View source for 2003 Lower Saxony state election

{{Short description|State election in Lower Saxony, Germany}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name      = 2003 Lower Saxony state election
| country            = Lower Saxony
| type               = parliamentary
| ongoing            = no
| previous_election  = 1998 Lower Saxony state election
| previous_year      = 1998
| next_election      = 2008 Lower Saxony state election 
| next_year          = 2008
| seats_for_election = All 183 seats in the [[Landtag of Lower Saxony]]
| majority_seats     = 92
| election_date      = 2 February 2003
| turnout            = 3,984,009 (67.0%)<br>{{decrease}} 6.8%

<!-- CDU -->
| image1         = [[File:Landtag Niedersachsen DSCF7769.JPG|125px]]
| leader1        = [[Christian Wulff]]
| party1         = Christian Democratic Union of Germany
| last_election1 = 62 seats, 35.9%
| seats1         = 91
| seat_change1   = {{increase}} 29
| popular_vote1  = 1,925,055
| percentage1    = 48.3%
| swing1         = {{increase}} 12.4%

<!-- SPD -->
| image2         = [[File:Sigmar Gabriel (2012).jpg|125px]]
| leader2        = [[Sigmar Gabriel]]
| party2         = Social Democratic Party of Germany
| last_election2 = 83 seats, 47.9%
| seats2         = 63
| seat_change2   = {{decrease}} 20
| popular_vote2  = 1,330,156
| percentage2    = 33.4%
| swing2         = {{decrease}} 14.5%

<!-- FDP -->
| image4         = 
| leader4        = 
| party4         = Free Democratic Party (Germany)
| last_election4 = 0 seats, 4.9%
| seats4         = 15
| seat_change4   = {{increase}} 15
| popular_vote4  = 323,107
| percentage4    = 8.1%
| swing4         = {{increase}} 3.2%

<!-- Grüne -->
| image5         = 
| leader5        = 
| party5         = Alliance 90/The Greens
| last_election5 = 12 seats, 7.0%
| seats5         = 14
| seat_change5   = {{increase}} 2
| popular_vote5  = 304,532
| percentage5    = 7.6%
| swing5         = {{increase}} 0.6%

<!-- Map -->
| map_image   = 2003 Lower Saxony state election.svg
| map_size    = 350px
| map_caption = Results for the single-member constituencies

<!-- Result -->
| title           = [[Minister President of Lower Saxony|Minister-President]]
| before_election = [[Sigmar Gabriel]]
| before_party    = Social Democratic Party of Germany
| after_election  = [[Christian Wulff]]
| after_party     = Christian Democratic Union of Germany
}}
The '''2003 Lower Saxony state election''' was held on 2 February 2003 to elect the members of the 15th [[Landtag of Lower Saxony]]. The incumbent [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) majority government led by [[Minister President of Lower Saxony|Minister-President]] [[Sigmar Gabriel]] was defeated. The [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) came up one seat short of a majority, and formed a coalition with the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP). CDU leader [[Christian Wulff]] was subsequently elected minister-president.

==Background==
The election in Lower Saxony had larger significance than just in the state itself.<ref name=joke>{{cite news | first = Allan | last = Hall | title = The joke's on Schroder as Germans seek serious answers to economic crisis | newspaper = [[Scotland on Sunday]] | page = 21 | date = 2002-12-01 }}</ref> Defeat for the Social Democrats in the election would mean they lost their slim majority in the upper house of the German parliament, the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]].<ref name=joke/> It was thought this might cause the collapse of [[Gerhard Schröder]]'s national coalition government between the Social Democrats and the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green Party]].<ref name=joke/>

==Campaign and issues==
The economy was seen as the most important issue in the election, with the Social Democrats suffering as a result.<ref name=reject>{{cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/02/02/germany.elex/index.html | title = State voters reject Schroeder | accessdate = 2009-09-20 | date = 2003-02-03 | publisher = [[CNN]]}}</ref>

[[Opinion poll]]s in December 2002 showed the Christian Democrats in the lead with 43% as against 34% for the Social Democrats.<ref name=desperately>{{cite news | first = Allan | last = Hall | title = Germany is desperately seeking Schroder as chancellor loses his grip | newspaper = [[The Scotsman]] | page = 9 | date = 2002-12-26 }}</ref>

==Parties==
The table below lists parties represented in the 14th Landtag of Lower Saxony.
{| 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>{{Lang|de|Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands}}
| [[Social democracy]]
| [[Sigmar Gabriel]]
| align=center| 47.9%
| {{Composition bar|83|157|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}} |
| align=center| '''CDU'''
| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]]<br>{{Lang|de|Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands}}
| [[Christian democracy]]
| [[Christian Wulff]]
| align=center| 35.9%
| {{Composition bar|62|157|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}} |
| align=center| '''Grüne'''
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]<br>{{Lang|de|Bündnis 90/Die Grünen}}
| [[Green politics]]
| 
| align=center| 7.0%
| {{Composition bar|12|157|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}}}
|}

==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:130px;" 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;"| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! 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|Alliance 90/The Greens}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};"|
|- style="background:#E9E9E9;"
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/news/2003/ni-2003.htm 2003 state election]
| data-sort-value="2003-02-02"| 2 Feb 2003
| –
| 33.4
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''48.3'''
| 7.6
| 8.1
| 2.5
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 14.9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-31"| 27–30 Jan 2003
| 1,014
| 33
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''48'''
| 8
| 7
| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 15
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-29"| 20–24 Jan 2003
| 1,103
| 35
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''48'''
| 8
| 6
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 13
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-23"| 23 Jan 2003
| ?
| 37
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 9
| 5
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-22"| 16–20 Jan 2003
| 1,000
| 36
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''48'''
| 7
| 5
| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 12
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-22"| 13–18 Jan 2003
| 1,008
| 36
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''48'''
| 8
| 5
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 12
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-15"| 9–13 Jan 2003
| 1,000
| 37
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 8
| 6
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-15"| 6–10 Jan 2003
| 1,027
| 37
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 9
| 5
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forschungsgruppe Wahlen]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-10"| 6–9 Jan 2003
| 1,044
| 37
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''45'''
| 8
| 6
| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 8
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2003-01-07"| 27 Dec 2002–3 Jan 2003
| 1,122
| 36
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 10
| 5
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 10
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2002-12-06"| 2–4 Dec 2002
| 1,000
| 40
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''45'''
| 7
| 5
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 5
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2002-11-22"| 14–20 Nov 2002
| 1,003
| 34
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''43'''
| 12
| 6
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2002-09-23"| 23 Sep 2002
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''47'''
| 36.5
| 7.5
| 4.5
| 4.5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 11.5
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2002-09-06"| 30 Aug–4 Sep 2002
| 1,000
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''42'''
| 38
| 7
| 8
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 4
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2002-06-14"| 14 Jun 2002
| 1,000
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''45'''
| 35
| 6
| 11
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 10
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2002-05-31"| 31 May 2002
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''39'''
| 37
| 6
| 12
| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 2
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2002-04-17"| 17 Apr 2002
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''43'''
| 41
| 6
| 4
| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 2
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Emnid]
| data-sort-value="2002-03-01"| 21–27 Feb 2002
| 1,000
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''43'''
| 37
| 7
| 8
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 6
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2002-03-01"| 11–27 Feb 2002
| 1,327
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''43'''
| 39
| 6
| 5
| 7
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 4
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2001-08-31"| 31 Aug 2001
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''44'''
| 36
| 6
| 9
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 8
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="2001-06-22"| 22 Jun 2001
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''46'''
| 37
| 7
| 5
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 9
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="2001-02-20"| 20 Feb 2001
| ?
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''48'''
| 35
| 7
| 5
| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 13
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Forsa]
| data-sort-value="1999-10-28"| 28 Oct 1999
| ?
| 41
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 6
| 4
| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 5
|-
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm Infratest dimap]
| data-sort-value="1999-10-28"| 21–24 Oct 1999
| 1,000
| 41
| style="background:#D7D5D7;"| '''46'''
| 5
| 4
| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 5
|- style="background:#E9E9E9;"
| [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/niedersachsen.htm 1998 state election]
| data-sort-value="1998-03-01"| 1 Mar 1998
| –
| style="background:#FFCCCC;"| '''47.9'''
| 35.9
| 7.0
| 4.9
| 4.3
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};color:#FFFFFF;"| 12.0
|}

==Election result==
{{election table|title=Summary of the 2 February 2003 election results for the [[Landtag of Lower Saxony]]}}
|-
! 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| 1,925,055
| align=right| 48.3
| align=right| {{increase}}12.4
| align=right| 91
| align=right| {{increase}}29
| align=right| 49.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left | [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| align=right| 1,330,156
| align=right| 33.4
| align=right| {{decrease}}14.5
| align=right| 63
| align=right| {{decrease}}20
| align=right| 34.4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left | [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| align=right| 323,107
| align=right| 8.1
| align=right| {{increase}}3.2
| align=right| 15
| align=right| {{increase}}15
| align=right| 8.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left | [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| align=right| 304,532
| align=right| 7.6
| align=right| {{increase}}0.6
| align=right| 14
| align=right| {{increase}}2
| align=right| 7.7
|-
! colspan=8|
|-
| bgcolor=#63B8FF|
| align=left | [[Party for a Rule of Law Offensive]] (Schill party)
| align=right| 40,342
| align=right| 1.0
| align=right| New
| align=right| 0
| align=right| New
| align=right| 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left | [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (PDS)
| align=right| 21,560
| align=right| 0.5
| align=right| {{increase}}0.5
| align=right| 0
| align=right| ±0
| align=right| 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Other}}|
| align=left | Others
| align=right| 39,257
| align=right| 1.0
| align=right| 
| align=right| 0
| align=right| ±0
| align=right| 0
|-
! align=right colspan=2| Total
! align=right| 3,984,009
! align=right| 100.0
! align=right| 
! align=right| 183
! align=right| {{increase}}26
! align=right| 
|-
! align=right colspan=2| Voter turnout
! align=right| 
! align=right| 67.0
! align=right| {{decrease}}6.8
! 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}}|48.32}}
{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|33.38}}
{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|8.11}}
{{bar percent|B'90/GRÜNE|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|7.64}}
{{bar percent|SCHILL|#63B8FF|1.01}}
{{bar percent|PDS|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|0.54}}
{{bar percent|Other|#777777|0.99}}
}}
{{bar box
| title=Landtag seats
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=600px
| barwidth=410px
| bars=
{{bar percent|CDU|{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|49.73}}
{{bar percent|SPD|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|34.43}}
{{bar percent|FDP|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|8.20}}
{{bar percent|B'90/GRÜNE|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|7.65}}
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Lower Saxony state election}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lower Saxony State Election, 2003}}
[[Category:2003 elections in Germany]]
[[Category:Elections in Lower Saxony|2003]]
[[Category:February 2003 in Germany]]
[[Category:2000s in Lower Saxony]]