Germany : Center-right wins regional elections in Saarland
The Christian-Democrat Union (CDU) has won the regional elections in Saarland on 5 September 2004. The center-right party has got some 47% of the votes, a 2% increase from 1999. CDU national leader, Angela Merkel called the results "sensational".
The Social Democrats (SPD) of Chancellor Schroeder's share of the vote is 31%, down from 44% at the last elections in 1999. SPD's leader in Saarland, Heiko Maas is quoted as saying this is "a bitter defeat". The SPD has been defeated in 6 out of the last 7 regional elections in Germany since 2003.
Other parties have increased their shares of the votes. The Greens have taken 5.7% of the votes, the FDP (Liberals) has won 5.5%. Both parties have reached the 5% threshold to be represented in the regional assembly.
The neo-nazi NDP has increased his share of the votes (4%) as have the neo-communists with 2.5%.
Turnover was lower than in 1999 (56%).
Link to SDP website (German only)
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Climate, Sustainable Finance Officer
