View source for 2002 Saxony-Anhalt state election

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{{No footnotes|date=August 2018}}
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{{Infobox election
| election_name      = 2002 Saxony-Anhalt state election
| country            = Saxony-Anhalt
| type               = parliamentary
| ongoing            = no
| previous_election  = 1998 Saxony-Anhalt state election
| previous_year      = 1998
| next_election      = 2006 Saxony-Anhalt state election
| next_year          = 2006
| seats_for_election = All 115 seats in the [[Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt]]
| majority_seats     = 58
| election_date      = 21 April 2002
| turnout            = 1,160,985 (56.5%)<br>{{decrease}} 15.0%

<!-- CDU -->
| image1         = [[File:KAS-Böhmer, Wolfgang-Bild-26353-3 (cropped).jpg|150x150px]]
| leader1        = [[Wolfgang Böhmer]]
| party1         = Christian Democratic Union of Germany
| last_election1 = 28 seats, 22.0%
| seats1         = 48
| seat_change1   = {{increase}} 20
| popular_vote1  = 433,521
| percentage1    = 37.3%
| swing1         = {{increase}} 15.3%

<!-- Linke -->
| image2         = [[File:Petra Sitte-8617.jpg|150x150px]]
| leader2        = [[Petra Sitte]]
| party2         = Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)
| last_election2 = {{nowrap|25 seats, 19.6%}}
| seats2         = 25
| seat_change2   = {{steady}} 0
| popular_vote2  = 236,484
| percentage2    = 20.4%
| swing2         = {{increase}} 0.8%

<!-- SPD -->
| image4         = [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0421-330, Reinhard Höppner.jpg|150x150px]]
| leader4        = [[Reinhard Höppner]]
| party4         = Social Democratic Party of Germany
| last_election4 = 47 seats, 35.9%
| seats4         = 25
| seat_change4   = {{decrease}} 22
| popular_vote4  = 231,732
| percentage4    = 20.0%
| swing4         = {{decrease}} 15.9%

<!-- FDP -->
| image5         = 
| leader5        = 
| party5         = Free Democratic Party (Germany)
| last_election5 = 0 seats, 4.2%
| seats5         = 17
| seat_change5   = {{increase}} 17
| popular_vote5  = 154,145
| percentage5    = 13.3%
| swing5         = {{increase}} 9.1%

<!-- Map -->
| map_image = 2002 Saxony-Anhalt state election.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Results for the single-member constituencies

<!-- Result -->
| title           = [[List of Ministers-President of Saxony-Anhalt|Minister-President]]
| before_election = [[Reinhard Höppner]]
| before_party    = Social Democratic Party of Germany
| after_election  = [[Wolfgang Böhmer]]
| after_party     = Christian Democratic Union of Germany
}}
The '''2002 Saxony-Anhalt state election''' was held on 21 April 2002 to elect the members of the 4th [[Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt]]. The incumbent [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) minority government led by [[List of Ministers-President of Saxony-Anhalt|Minister-President]] [[Reinhard Höppner]] was defeated. The SPD fell to third place, while the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) moved into first. The CDU subsequently formed a coalition with the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP), and CDU leader [[Wolfgang Böhmer]] was elected Minister-President.

==Background==
After both the 1994 and 1998 state elections, the SPD formed a minority government with the external support of the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (PDS). This marked the first time the PDS had been involved in determining government in a German state, and was a unique arrangement, dubbed the "Magdeburg model" after the capital of Saxony-Anhalt. In Germany, governments are typically [[coalition government]]s, in which the parties which support the government take part in cabinet and hold a majority of seats between them. However, the SPD/PDS arrangement functioned on a model of "tolerance", in which the PDS remained outside cabinet and abstained from the vote for Minister-President, rather than voting in favour, allowing the SPD to form a minority government. In 1994, this allowed the investment of an SPD–[[Alliance 90/The Greens|Green]] minority government; in 1998, after the Greens lost their Landtag representation, the SPD governed alone.

==Campaign and issues==
At the time, Saxony-Anhalt was the "poorest" state of Germany, and that with the highest unemployment rate. The state election campaign was also influenced by the [[2002 German federal election|upcoming federal election]].

The [[German People's Union]], which won 12.9% of the vote and 12 seats in 1998, did not run in the election. This came after internal strife and the secession of the Freedom and Democracy People's Party (FDVP), which did run in the election.

==Parties==
The table below lists parties represented in the 3rd Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt.
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan=2 colspan=3| Name
! rowspan=2| Ideology
! rowspan=2| Leader(s)
! colspan=2| 1998 result
|-
! Votes (%)
! Seats
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}} |
| align=center| '''SPD'''
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]]<br>{{small|''Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands''}}
| [[Social democracy]]
| [[Reinhard Höppner]]
| align=center| 35.9%
| {{Composition bar|47|116|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} |
| align=center| '''CDU'''
| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]]<br>{{small|''Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands''}}
| [[Christian democracy]]
| [[Wolfgang Böhmer]]
| align=center| 22.0%
| {{Composition bar|28|116|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}} |
| align=center| '''PDS'''
| [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]]<br>{{small|''Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus''}}
| [[Democratic socialism]]
| 
| align=center| 19.6%
| {{Composition bar|25|116|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|German People's Union}} |
| align=center| '''DVU'''
| [[German People's Union]]<br>{{small|''Deutsche Volksunion''}}
| [[German nationalism]]
| 
| align=center| 12.9%
| {{Composition bar|16|116|{{party color|German People's Union}}}}
|}

==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:140px;" rowspan="2"| Fieldwork date
! style="width:35px;" rowspan="2"| Sample<br>size
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|PDS]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[German People's Union|DVU]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Party for a Rule of Law Offensive|Schill]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others
! style="width:30px;" rowspan="2"| Lead
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|German People's Union}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};"|
! style="background:#63B8FF;"|
|- style="background:#E9E9E9;"
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm 2002 state election]
| data-sort-value="2002-04-21"| 21 Apr 2002
| –
| 20.0
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''37.3'''
| 20.4
| –
| 13.3
| 2.0
| 4.5
| 2.6
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 16.9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2002-04-19"| 19 Apr 2002
| ?
| 24
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''34'''
| 22
| –
| 10
| 2
| 6
| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 10
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2002-04-11"| 5–9 Apr 2002
| 1,000
| 25
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''32'''
| 23
| –
| 9
| 2
| 5
| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 7
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2002-03-28"| 28 Mar 2002
| ?
| 24
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''33'''
| 26
| –
| 8
| 2
| 5
| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Forschungsgruppe Wahlen]
| data-sort-value="2002-03-15"| 15 Mar 2002
| ?
| 28
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''36'''
| 19
| –
| 7
| 3
| 4
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 8
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2002-02-28"| 21–26 Feb 2002
| 1,000
| 30
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''35'''
| 20
| –
| 7
| 2
| 4
| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 5
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm IfM Leipzig]
| data-sort-value="2002-02-25"| 25 Feb 2002
| ?
| 31
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''39'''
| 19
| –
| 6
| 2
| 2
| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 8
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2002-01-24"| 24 Jan 2002
| ?
| 25
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''37'''
| 25
| –
| 7
| 2
| 2
| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 12
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Uni Halle]
| data-sort-value="2002-01-17"| 17 Jan 2002
| ?
| 29.3
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''40.6'''
| 19.3
| –
| 6.7
| 2.1
| 1.8
| 0.2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 11.3
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2001-12-18"| 11–16 Dec 2001
| 1,000
| 31
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''35'''
| 20
| 2
| 5
| 2
| 3
| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 4
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm Uni Halle]
| data-sort-value="2001-08-28"| 28 Aug 2001
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''37.4'''
| 33.0
| 18.3
| –
| 7.5
| 3.0
| –
| 0.8
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 4.4
|- style="background:#E9E9E9;"
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/sachsen-anhalt.htm 1998 state election]
| data-sort-value="1998-04-26"| 26 Apr 1998
| –
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''35.9'''
| 22.0
| 19.6
| 12.9
| 4.2
| 3.2
| –
| 2.2
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 13.9
|}

==Election result==
{{election table|title=Summary of the 21 April 2002 election results for the [[Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt]]}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats 
! +/-
! Seats %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left | [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| align=right| 433,521
| align=right| 37.3
| align=right| {{increase}}15.3
| align=right| 48
| align=right| {{increase}}20
| align=right| 41.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left | [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (PDS)
| align=right| 236,484
| align=right| 20.4
| align=right| {{increase}}0.8
| align=right| 25
| align=right| {{steady}}0
| align=right| 21.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left | [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| align=right| 231,732
| align=right| 20.0
| align=right| {{decrease}}15.9
| align=right| 25
| align=right| {{decrease}}22
| align=right| 21.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left | [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| align=right| 154,145
| align=right| 13.3
| align=right| {{increase}}9.1
| align=right| 17
| align=right| {{increase}}17
| align=right| 14.8
|-
! colspan=8|
|-
| bgcolor=#63B8FF|
| align=left | [[Party for a Rule of Law Offensive]] (Schill party)
| align=right| 52,589
| align=right| 4.5
| align=right| New
| align=right| 0
| align=right| New
| align=right| 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left | [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| align=right| 22,696
| align=right| 2.0
| align=right| {{decrease}}1.2
| align=right| 0
| align=right| ±0
| align=right| 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Other}}|
| align=left | Others
| align=right| 29,818
| align=right| 2.6
| align=right| 
| align=right| 0
| align=right| ±0
| align=right| 0
|-
! align=right colspan=2| Total
! align=right| 1,160,985
! align=right| 100.0
! align=right| 
! align=right| 115
! align=right| {{decrease}}1
! align=right| 
|-
! align=right colspan=2| Voter turnout
! align=right| 
! align=right| 56.5
! align=right| {{decrease}}15.0
! 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}}|37.34}}
{{bar percent|PDS|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|20.37}}
{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|19.96}}
{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|13.28}}
{{bar percent|SCHILL|#63B8FF|4.53}}
{{bar percent|GRÜNE|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|1.95}}
{{bar percent|Other|#777777|2.57}}
}}
{{bar box
| title=Landtag seats
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=600px
| barwidth=410px
| bars=
{{bar percent|CDU|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|41.74}}
{{bar percent|PDS|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|21.74}}
{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|21.74}}
{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|14.78}}
}}

==Outcome==
The SPD suffered a major defeat, falling to third place behind both the CDU and PDS. The CDU became the largest party with 37% of the vote. The FDP achieved an unexpected victory with 13% of the vote. The [[Party for a Rule of Law Offensive]] (Schill party) failed to win seats, despite polling suggesting they would narrowly enter the Landtag.

While polls before the election indicated the SPD and PDS would likely retain a slim majority, the success of the FDP at the SPD's expense meant that the CDU and FDP held a comfortable majority between them. Thus, the PDS-backed SPD government no longer had the numbers to retain power. The CDU and FDP negotiated a coalition, with CDU leader Wolfgang Böhmer heading the new government.

The election, which took place five months before the 2002 federal election, was a major defeat for the federal SPD–Green government, and weakened its standing in the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]].

==Sources==
* [http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/e/index_e.htm The Federal Returning Officer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206235227/http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/e/index_e.htm |date=2004-12-06 }}

{{Saxony-Anhalt state elections}}

[[Category:Elections in Saxony-Anhalt|2002]]
[[Category:2002 elections in Germany|Saxony-Anhalt state election]]
[[Category:April 2002 in Germany|Saxony-Anhalt state election]]
[[Category:21st century in Saxony-Anhalt]]