IFES
 

Sept. 24, 2017 Held

Germany
Federal Republic of Germany
Election for Bundestag (German Federal Diet)

Results

Voter Participation


Cast Votes:46,973,799
Valid Votes:46,380,638
Invalid Votes:593,161
Voter
Turnout*

Vote Share by Party:

Party Seats Won Seats Change Votes

Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) 200 - 12,445,832

26.80%

Social Democratic Party 153 - 9,538,367

20.50%

Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland) 94 - 5,877,094

12.60%

Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Freie Demokratische Partei) 80 - 4,997,178

10.70%

The Left (Die Linke) 69 - 4,296,762

9.20%

Alliance '90 / The Greens (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen) 67 - 4,157,564

8.90%

Democratic Union of Germany / Christian Social Union of Bavaria (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands / Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern) 46 - 2,869,744

6.20%
Election Results Modified: Oct 06, 2017

General Information

Federal Republic of Germany: Parliament, 24 September 2017

At stake in this election:

  • A minimum of 598 seats in the lower house of the German Parliament (Bundestag)
  • Overhang seats could lead to a greater number

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
  • Head of Government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
  • Assembly: Bicameral Parliament (Parlament) consisting of a Federal Council (Bundesrat) with 69 seats and a Federal Diet (Bundestag) with 598 seats or more

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected to a 5-year term by a Federal Convention.
  • The Chancellor is elected to a 4-year term by an absolute majority of the Federal Parliament.
  • The Federal Diet (Bundestag) is elected through a two-part vote. Half of the members are directly elected in single seat constituencies. The other half are elected in multi-seat constituencies through a proportional representation vote. The number of seats in the Federal Diet can vary each election cycle to maintain the proportional representation of each party. All members serve 4-year terms.

Last Election:

  • The last election for the Federal Diet (Bundestag) was held on September 22, 2013. The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union won the largest share of votes and obtained 309 seats. Angela MERKEL was reelected Chancellor.

Main candidates in the election:

  • Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union / Christlich Demokratische Union
    • Leader: Angela MERKEL
    • Seats won in last election: 309
  • Social Democratic Party / Sozialdemokratische Partei
    • Leader: Martin SCHULZ
    • Seats won in last election: 193
  • The Left Party / Die Linke
    • Leader: Katja KIPPING and Bernd RIEXINGER
    • Seats won in last election: 64
  • Alliance ‘90/The Greens Party / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
    • Leader: Cem OEZDEMIR and Simone PETER
    • Seats won in last election: 63
  • Free Democratic Party / Freie Demokratische Partei
    • Leader: Christian LINDNER
    • Seats won in last election: 0
  • Alternative for Germany / Alternative für Deutschland
    • Leader: Frauke PETRY and Joerg MEUTHEN
    • Seats won in last election: 0

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 82,000,000 (2017 est.)
  • Registered Voters: 61,500,000 (2017 est.)

Gender Data:

  • Female Population: 40,976,036 (2016)
  • Is Germany a signatory to CEDAW:  Yes (17 July 1980)
  • Has Germany ratified CEDAW: Yes (10 July 1985)
  • Gender Quota: No
  • Female candidates in this election: Yes
  • Number of Female Parliamentarians: 234
  • Human Development Index Position: 4
  • Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

  • Is Germany a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
  • Has Germany ratified CRPD: Yes (24 February 2009)
  • Population with a disability: 12,128,161
Election Modified: Aug 02, 2023

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