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| NPD

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| FDP

! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others

! style="width:30px;" rowspan="2"| Lead

style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};"|

! style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};"|

! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"|

! style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};"|

! style="background:{{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}};"|

! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};"|

style="background:#E9E9E9;"

| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm 2004 state election]

| data-sort-value="2004-09-19"| 19 Sep 2004

| –

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 41.1

| 23.6

| 9.8

| 5.1

| 9.2

| 5.9

| 5.3

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 17.5

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-09-10"| 7–9 Sep 2004

| 803

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 44

| 19

| 14

| 7

| 7

| 6

| 3

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 25

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Forschungsgruppe Wahlen]

| data-sort-value="2004-09-10"| 6–9 Sep 2004

| 1,035

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 47

| 19

| 11

| 6

| 9

| 4

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 28

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Infratest dimap]

| data-sort-value="2004-09-08"| 2–6 Sep 2004

| 1,000

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 44

| 23

| 12

| 6

| 7

| 5

| 3

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 21

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Forsa]

| data-sort-value="2004-09-07"| 31 Aug–4 Sep 2004

| 1,002

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 46

| 24

| 12

| 6

| 4

| 4

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 22

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-08-31"| 31 Aug 2004

| 1,006

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 46

| 21

| 12

| 7

| 3

| 5

| 6

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 25

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Forsa]

| data-sort-value="2004-08-24"| 16–20 Aug 2004

| 1,007

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 48

| 24

| 11

| 5

| 4

| 4

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 24

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-08-21"| 21 Aug 2004

| ?

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 48

| 22

| 10

| 6

| 3.5

| 5

| 5.5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 26

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-08-15"| 15 Aug 2004

| 810

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 45

| 25

| 10

| 6

| 2

| 6

| 6

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 20

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Infratest dimap]

| data-sort-value="2004-08-05"| 30 Jul–3 Aug 2004

| 1,000

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 44

| 25

| 12

| 6

| –

| 4.5

| 8.5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 19

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-07-30"| 30 Jul 2004

| 808

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 48

| 27

| 12

| 5

| –

| 4

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 21

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2004-07-26"| 4–8 Jul 2004

| 1,078

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 50

| 23

| 10

| 5

| –

| 4

| 8

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 27

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-07-17"| 17 Jul 2004

| 808

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 54

| 21

| 13

| 5

| –

| 3

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 33

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-05-19"| 19 May 2004

| 825

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 55

| 18

| 17

| 5

| –

| 3

| 2

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 37

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2004-05-09"| 5–6 May 2004

| 1,042

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 56

| 17

| 17

| 5

| –

| 3

| 2

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 39

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2004-01-20"| 25 Nov–20 Dec 2003

| 1,100

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 57

| 22

| 12

| 2

| –

| 2

| 5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 35

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2003-12-30"| 30 Dec 2003

| 814

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 59

| 18

| 13

| 4

| –

| 4

| 2

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 41

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2003-08-19"| Jun–Jul 2003

| 1,010

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 53

| 22

| 14

| 4

| –

| 2

| 5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 31

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2003-01-16"| Dec 2002

| 1,056

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 57

| 21

| 13

| 3

| –

| 2

| 4

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 36

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2002-12-30"| 30 Dec 2002

| 800

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 57

| 20

| 13

| 4

| –

| 1

| 5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 37

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm IfM Leipzig]

| data-sort-value="2002-03-07"| 7 Mar 2002

| ?

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 52

| 21

| 19

| 2

| –

| 4

| 2

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 31

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2002-01-14"| Nov–Dec 2001

| 1,009

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 43

| 25

| 18

| 3

| –

| 5

| 6

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 18

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2001-08-03"| Jun 2001

| 1,023

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 46

| 20

| 22

| 2

| –

| 4

| 6

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 24

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2001-01-24"| Dec 2000

| 1,083

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 47

| 20

| 22

| 3

| –

| 3

| 5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 25

[http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm Emnid]

| data-sort-value="2000-08-25"| Jul 2000

| ?

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 49

| 21

| 20

| 2

| –

| 3

| 5

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 28

style="background:#E9E9E9;"

| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen.htm 1999 state election]

| data-sort-value="1999-09-19"| 19 Sep 1999

| –

| {{Party shading/CDU}}| 56.9

| 22.2

| 10.7

| 2.6

| 1.4

| 1.1

| 5.1

| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 34.7

Election result

{{election table|title=Summary of the 19 September 2004 election results for the Landtag of Saxony}}

|-

|colspan=8 align=center| 500px

|-

! colspan="2" | Party

! Votes

! %

! +/-

! Seats

! +/-

! Seats %

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|

| align=left | Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

| align=right| 855,203

| align=right| 41.1

| align=right| {{decrease}}15.8

| align=right| 55

| align=right| {{decrease}}21

| align=right| 44.4

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|

| align=left | Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS)

| align=right| 490,488

| align=right| 23.6

| align=right| {{increase}}1.4

| align=right| 31

| align=right| {{increase}}1

| align=right| 25.0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left | Social Democratic Party (SPD)

| align=right| 204,438

| align=right| 9.8

| align=right| {{decrease}}0.9

| align=right| 13

| align=right| {{decrease}}1

| align=right| 10.5

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left | National Democratic Party (NPD)

| align=right| 190,909

| align=right| 9.2

| align=right| {{increase}}7.8

| align=right| 12

| align=right| {{increase}}12

| align=right| 9.7

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|

| align=left | Free Democratic Party (FDP)

| align=right| 122,605

| align=right| 5.9

| align=right| {{increase}}4.8

| align=right| 7

| align=right| {{increase}}7

| align=right| 5.6

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|

| align=left | Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne)

| align=right| 106,771

| align=right| 5.1

| align=right| {{increase}}2.5

| align=right| 6

| align=right| {{increase}}6

| align=right| 4.8

|-

! colspan=8|

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Human Environment Animal Protection Party}}|

| align=left | Human Environment Animal Protection Party (Tierschutz)

| align=right| 34,068

| align=right| 1.6

| align=right| {{increase}}1.6

| align=right| 0

| align=right| ±0

| align=right| 0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Other}}|

| align=left | Others

| align=right| 75,652

| align=right| 3.6

| align=right|

| align=right| 0

| align=right| ±0

| align=right| 0

|-

! align=right colspan=2| Total

! align=right| 2,080,135

! align=right| 100.0

! align=right|

! align=right| 124

! align=right| {{increase}}4

! align=right|

|-

! align=right colspan=2| Voter turnout

! align=right|

! align=right| 59.6

! align=right| {{decrease}}1.5

! align=right|

! align=right|

! align=right|

|}

{{bar box

| title=Popular Vote

| titlebar=#ddd

| width=600px

| barwidth=410px

| bars=

{{bar percent|CDU|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|41.11}}

{{bar percent|PDS|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|23.58}}

{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|9.83}}

{{bar percent|NPD|{{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}|9.18}}

{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|5.89}}

{{bar percent|B'90/GRÜNE|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|5.13}}

{{bar percent|Other|#777777|5.27}}

}}

{{bar box

| title=Landtag seats

| titlebar=#ddd

| width=600px

| barwidth=410px

| bars=

{{bar percent|CDU|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|44.35}}

{{bar percent|PDS|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|25.00}}

{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|10.48}}

{{bar percent|NPD|{{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}|9.68}}

{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|5.65}}

{{bar percent|B'90/GRÜNE|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|4.84}}

}}

Outcome

The most striking result of the election was the entrance of the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) into the Landtag with 12 seats. This gained international attention. The party's support was concentrated in the rural areas; commentators attributed its success to alienation stemming from economic depression. The continuing strength of the SED successor party, the Party of Democratic Socialism, which again was the second largest party, was also notable.

The CDU remained the largest party with 55 of 124 seats, but lost its majority, forcing it to find coalition partners. The most logical was the classical liberal Free Democratic Party, who entered the Landtag in the election, but a CDU–FDP government would be one seat short of the necessary majority. Cooperation with the PDS or The Greens was ideologically unfeasible. A theoretical alliance between the CDU and NPD would hold a majority, but this was out of the question. The result was a grand coalition CDU and SPD. This government outcome was later mirrored in the 2005 federal election. The CDU's Georg Milbradt remained in office as Minister-President. Notably, the NPD received two more votes on the ballot for Minister-President than it had members in the Landtag. It is presumed that two CDU Landtag members backed the NPD as a protest against the grand coalition.

See also

Notes

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • [http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/e/index_e.htm The Federal Returning Officer]

{{Saxony state elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saxony State Election, 2004}}

2004

Category:2004 elections in Germany

Category:September 2004 in Germany