2009 German federal election: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{Short description|none}}
{{useUse dmy dates|date=JulySeptember 20232022}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Germany
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 20172005 German federal election
| previous_year = 20172005
| election_date = {{Start date|df=yes|2009|09|27}}
| election_date = {{start date|df=yes|2021|09|26}}{{efn|name="Repeat election"|A repeat election was held on 11 February 2024 for 455 precincts in Berlin. The results shown in this article reflect the legal result of the election following the repeat election.}}
| next_election = Next2013 German federal election
| next_year = ''2025''2013
| outgoing_members = List of members of the 19th16th Bundestag
| elected_members = List of members of the 20th17th Bundestag
| seats_for_election = All 735622 seats in the [[Bundestag]], including 13724 [[Overhang seat|overhang]] and [[leveling seat]]s
| majority_seats = 368312
| registered = 62,168,489 ({{increase}} 0.5%)
| opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the 2021 German federal election
| turnout = 70.8% ({{decrease}} 6.9[[percentage point|pp]])
| registered = 61,172,771
| image_size = 130x130px
| turnout = 76.4% (46,298,338) {{increase}} 0.2[[percentage point|pp]]
| image_size = 160x160px
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Franz_Josef_Degenhardt_Angela Merkel 2009a (1987cropped)_by_Guenter_Prust.jpg |bSize =113 120|cWidth =113 120|cHeight =150 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate1 = [[FranzAngela Josef DegenhardtMerkel]]
| party1 = German Communist PartyCDU/CSU
| last_election1 = 2035.52%, 153226 seats
| seats1 = '''450239'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 5313
| popular_vote1 = '''1114,901658,556515'''
| percentage1 = 69'''33.68%'''
| swing1 = {{increasedecrease}} 51.2pp4pp
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Sylvester_Stallone_Cannes_2019Frank-Walter Steinmeier 20090902-DSCF9761.jpg |bSize =113 120|cWidth =113 120|cHeight =150 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate2 = [[ManfredFrank-Walter DrangSteinmeier]]
| party2 = Marxist-LeninistSocial Democratic Party of Germany
| last_election2 = 47{{nowrap|34.52%, 246222 seats}}
| seats2 = 197146
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 4976
| popular_vote2 = 119,177990,746488
| percentage2 = 2423.80%
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 811.8pp2pp
| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image =AnnalenaWesterwelle Baerbockhamm (2021)2009 croppedankunft.jpg |bSize =113 120|cWidth =113 120|cHeight =150 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate3 = [[Guido Westerwelle]]
| candidate3 = [[Annalena Baerbock]]{{efn|name="Baerbock"|[[Annalena Baerbock]] and [[Robert Habeck]] were co-lead candidates, while Baerbock was candidate for Chancellor.}}
| party3 = AllianceFree 90/TheDemocratic GreensParty (Germany)
| last_election3 = 09.58%, 6761 seats
| seats3 = 093
| seat_change3 = {{increase}} 5132
| popular_vote3 = 6,814316,401080
| percentage3 = 14.6%
| percentage3 = 0.5%{{efn|The Greens were disqualified from running on the Saarland state list due to irregularities in the selection of list candidates.<ref name="greensListDSQ">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Emma |title=German Greens must sit out vote in one state during national election |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/german-greens-sit-out-vote-saarland-federal-election-2021/ |website=Politico |access-date=27 September 2021 |date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022025924/https://www.politico.eu/article/german-greens-sit-out-vote-saarland-federal-election-2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| swing3 = {{increase}} 54.8pp
| image4 = {{CSS image crop|Image =2020-02-14German ChristianLeft Lindnerleadership (Bundestagsprojekt 2020) by Sandro Halank–22009.jpg |bSize =113 120|cWidth =113 120|cHeight =150 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate4 = [[ChristianGregor LindnerGysi]] &<br>[[Oskar Lafontaine]]
| party4 = FreeThe Democratic PartyLeft (Germany)
| last_election4 = 08.17%, 8054 seats
| seats4 = 076
| seat_change4 = {{increase}} 1122
| popular_vote4 = 5,291155,010933
| percentage4 = 011.19%
| swing4 = {{increase}} 03.7pp2pp
| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image =AfDGerman Greens leadership 20212009.jpg |bSize =113 120|cWidth =113 120|cHeight =150 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate5 = [[AliceJürgen WeidelTrittin]] &<br />[[TinoRenate ChrupallaKünast]]
| party5 = AlternativeAlliance for90/The GermanyGreens
| last_election5 = 08.1%, 9451 seats
| seats5 = 068
| seat_change5 = {{decreaseincrease}} 1117
| popular_vote5 = 4,809643,228272
| percentage5 = 010.17%
| swing5 = {{decreaseincrease}} 2.2pp6pp
| map_image = 2009 German federal election - Results by constituency.svg
<!-- Linke -->
| map_size = 350px
| image6 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Die Linke Leadership 2021.jpg |bSize=113|cWidth=113|cHeight=150}}
| candidate6 = [[Janine Wissler]]<br />[[Dietmar Bartsch]]
| party6 = The Left (Germany)
| last_election6 = 9.2%, 69 seats
| seats6 = 39
| seat_change6 = {{decrease}} 30
| popular_vote6 = 2,255,860
| percentage6 = 4.9%
| swing6 = {{decrease}} 4.3pp
| map_image = German Federal Election 2021 - Results by Constituency & Regional Seats.svg
| map_caption = The left side shows constituency winners of the election by their party colours. The right side shows party list winners of the election for the additional members by their party colours.
| title = [[Cabinet of Germany|Government]]
| before_election = [[FourthFirst Merkel cabinet]]
| before_party = [[CDU/CSU]]–[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| posttitle = Government after election
| after_election = [[ScholzSecond Merkel cabinet]]
| after_party = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]–[[Alliance 90CDU/The Greens|GreensCSU]]–[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
}}{{politics of Germany}}
| party_colour = yes
}}{{politics of Germany}}{{2021 German federal election series}}
[[Federal elections in Germany|Federal elections]] were held in [[Germany]] on 27 September 2009 to elect the members of the 17th [[Bundestag]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Der Wahltermin für die Bundestagswahl 2009|url=http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_09|work=[[Federal Returning Officer|Der Bundeswahlleiter]]|access-date=5 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222033457/http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_09/|archive-date=22 December 2008}}</ref>
[[Federal elections in Germany|Federal elections]] were held in [[Germany]] on 26 September 2021 to elect the members of the [[List of members of the 20th Bundestag|20th]] [[Bundestag]]. [[States of Germany|State]] elections in [[2021 Berlin state election|Berlin]] and [[2021 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election|Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] were also held. Incumbent chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], first elected in [[2005 German federal election|2005]], chose not to run again, marking the first time that an incumbent [[Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany]] did not seek re-election.
The [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU), its [[Bavaria]]n sister party, the [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]] (CSU), and the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) won the election, and the three parties formed a new [[centre-right]] government with [[Angela Merkel]] as [[Chancellor of Germany|chancellor]]. While [[CDU/CSU]]'s share of votes decreased slightly, it was more than compensated by the gains of their "desired coalition partner", the liberal FDP, that won the strongest result in its history.
With 25.7% of total votes, the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD) recorded their best result since 2005, and emerged as the largest party for the first time since [[2002 German federal election|2002]]. The ruling [[CDU/CSU]], which had led a [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] with the SPD since [[2013 German federal election|2013]], recorded their worst ever result with 24.1%, a significant decline from 32.9% in [[2017 German federal election|2017]]. [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] achieved their best result in history at 14.7%, while the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) made small gains and finished on 11.4%. The [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD) fell from third to fifth place with 10.4%, a decline of 2.3 percentage points. [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] suffered their worst showing since their official formation in 2007, failing to cross the 5% [[electoral threshold]] by just over one-tenth of a percentage point. The party was nonetheless entitled to full proportional representation, as it won three [[List of Bundestag constituencies|direct constituencies]].
CDU and CSU's former partner in the "[[Grand coalition (Germany)|Grand coalition]]", the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) led by [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], conceded defeat<ref>{{cite news |date=27 September 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/6237210/Merkels-rival-concedes-defeat-in-German-election.html |title=Merkel's rival concedes defeat in German election |work=The Telegraph |access-date=28 September 2009 |location=London |archive-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829125712/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/6237210/Merkels-rival-concedes-defeat-in-German-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref> after dropping by more than 11 percentage points, receiving its hitherto worst result since the end of the Second World War (only undercut in 2017).
With a fifth [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] being dismissed by both the CDU/CSU and the SPD, the FDP and the Greens were considered [[kingmaker]]s. On 23 November, following complex [[German governing coalition|coalition]] talks, the SPD, FDP and Greens formalized an agreement to form a [[traffic light coalition]], which was approved by all thee parties ov choice. [[Olaf Scholz]] and [[Scholz cabinet|his cabinet]] were elected by the Bundestag on 8 December.
At 69.8 percent, the voter turnout was the lowest in a German federal election since 1949.
Irregularities in Friedrich-Müntzer-Dorf led to repeat elections in [[2023 Berlin state election|February 2023 (state)]] and [[2021 German federal election#Irregularities in Berlin leading to repeat elections|February 2024 (federal)]]. The result of the federal repeat election meant that the FDP lost a seat in the Bundestag, while 3 other seats were moved from Berlin to different states.
== Background Campaign==
Since the [[2005 German federal election|2005 election]], Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had governed in a [[grand coalition]] with the SPD. However, it was her stated goal to win a majority for [[CDU/CSU]] and FDP (the CDU/CSU's traditional coalition partner) in 2009.
=== 2017 federal election and government formation ===
{{main|2017 German federal election}}
The 2017 federal election was held after a four-year [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] between the [[CDU/CSU]] and the [[SPD]]. Though the CDU/CSU remained the biggest parliamentary group, both it and the SPD suffered significant losses. The SPD leadership, recognising the party's unsatisfactory performance after four years in government, announced that it would go into opposition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Die SPD geht in die Opposition – Schulz bleibt Parteichef|url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-09/spd-geht-in-die-opposition|newspaper=Die Zeit|date=24 September 2017|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712003037/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-09/spd-geht-in-die-opposition|url-status=live}}</ref> With the CDU/CSU having pledged not to work with either the [[AfD]] or [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] before the federal election, the only remaining option for a majority government was a [[Jamaica coalition (politics)|Jamaica coalition]] consisting of the CDU/CSU, [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]], and [[Alliance 90/The Greens|the Greens]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kommt jetzt Jamaika?|url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-09/bundestagswahl-2017-live|newspaper=Die Zeit|date=24 September 2017|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211111557/http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-09/bundestagswahl-2017-live|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sondierungsgespräche beginnen kommende Woche|url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-10/union-sondierungsgespraeche-cdu-csu-obergrenze|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Agence France-Presse|work=Zeit Online|date=9 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711224050/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2017-10/union-sondierungsgespraeche-cdu-csu-obergrenze|url-status=live}}</ref> Exploratory talks between the parties were held over the next six weeks, though the FDP withdrew from the negotiations on 20 November, citing irreconcilable differences between the parties on migration and energy policies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Endspurt mit strittigen Themen|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/jamaika-klima-migration-101.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=15 November 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=httpwhich voegoes without saying dada//www.tagesschau.de/inland/fdp-sondierungen-abbruch-103.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=20 November 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120001225/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/fdp-sondierungen-abbruch-103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] consulted with President [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], who implored all parties to reconsider in order to avoid fresh elections.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steinmeier fordert Gesprächsbereitschaft|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/steinmeier-jamaika-abbruch-101.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=20 November 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822041034/http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/steinmeier-jamaika-abbruch-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Steinmeiers Mission Impossible|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/jamaika-169.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=21 November 2017|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820220842/http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/jamaika-169.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Foreign minister and [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice-Chancellor]] [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] (SPD) was formally nominated as his party's chancellor-candidate at a convention on 18 October 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Frank-Walter Steinmeier zum SPD-Kanzlerkandidaten gewählt |url=http://www.spd.de/menu/1759371 |work=[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands]] |date=18 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119100322/http://www.spd.de/menu/1759371/ |archive-date=19 November 2008 }}</ref> He aimed to form a government in which the SPD was the strongest party, but which also excluded the left-socialist party [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]].<ref>https://cn.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUSTRE58M2OS20090923|date=March{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 2012}</ref>
The SPD and their leader [[Martin Schulz]] indicated their willingness to enter into discussions for another coalition government with the CDU/CSU.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bundespräsident lädt Chefs von Union und SPD ein|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frank-walter-steinmeier-laedt-angela-merkel-martin-schulz-und-horst-seehofer-ein-a-1180119.html|publisher=Spiegel Online|date=24 November 2017|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031106/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frank-walter-steinmeier-laedt-angela-merkel-martin-schulz-und-horst-seehofer-ein-a-1180119.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The SPD leadership voted to enter into exploratory discussion on 15 December 2017<ref>{{cite news|title=Sondierungen ab Januar|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/spd-sondierungen-101.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=15 December 2017|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212125504/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/spd-sondierungen-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and at a party congress in January 2018 a majority of the party's delegates voted to support the coalition talks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abstimmung muss ausgezählt werden|url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2018-01/spd-parteitag-martin-schulz-bonn-live|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Agence France-Presse, Reuters|work=Zeit Online|date=21 January 2018|access-date=21 January 2018|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224224752/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2018-01/spd-parteitag-martin-schulz-bonn-live|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Schulte|first=Markus C.|title=Wie die SPD-Landesverbände zur großen Koalition stehen|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/groko-spd-sonderparteitag-landesverbaende-1.3832477|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=19 January 2018|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216111502/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/groko-spd-sonderparteitag-landesverbaende-1.3832477|url-status=live}}</ref> The text of the final agreement was agreed to by the CDU/CSU and the SPD on 7 February, though was conditioned on the approval of a majority of the SPD's party membership.<ref>{{cite news|title=Der Koalitionsvertrag steht|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/groko-einigung-103.html|publisher=tagesschau|date=7 February 2018|access-date=7 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207133644/http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/groko-einigung-103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 463,723 members of the SPD [[SPD party member vote on the 2018 coalition agreement of Germany|voted to approve or reject the deal]] from 20 February to 2 March,<ref>{{cite news|title=Union und SPD einigen sich auf Koalitionsvertrag|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/nachtsitzung-erfolgreich-durchbruch-bei-koalitionsverhandlungen-von-union-und-spd-15436650.html|newspaper=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=7 February 2018|access-date=7 February 2018|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112030916/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/nachtsitzung-erfolgreich-durchbruch-bei-koalitionsverhandlungen-von-union-und-spd-15436650.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SPD-Mitgliederentscheid vom 20. Februar bis 2. März|url=http://www.zeit.de/news/2018-02/07/spd-mitgliederentscheid-vom-20-februar-bis-2-maerz-180207-99-975259|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|work=Zeit Online|date=7 February 2018|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214094820/http://www.zeit.de/news/2018-02/07/spd-mitgliederentscheid-vom-20-februar-bis-2-maerz-180207-99-975259|url-status=live}}</ref> with the result announced on 4 March. A total of 78.39% of members cast valid votes, of which 66.02% voted in favor of another grand coalition.<ref>{{cite news|title=SPD-Mitglieder stimmen für große Koalition|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/spd-mitglieder-stimmen-fuer-grosse-koalition-15477409.html|newspaper=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=4 March 2018|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109013902/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/spd-mitglieder-stimmen-fuer-grosse-koalition-15477409.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Merkel was voted in by the Bundestag for a fourth term as chancellor on 14 March, with 364 votes for, 315 against, 9 abstentions, and 4 invalid votes, just 9 more votes than the 355 needed for a majority.<ref>{{cite news|title=Angela Merkel zum vierten Mal zur Kanzlerin gewählt|url=http://www.rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-zum-vierten-mal-zur-bundeskanzlerin-2018-gewaehlt-aid-1.7454927|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|publisher=RP Online|date=14 March 2018|access-date=14 March 2018|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422212944/http://www.rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-zum-vierten-mal-zur-bundeskanzlerin-2018-gewaehlt-aid-1.7454927|url-status=live}}</ref> The new government was officially referred to as the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Scally|first=Derek|date=9 March 2018|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-s-fourth-cabinet-finally-complete-1.3421397|title=Merkel's fourth cabinet finally complete|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928180139/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-s-fourth-cabinet-finally-complete-1.3421397|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carrel|first1=Paul|last2=Thomasson|first2=Emma|date=27 September 2021|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-spd-seeks-allies-replace-merkel-led-coalition-2021-09-27/|title=Pledging stability, German SPD seeks three-way alliance to succeed Merkel|work=Reuters|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927202810/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-spd-seeks-allies-replace-merkel-led-coalition-2021-09-27/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The election campaign was considered exceptionally boring,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,651614,00.html |title=Apathy in Germany: Record Low Voter Turnout Expected in National Election |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=27 September 2009 |archive-date=29 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929072254/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,651614,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which may be attributable to a perceived lack of charisma on the part of the leaders of the CDU and SPD.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8256413.stm |title='Merkel factor' could decide German vote |date=17 September 2009 |access-date=27 September 2009 |work=BBC News |archive-date=30 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930024157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8256413.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Another reason pointed to for the sedate campaign is that the CDU and SPD both defended the record of their grand coalition, and facing the possibility of having to continue the grand coalition in a friendly manner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://socialistworker.org/2009/09/25/left-german-elections |title=The left in the German elections |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=27 September 2009 |work=[[Socialist Worker]] Online |archive-date=26 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926181626/http://socialistworker.org/2009/09/25/left-german-elections |url-status=live }}</ref> Merkel was content with the low-key campaign style, which was largely seen as benefiting her party because of her high approval ratings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chu |first=Henry |date=27 September 2009 |title=Many Germans may sit out this vote |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-germany-election27-2009sep27,0,6021371.story?track=rss |url-status=live |access-date=27 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001110330/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-germany-election27-2009sep27,0,6021371.story?track=rss |archive-date=1 October 2009}}</ref>
=== Party leadership changes and political instability ===
Merkel's final government was subject to intense instability. The [[2018 German government crisis]] saw the longstanding alliance between the CDU and CSU threaten to split over [[asylum seeker]] policy. Interior Minister and CSU leader [[Horst Seehofer]] threatened to undercut Merkel's authority by closing German borders for asylum seekers registered in another [[European Union]] (EU) country. The split, eventually repaired following a summit with EU countries, threatened to bring down the government.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2018/0709/Immigration-deal-saves-German-government-points-to-European-future|title=Immigration deal saves German government, points to European future|journal=Christian Science Monitor|date=9 July 2018|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032959/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2018/0709/Immigration-deal-saves-German-government-points-to-European-future|url-status=live}}</ref> Following his party's historically low result in the [[2018 Bavarian state election]], Seehofer was replaced as CSU leader by new Bavarian Minister-President [[Markus Söder]] at a party conference in January 2019, while he retained his position as Interior Minister in the Fourth Merkel cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|last=Poltz|first=Joern|date=19 January 2019|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-csu/leader-of-bavarian-csu-promises-new-start-with-merkels-party-idUSKCN1PD0G2|title=Leader of Bavarian CSU promises new start with Merkel's party|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001507/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-csu/leader-of-bavarian-csu-promises-new-start-with-merkels-party-idUSKCN1PD0G2|archive-date=8 November 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>
CDU candidate [[Vera Lengsfeld]] released a campaign poster featuring herself and Merkel in a way that emphasised their [[cleavage (breasts)|cleavage]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-08-12|title=Bosom pals pep up German politics|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8198271.stm|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017025319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8198271.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The poster bore the slogan "We have more to offer" (German: "{{Lang|de|Wir haben mehr zu bieten}}").<ref>{{cite news |title=German Politician Uses Merkel's Cleavage to Woo Voters |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=11 August 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641787,00.html |archive-date=21 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921111944/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641787,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2018, Merkel announced that she would resign as leader of the CDU at the party's conference in December 2018 and step down as [[Chancellor of Germany]] at the forthcoming election, following poor results at state elections for the CSU in Bavaria and for the CDU in [[2018 Hessian state election|Hesse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/29/angela-merkel-wont-seek-re-election-as-cdu-party-leader|title=German chancellor Angela Merkel will not seek re-election in 2021|last=Le Blond|first=Josie|date=29 October 2018|website=the Guardian|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=17 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217163832/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/29/angela-merkel-wont-seek-re-election-as-cdu-party-leader|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/merkels-coalition-mulls-implications-german-state-vote-58820813|title=Angela Merkel won't seek 5th term as German chancellor|last1=Moulson|first1=Geir|last2=Rising|first2=David|agency=Associated Press|access-date=29 October 2018|date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029113821/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/merkels-coalition-mulls-implications-german-state-vote-58820813|archive-date=29 October 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Merkel's allegedly preferred candidate for the party leadership, [[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer]], narrowly defeated [[Friedrich Merz]], who had been a rival of Merkel around 2002 and had left politics in 2009 criticising her decisions and leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-elected-to-succeed-merkel-as-cdu-leader/|title=Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer elected to succeed Merkel as CDU leader|date=7 December 2018|website=Politico|access-date=4 October 2021|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110125654/https://www.politico.eu/article/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-elected-to-succeed-merkel-as-cdu-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kramp-Karrenbauer struggled to unify the party's liberal and conservative factions, and in February 2020, when she failed to lead the Thuringia state CDU towards a solution of the [[2020 Thuringian government crisis|government crisis]] there, she announced her intention to withdraw her interest in running as the CDU nominee for chancellor at the election and step down as party leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/10/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-to-quit-as-cdu-leader-amid-far-right-firewall-row|title=Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to quit as CDU leader amid far-right 'firewall' row|work=The Guardian|date=10 February 2020|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109135840/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/10/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-to-quit-as-cdu-leader-amid-far-right-firewall-row|url-status=live}}</ref> A party convention to elect a new leader was scheduled for April but was repeatedly delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Germany|COVID-19 pandemic]]. [[2021 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|The election]] was held in January 2021, with [[Armin Laschet]], incumbent Minister-President of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], winning with 52.8% of delegate votes. Merz was his main opponent at 47.2%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/angela-merkel-national-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-elections-germany-2be065e51c2eb729d8b7b5ba8f23f183|title=Pragmatic governor Laschet elected to lead Merkel's party|date=16 January 2021|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=16 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125140517/https://apnews.com/article/angela-merkel-national-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-elections-germany-2be065e51c2eb729d8b7b5ba8f23f183|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 23 September 2009, four days before the federal elections, German police raided the Berlin headquarters of the [[National Democratic Party of Germany]] NPD to investigate claims that letters sent from the NPD to politicians from immigrant backgrounds [[Incitement to ethnic or racial hatred|incited racial hatred]]. The NPD leader in Berlin defended the letters saying that "As part of a democracy, we're entitled to say if something doesn't suit us in this country."<ref>{{cite news|date=23 September 2009|title=German 'race hate' letters probed|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8270598.stm|url-status=live|access-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416042034/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8270598.stm|archive-date=16 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=22 September 2009|title=NPD sends offensive letter to candidates with Turkish background|publisher=Deutsche Welle|url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,4713188,00.html?maca=en-currentaffairs_germany-77-rdf|url-status=dead|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009175425/http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,4713188,00.html?maca=en-currentaffairs_germany-77-rdf|archive-date=9 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=23 September 2009|title=Neo-Nazis tell immigrants to 'go home'|agency=Agence France-Presse|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,26113608-401,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231034847/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,26113608-401,00.html|archive-date=31 December 2012}} [http://web-capture.net/picture.php?pic_index=1&presentation_method=inline Alt URL]</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=22 September 2009|title=Anger results after German neo-Nazis tell immigrant candidates to 'go home'|url=http://www.canada.com/news/Anger+results+after+German+Nazis+tell+immigrant+candidates+home/2019845/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107230726/http://www.canada.com/news/Anger+results+after+German+Nazis+tell+immigrant+candidates+home/2019845/story.html|archive-date=7 November 2009|access-date=15 October 2015|website=Canada.com}}</ref>
The other party in the coalition government, the SPD, also had leadership instability. Following their worst general election result since 1945, at the beginning of the new government the party elected [[Andrea Nahles]] as their leader in April 2018. Nahles had already been elected leader of the SPD parliamentary group after the federal election in September when the party still planned to go into opposition.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-22|title=Parteitag: Nahles mit 66 Prozent zur SPD-Chefin gewählt|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/nahles-spd-103.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422155124/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/nahles-spd-103.html|archive-date=2018-04-22|access-date=2020-11-23|website=tagesschau.de|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Madeleine|date=2018-04-22|title=Andrea Nahles: German SPD's last hope|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/andrea-nahles-spd-germany-last-hope/|access-date=2020-11-23|website=POLITICO|language=en-US|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030201831/https://www.politico.eu/article/andrea-nahles-spd-germany-last-hope/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was unsuccessful in improving the party's stock with the electorate as it continued to slide in opinion polls and was for the first time in history well beaten by the centre-left party [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] at the [[2019 European Parliament election in Germany|2019 European Parliament election]]. She resigned on 2 June 2019, precipitating a [[2019 Social Democratic Party of Germany leadership election|leadership election]] for the SPD.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/germanys-spd-leader-andrea-nahles-081557066.html|title=German SPD leader Nahles quits as party's popularity hits low|date=2 June 2019|access-date=2 June 2019|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002722/https://news.yahoo.com/germanys-spd-leader-andrea-nahles-081557066.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Progressive candidates [[Norbert Walter-Borjans]] and [[Saskia Esken]] defeated the more moderate candidates [[Olaf Scholz]] and [[Klara Geywitz]], and were elected co-leaders by the party's membership. Their election raised prospects of the coalition government collapsing and early elections being called, although [[Reuters]] reported that the duo would seek to achieve agreement from the CDU/CSU on increasing public spending rather than allow the government to collapse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-spd/new-spd-leaders-pull-back-from-sinking-german-coalition-idUSKBN1Y722P|title=New SPD leaders pull back from sinking German coalition|date=20 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408072912/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-spd/new-spd-leaders-pull-back-from-sinking-german-coalition-idUSKBN1Y722P|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2020, the party appointed Merkel's deputy [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice-Chancellor]] Scholz as its candidate for chancellor at the election, despite him having lost to Walter-Borjans and Esken in the party leadership election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/olaf-scholz-chancellor-candidate/a-54508463|title=Germany: SPD confirms Olaf Scholz to run for chancellor|work=dw.com|date=10 August 2020|access-date=22 March 2021|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204030604/https://www.dw.com/en/olaf-scholz-chancellor-candidate/a-54508463|url-status=live}}</ref>
The federal election was the final and most important election in what is called a {{Lang|de|Superwahljahr}} (super election year) in Germany. In addition to the election of a new Bundestag, also scheduled for 2009 were the election to the [[European Parliament]] on 7 June, seven [[local election]]s on the same day, five [[Elections in Germany#State elections in the Federal Republic of Germany|state elections]] and an additional local election in August and September and the [[2009 German presidential election|election]] of the [[president of Germany]] by the [[Bundesversammlung (Germany)|Federal Assembly]] on 23 May.
[[Cem Özdemir]] and [[Simone Peter]] stood down as co-leaders of the Greens after the failed Jamaica negotiations, and [[Annalena Baerbock]] and [[Robert Habeck]] were elected as their successors in January 2018. Dissatisfaction with the SPD and the federal government saw a rise in Greens' polling numbers throughout 2018. They scored record results in the [[2018 Bavarian state election|Bavarian]] and [[2018 Hessian state election|Hessian]] state elections in October and subsequently surpassed the SPD in public opinion, settling in second behind the CDU/CSU for the next three years. The party had its best ever showings at the 2019 European Parliament election, [[2020 Hamburg state election]], and [[2021 Baden-Württemberg state election]]. They briefly polled in first place during two brief periods, first after the 2019 European Parliament election and again after the nomination of chancellor candidates in April 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-poll-idUSKCN1T23F7|title=Germany's Greens shoot into first place in poll, overtaking Merkel's conservatives|date=2 June 2019|access-date=2 June 2019|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601230538/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-poll-idUSKCN1T23F7|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Opinion polls==
[[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] also underwent a change in leadership, with [[Katja Kipping]] and [[Bernd Riexinger]] stepping down after nine years as party co-leaders. They were succeeded by [[Janine Wissler]] and [[Susanne Hennig-Wellsow]] at a party conference held digitally on 27 February 2021. Wissler is considered a member of the party's left wing, formerly aligned with the [[Socialist Left (Germany)|Socialist Left]] faction, while Hennig-Wellsow is considered a moderate and part of the party's pragmatic wing. Both support their party's participation in federal government, particularly Hennig-Wellsow, who played a major role in the [[red–red–green coalition]] government of The Left, the SPD, and the Greens in the state of [[Thuringia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/die-linke-vorstand-das-sind-janine-wissler-und-susanne-hennig-wellsow-a-7e6ed86d-4e58-42cc-90db-d5c5279d0fe3|title=Left and loud|date=27 February 2021|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|access-date=27 February 2021|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227120134/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/die-linke-vorstand-das-sind-janine-wissler-und-susanne-hennig-wellsow-a-7e6ed86d-4e58-42cc-90db-d5c5279d0fe3|url-status=live|last1=Lehmann|first1=Timo|last2=Röhlig|first2=Marc}}</ref>
[[File:Germany 2009 polling.svg|thumb|center|700px|Average trend line of poll results from 18 September 2005 to 27 September 2009 with each line corresponding to a political party.
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
{{Legend-line|{{party color|CDU/CSU}} solid 5px|[[CDU/CSU]]}}
{{Legend-line|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}} solid 5px|[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]}}
{{Legend-line|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}} solid 5px|[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]}}
{{Legend-line|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}} solid 5px|[[The Left (Germany)|LINKE]]}}
{{Legend-line|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}} solid 5px|[[Alliance 90/The Greens|GRÜNE]]}}
}}]]
The CDU/CSU and FDP, with an average vote share of around 50% in pre-election polling during the weeks before the election, were clearly ahead of the other traditional coalition partners in Germany, SPD and [[Alliance 90/The Greens|the Greens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abehnisch.com/btw09.html |publisher=Alexej Behnisch |access-date=21 July 2009 |date=17 July 2009 |title=Opinion Poll Tracker Bundestagswahl 2009 Germany's Federal Election |archive-date=26 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926140710/http://www.abehnisch.com/btw09.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Electoral system ==
{{further|Elections in Germany|Politics of Germany}}
Germany uses the [[mixed-member proportional representation]] system, a system of [[proportional representation]] combined with elements of [[first-past-the-post voting]]. The Bundestag has 598 nominal members, elected for a four-year term; these seats are distributed between the sixteen German states in proportion to the states' number of eligible voters.<ref name="system">{{cite web|author1=Martin Fehndrich|author2=Wilko Zicht|author3=Matthias Cantow|url=http://www.wahlrecht.de/bundestag/index.htm|title=Wahlsystem der Bundestagswahl|publisher=Wahlrecht.de|date=22 September 2017|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014159/http://www.wahlrecht.de/bundestag/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Each voter can cast two votes: a [[List of Bundestag constituencies|constituency vote]] (first vote) and a [[State list (Germany)|state party list]] vote (second vote). Based solely on the first votes, 299 members are elected in [[single-member constituency|single-member constituencies]] by first-past-the-post voting. The second votes are used to produce a proportional number of seats for parties, first in the states, and then in the Bundestag. Seats are allocated using the [[Sainte-Laguë method]]. If a party wins fewer constituency seats in a state than its second votes would entitle it to, it receives additional seats from the relevant state list. Parties can file lists in every single state under certain conditions, such as a fixed number of supporting signatures. Parties can receive second votes only in those states in which they have filed a state list.<ref name="system"/> If a party, by winning single-member constituencies in one state, receives more seats than it would be entitled to according to its second vote share in that state, the excess seats become known as [[overhang seats]]; to avoid [[negative vote weight]], those overhang seats are compensated for in the other states, restoring proportionality according to second votes cast nationwide.<ref name="system"/>
|- class="hintergrundfarbe5" style="text-align:center"
! style="text-align:left;" |Institute
To qualify for proportional seat distribution, a party must receive more second votes nationwide than the [[electoral threshold]] of 5%. This requirement is waived for parties winning at least three single-member constituencies.{{efn|Parties winning one or two single-member constituencies retain those single-member constituency seats but do not win any proportional seats. This happened in the [[2002 German federal election]], where the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|PDS]] won two single-member constituencies in the state of Berlin, while failing the electoral threshold with 4.0% of second votes received. Subsequently, the party was represented with two seats in the 15th Bundestag.}} As result of this waiver,{{efn|In the [[1949 West German federal election]], the threshold and waiver applied on a statewide level. In the [[1953 West German federal election]], only one single-member constituency was required for the waiver, benefiting the [[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre Party]] and the [[German Party (1947)|German Party]].}} parties have benefited on three occasions, such as the [[German Party (1947)|DP]] in the [[1957 West German federal election]] and the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|PDS]] in the [[1994 German federal election]]. Parties representing recognized national minorities are exempt from the electoral threshold. As of 2021, these minorities are the [[Danish minority of Southern Schleswig|Danish]], [[Frisians]], [[Sorbs]], and [[Romani people]].<ref name="system"/><ref name="Background information for the 2021 Bundestag Election: parties representing national minorities - The Federal Returning Officer">{{cite web|url=https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/info/presse/mitteilungen/bundestagswahl-2021/16_21_parteien-nationaler-minderheiten.html|title=Background information for the 2021 Bundestag Election: parties representing national minorities|date=16 July 2021|website=[[Federal Returning Officer]]|access-date=31 August 2021|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829104013/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/info/presse/mitteilungen/bundestagswahl-2021/16_21_parteien-nationaler-minderheiten.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" |Date
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]/[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|CSU]]
=== Date assignment process ===
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
The [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] and the Federal Election Act provides that federal elections must be held on a Sunday or on a federal holiday{{efn|In Germany, many holidays are determined on state level and therefore do not apply for all Germans. Federal holidays are [[New Year's Day]], [[Good Friday]], [[Easter Monday]], [[Labour Day]], [[Ascension Day]], [[Whit Monday]], [[German Unity Day]], First [[Christmas Day]], and Second Christmas Day ([[Boxing Day]]).}} no earlier than 46 and no later than 48 months after the first sitting of the preceding session, unless a [[Snap election in Germany|snap election]] is called or a [[state of defence]] is declared.<ref name="date-1">{{cite web|title=Wahl zum 19. Deutschen Bundestag am 24. September 2017|url=https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/bundestagswahlen/2017.html|publisher=Der Bundeswahlleiter|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095220/https://bundeswahlleiter.de/bundestagswahlen/2017.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under this rule, the 2021 federal election had to take place on a Sunday between 29 August and 24 October (inclusive), as the previous 19th Bundestag had held its first sitting on 24 October 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neu gewählter Bundestag tritt am 24. Oktober erstmals zusammen|url=https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2017/kw40-konstituierende-sitzung/527140|publisher=Deutscher Bundestag|date=5 October 2017|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=8 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008153331/http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2017/kw40-konstituierende-sitzung/527140|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[President of Germany]] sets the exact date for the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__16.html|title=§ 16 BWahlG - Einzelnorm|website=gesetze-im-internet.de|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=17 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117162229/https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bwahlg/__16.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 December 2020, President [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] ordered the election to be held on 26 September 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2020/12/201209-Bundestagswahl.html|title=www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Pressemitteilungen / Bundespräsident Steinmeier fertigt Anordnung über Bundestagswahl aus|website=www.bundespraesident.de|access-date=14 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125215903/https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2020/12/201209-Bundestagswahl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Greens]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
=== Observers and false claims of voter fraud ===
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
For the fourth time since [[2009 German federal election|2009]], the 2021 federal election was observed by [[OSCE]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/politics/election-in-germany-osce-observers-will-be-there|title=Well-run election?|website=Deutschland.de|date=5 September 2021|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930151853/https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/politics/election-in-germany-osce-observers-will-be-there|url-status=live}}</ref> providing four experts from three OSCE states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/germany/493561|title=Parliamentary Elections, 26 September 2021|publisher=OSCE|date=14 September 2021|access-date=30 September 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930075501/https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/germany/493561|url-status=live}}</ref>
! class="unsortable" style="width:4em" | Others
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
The [[Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy]] (CeMAS) found that false claims of voter fraud had become commonplace on [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] in Germany, with accusations against [[Dominion Voting Systems]] being common despite the company's technology not being used in German elections. CeMAS researcher Miro Dittrich said, "We have seen far-right actors try to claim election fraud since at least 2016, but it didn't take off. When [[Donald Trump|Trump]] started telling the '[[Big lie#Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election|big lie]]', it became a big issue in Germany, sometimes bigger than the pandemic, because [[German far-right|far-right groups]] and the AfD are carefully monitoring the success Trump is having with this narrative."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stanley-Becker |first=Isaac |date=25 September 2021 |title=Election fraud, QAnon, Jan. 6: Far-right extremists in Germany read from a pro-Trump script |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/25/german-election-far-right-trump/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left" |[[Forschungsgruppe Wahlen]]<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" />
| 18 Sept
== Political parties and candidates ==
| 36%
{{main|Candidates of the 2021 German federal election}}
| 25%
{{see also|List of political parties in Germany}}
| 10%
The table below lists the parliamentary groups of the 19th [[Bundestag]].
| 13%
{| class="wikitable"
| 11%
! colspan="4" rowspan="2" | Name
| 5%
! rowspan="2"| Ideology
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2"| Leading<br />candidate(s)
| style="text-align:left" |Forsa
! rowspan="2"| Leader(s)
| 16 Sept
! colspan="2"| 2017 result
| 37%
|-
| 24%
! {{nowrap|Votes (%)}}
| 11%
! Seats
| 12%
|-
| 10%
| rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}};"|
| 6%
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''CDU/CSU'''
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center;"| '''CDU'''
| style="text-align:left" |Allensbach
| {{Nowrap|[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]]<br />{{small|''Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands''}}}}
| 16 Sept
| rowspan="2"| [[Christian democracy]]
| 36%
| rowspan="2"| [[Armin Laschet]]
| 22.5%
| Armin Laschet
| 12%
| style="text-align:center;"| 26.8%
| 12.5%
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|246|709|{{party color|CDU/CSU}}}}
| 12%
|-
| 6%
| style="text-align:center;"| '''CSU'''
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
| [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]]<br />{{small|''Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern''}}
| style="text-align:left" |Forschungsgruppe Wahlen<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" />
| [[Markus Söder]]
| 11 Sept
| style="text-align:center;"| 6.2%{{efn|CSU received 38.8% in Bavaria. It only fields candidates in Bavaria, where the CDU does not field candidates.}}
| 36%
|-
| 23%
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"|
| 11%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''SPD'''
| 14%
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]]<br />{{small|''Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands''}}
| 11%
| [[Social democracy]]
| 5%
| [[Olaf Scholz]]
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
| [[Saskia Esken]]<br />[[Norbert Walter-Borjans]]
| style="text-align:center;left" |[[Infratest dimap]]<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" 20.5%/>
| 10 Sept
| {{Composition bar|153|709|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}}}
| 35%
|-
| 23%
| style="background:{{party color|Alternative for Germany}};"|
| 12%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''AfD'''
| 14%
| [[Alternative for Germany]]<br />{{small|''Alternative für Deutschland''}}
| 12%
| [[Right-wing populism]]
| 4%
| [[Alice Weidel]]<br />[[Tino Chrupalla]]
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
| [[Jörg Meuthen]]<br />Tino Chrupalla
| style="text-align:left" |[[Allensbach Institute|Allensbach]]<ref>[https://www.faz.net/s/Rub4D6E6242947140018FC1DA8D5E0008C5/Doc~EAB7357638589470496F63602B8BE2E6D~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html?rss_politik Allensbach-Umfrage: Vorsprung für Schwarz-Gelb schrumpft.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172755/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/ |date=30 November 2021 }} FAZ.NET, 9 September 2009</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 12.6%
| 9 Sept
| {{Composition bar|94|709|{{party color|Alternative for Germany}}}}
| 35%
|-
| 22.5%
| style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};"|
| 13%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''FDP'''
| 13%
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]]<br />{{small|''Freie Demokratische Partei''}}
| 11.5%
| [[Classical liberalism]]
| 5%
| [[Christian Lindner]]
|- style="text-align:center"
| Christian Lindner
| style="text-align:left" |Forschungsgruppe Wahlen<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link">{{cite web |url=http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/index.htm |title=Sonntagsfrage – Umfragen zur Bundestagswahl (Wahlumfrage, Wahlumfragen) |publisher=Wahlrecht.de |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417052610/http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 10.7%
| 4 Sept
| {{Composition bar|80|709|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}}}
| 37%
|-
| 23%
| style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};"|
| 11%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''Linke'''
| 15%
| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]<br />{{small|''Die Linke''}}
| 10%
| {{nowrap|[[Democratic socialism]]}}
| 4%
| [[Janine Wissler]]<br />[[Dietmar Bartsch]]
|- style="text-align:center"
| Janine Wissler<br />{{nowrap|[[Susanne Hennig-Wellsow]]}}
| style="text-align:center;left" |Emnid<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" 9.2%/>
| 3 Sept
| {{Composition bar|69|709|{{party color|The Left (Germany)}}}}
| 34%
|-
| 26%
| style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};"|
| 11%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | '''Grüne'''
| 14%
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]<br />{{small|''Bündnis 90/Die Grünen''}}
| 11%
| [[Green politics]]
| 4%
| {{nowrap|[[Annalena Baerbock]]}}{{efn|name="Baerbock"}}<br />[[Robert Habeck]]
|- style="text-align:center"
| Annalena Baerbock<br />Robert Habeck
| style="text-align:left" |INFO GmbH<ref name="Wahlumfragen2-Link">{{cite web |url=http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/weitere-umfragen.htm |title=Sonntagsfrage – Umfragen zur Bundestagswahl weiterer Institute |publisher=Wahlrecht.de |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006041837/http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/weitere-umfragen.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 8.9%
| 2 Sept
| {{Composition bar|67|709|{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}}}
| 35%
| 23%
| 12%
| 14%
| 11%
| 4%
|- style="text-align:center"
| style="text-align:left" |[[Allensbach Institute|Allensbach]]<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" />
| 1 Sept
| 35.5%
| 23%
| 13.5%
| 14%
| 9.5%
| 4.5%
|- class="hintergrundfarbe2" style="text-align:center"
| style="text-align:left" |GMS<ref name="Wahlumfragen-Link" />
| 24 Aug
| 37%
| 23%
| 13%
| 13%
| 9%
| 5%
|}
==Results==
=== Lead candidates ===
{{For|results by state and constituency|Results of the 2009 German federal election}}
After the election of [[List of Ministers-President of North Rhine-Westphalia|Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia]], Armin Laschet as federal CDU chairman in January 2021, he became the presumptive CDU nominee for the Union's joint chancellor candidacy. Laschet was challenged by [[List of Ministers-President of Bavaria|Minister-President of Bavaria]] Markus Söder of the CSU, who consistently polled well among voters and had been discussed as a potential candidate since mid-2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/what-will-germanys-foreign-policy-be-after-angela-merkel/a-56722717|title=What will Germany's foreign policy be after Angela Merkel?|date=28 February 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=1 March 2021|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301130526/https://www.dw.com/en/what-will-germanys-foreign-policy-be-after-angela-merkel/a-56722717|url-status=live}}</ref> As the contest intensified in March/April 2021, Söder was backed by the CSU as well as some state and local CDU associations, while Laschet received the support of most of the CDU. The two men failed to come to an agreement by the given deadline of 19 April,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cdu-csu-rivals-unable-to-break-impasse-on-merkels-successor/a-57250977|title=Germany: CDU/CSU rivals unable to break impasse on Merkel's successor|date=19 April 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419165232/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cdu-csu-rivals-unable-to-break-impasse-on-merkels-successor/a-57250977|url-status=live}}</ref> leading the federal CDU board to hold an impromptu meeting to break the deadlock. The board voted 31 to 9 in favour of Laschet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cdu-party-board-backs-armin-laschet-as-chancellor-candidate/a-57258957|title=Germany: CDU party board backs Armin Laschet as chancellor candidate|date=19 April 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420012636/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cdu-party-board-backs-armin-laschet-as-chancellor-candidate/a-57258957|url-status=live}}</ref> After the vote, Söder announced his support for Laschet as chancellor candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-markus-s%C3%B6der-backs-armin-laschet-for-chancellor/a-57261550|title=Germany: Markus Söder backs Armin Laschet for chancellor|date=20 April 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420113235/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-markus-s%C3%B6der-backs-armin-laschet-for-chancellor/a-57261550|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{see also|List of members of the 17th Bundestag}}
[[File:German Federal Election - Party list vote results by state - 2009.png|180px|thumb|[[Party list]] election results by state: blue denotes states where [[CDU/CSU]] had the plurality of votes; purple denotes states where [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]] had the plurality of votes; and pink denotes states where the [[SPD]] had the plurality of votes]]
[[File:Bundestagswahl2009 Zweitstimmen.svg|thumb|Party list results by constituency]]
The [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU), the [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria]] (CSU), and the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) were able to form a centre-right government, with [[Angela Merkel]] of the CDU continuing as the [[Chancellor of Germany|chancellor]] and the leader of the FDP, [[Guido Westerwelle]], becoming [[Foreign Minister of Germany|foreign minister]] and [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|vice-chancellor]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=acOIBUgWZgQ4 |title=Merkel's FDP Coalition Partner Approves Four-Year Policy Plan |work=Bloomberg |date=25 October 2009 |access-date=7 March 2017 }}</ref>
On 10 August 2020, the SPD nominated incumbent [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]] and [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Finance Minister]] [[Olaf Scholz]] as their lead candidate for the election. Scholz, who served as [[Mayor of Hamburg]] from 2011 to 2018, unsuccessfully sought the SPD leadership in the [[2019 Social Democratic Party of Germany leadership election|2019 leadership election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-scholz/german-social-democrats-pick-finance-minister-scholz-as-chancellor-candidate-idUSKCN2560TJ|title=German Social Democrats pick finance minister Scholz as chancellor candidate|date=10 August 2020|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=16 August 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108224517/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-scholz/german-social-democrats-pick-finance-minister-scholz-as-chancellor-candidate-idUSKCN2560TJ|url-status=live}}</ref> Scholz was formally elected at a party conference on 8–9 May 2021, supported by 96% of delegates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-spd-officially-names-olaf-scholz-as-chancellor-candidate/a-57478537|date=9 May 2021|title=SPD officially names Olaf Scholz as chancellor candidate|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=10 May 2021|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510031348/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-spd-officially-names-olaf-scholz-as-chancellor-candidate/a-57478537|url-status=live}}</ref>
The CDU/CSU received a slightly lower proportion than in the previous election, with the Bavarian CSU receiving its lowest vote share in decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,651688,00.html |title=Boost for the FDP: The German Election's Biggest Winner |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] Online |archive-date=29 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929062020/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,651688,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, the CDU/CSU had their worst vote share in 60 years.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A new buzz for Germany |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14530467&source=features_box_main |url-status=live |url-access=registration |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001140235/http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14530467&source=features_box_main |archive-date=1 October 2009}}</ref> In contrast, their preferred coalition partner, the liberal FDP, gained nearly 5% points to give it 14.6% of the vote, the best result of its history. The big loser of the election was the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], which received its worst result ever in a federal election, receiving only 23% of the total party vote and suffering the biggest percentage loss of any party in German federal election history in 60 years. The two other parties represented in the [[Bundestag]], the Left and the Greens, both made large gains and received the highest vote share of their respective histories. For the first time, The Left won constituency seats outside its traditional stronghold of East Berlin. As a result of the losses by the SPD and the gains by the FDP, the alliance of the CDU/CSU and FDP received an outright majority of seats, ensuring that Angela Merkel would continue as chancellor.
The AfD's lead candidates were chosen via a membership vote held from 17 to 24 May 2021. The ticket of party co-chairman [[Tino Chrupalla]] and Bundestag co-leader [[Alice Weidel]] were elected with 71% of votes; they were opposed by the ticket of former [[German Air Force]] lieutenant-general Joachim Wundrak and MdB [[Joana Cotar]], who won 24%. 14,815 votes were cast, corresponding to a turnout of 48%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/afd-alice-weidel-und-tino-chrupalla-zu-spitzenkandidaten-fuer-die-bundestagswahl-gewaehlt-a-1bab108e-ab82-46e0-acc9-520b3c31751f|title=Weidel and Chrupalla elected top candidates for the AfD|date=25 May 2021|language=de|website=[[Der Spiegel]]|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525073628/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/afd-alice-weidel-und-tino-chrupalla-zu-spitzenkandidaten-fuer-die-bundestagswahl-gewaehlt-a-1bab108e-ab82-46e0-acc9-520b3c31751f|url-status=live}}</ref>
Had the CDU/CSU and FDP failed to win a majority of seats, possible alternative coalitions may have included a continuation of the grand coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD. A [[traffic light coalition]] (SPD–FDP–Greens) was specifically ruled out by FDP leader [[Guido Westerwelle]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=SPIEGEL Interview With FDP Leader Westerwelle: 'I Consider a Coalition With the SPD and Greens Out of the Question' |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=18 August 2009 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,643586-2,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210164820/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,643586-2,00.html |archive-date=10 December 2019 |access-date=9 September 2009}}</ref>
On 21 March 2021, the FDP association in North Rhine-Westphalia elected federal chairman [[Christian Lindner]] as top candidate for the party list in that state.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/nordrhein-westfalen-zieht-mit-lindner-als-spitzenkandidat-in-die-bundestagswahl-a-cea69fd2-b3d5-4fae-824b-4705bd2c10f6|title=FDP elects Lindner as the top candidate for the Bundestag|date=21 March 2021|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|access-date=12 April 2021|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412084514/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/nordrhein-westfalen-zieht-mit-lindner-als-spitzenkandidat-in-die-bundestagswahl-a-cea69fd2-b3d5-4fae-824b-4705bd2c10f6|url-status=live}}</ref> He was re-elected as chairman on 14 May, winning 93% of votes with no opponent. The vote also served to confirm him as lead candidate for the federal election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/digitaler-parteitag-der-liberalen-lindner-mit-93-prozent-als-fdp-chef-wiedergewaehlt/27192506.html|title=Lindner re-elected as FDP leader with 93 percent|date=14 May 2021|language=de|website=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|access-date=15 May 2021|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515143900/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/digitaler-parteitag-der-liberalen-lindner-mit-93-prozent-als-fdp-chef-wiedergewaehlt/27192506.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Left announced [[Janine Wissler]] and [[Dietmar Bartsch]] as their co-lead candidates on 2 May 2021. Wissler was elected federal party co-leader earlier in the year alongside [[Susanne Hennig-Wellsow]], who chose not to seek the co-lead candidacy. Bartsch had co-chaired The Left's Bundestag group since 2015, and was previously co-lead candidate in the 2017 federal election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/linke-wissler-und-bartsch-werden-spitzenkandidaten-fur-bundestagswahl-WOHNUMYZTZGKBATX37YX5FXH7M.html|title=Left: Wissler and Bartsch become top candidates for federal election|date=2 May 2021|language=de|website=[[RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland]]|access-date=9 May 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509080647/https://www.rnd.de/politik/linke-wissler-und-bartsch-werden-spitzenkandidaten-fur-bundestagswahl-WOHNUMYZTZGKBATX37YX5FXH7M.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wissler and Bartsch were formally selected by the party executive on 8–9 May, receiving 87% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/linkspartei-spitzenduo-101.html|title=Wissler/Bartsch named as top duo|date=10 May 2021|language=de|website=[[Tagesschau (German TV series)|Tagesschau]]|access-date=10 May 2021|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510214331/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/linkspartei-spitzenduo-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Due to their rise in national opinion polling since 2018, the Greens were expected to forgo the traditional dual lead-candidacy in favour of selecting a single chancellor candidate. Party co-leaders [[Annalena Baerbock]] and [[Robert Habeck]] were considered the only plausible candidates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fr.de/politik/gruene-baerbock-habeck-bundestagswahl-2021-spitzenkandidat-kanzler-deutschland-news-90326625.html|title=Greens: Baerbock or Habeck – what speaks for whom?|date=7 April 2021|publisher=[[Frankfurter Rundschau]]|access-date=12 April 2021|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412022217/https://www.fr.de/politik/gruene-baerbock-habeck-bundestagswahl-2021-spitzenkandidat-kanzler-deutschland-news-90326625.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Baerbock was announced as chancellor candidate on 19 April.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/buendnis-90-die-gruenen-annalena-baerbock-soll-kanzlerkandidatin-werden-a-051558bb-f24a-42da-85f9-bf069de0c3f8|title=Annalena Baerbock is to run as a candidate for chancellor for the Greens|date=19 April 2021|language=de|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|access-date=19 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419090525/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/buendnis-90-die-gruenen-annalena-baerbock-soll-kanzlerkandidatin-werden-a-051558bb-f24a-42da-85f9-bf069de0c3f8|url-status=live}}</ref> Both Baerbock and Habeck were co-lead candidates for the party's election campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gruene.de/artikel/unsere-kanzlerkandidatin-annalena-baerbock|title=Our Chancellor candidate: Annalena Baerbock|date=19 April 2021|website=[[Alliance 90/The Greens]]|quote=Annalena Baerbock und Robert Habeck: Erfolgreiche Doppelspitze und Spitzenduo zur Bundestagswahl|trans-quote=Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck: Successful dual leadership and top duo for the federal election|access-date=12 September 2021|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017122057/https://www.gruene.de/artikel/unsere-kanzlerkandidatin-annalena-baerbock/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Competing parties ===
A total of 47 parties and lists were approved to run in the 2021 federal election, including the seven which won seats in the 19th Bundestag. Of these, 40 ran party lists in at least one state, while 7 ran only direct candidates. In addition, 196 [[Independent politicians|independent]] candidates ran in the various direct constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/info/presse/mitteilungen/bundestagswahl-2021/23_21_parteien-wahlteilnahme.html|title=2021 Bundestag Election: 47 parties will run in the election|date=12 August 2021|website=[[Federal Returning Officer]]|access-date=31 August 2021|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831103222/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/info/presse/mitteilungen/bundestagswahl-2021/23_21_parteien-wahlteilnahme.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the table below, green shading indicates that the party ran a list in the indicated state. The number in each box indicates how many direct candidates the party ran in the indicated state.
{| class=wikitable style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Party
! colspan=16| State
|-
! style="width:18px"| [[Baden-Württemberg|BW]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Bavaria|BY]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Berlin|BE]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Brandenburg|BB]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Bremen (state)|HB]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Hamburg|HH]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Hesse|HE]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|MV]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Lower Saxony|NI]]
! style="width:18px"| [[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Rhineland-Palatinate|RP]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Saarland|SL]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Saxony|SN]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Saxony-Anhalt|ST]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Schleswig-Holstein|SH]]
! style="width:18px"| [[Thuringia|TH]]
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| || align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]] (CDU) || {{yes|38}} || – || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|30}} || {{yes|64}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| || align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|46}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|30}} || {{yes|64}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| || align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|44}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|27}} || {{yes|63}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| || align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|46}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|30}} || {{yes|64}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| || align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (DIE LINKE) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|45}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|30}} || {{yes|64}} || {{yes|14}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| || align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (GRÜNE) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|46}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|30}} || {{yes|64}} || {{yes|15}} || 4 || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Social Union in Bavaria}}" | || align="left" | [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]] (CSU) || – || {{yes|46}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Voters}}| || align=left| [[Free Voters]] (FREIE WÄHLER) || {{yes|38}} || {{yes|46}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|21}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|57}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|8}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|6}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| || align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] || {{yes|33}} || {{yes|31}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|8}} || {{yes|52}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|7}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Human Environment Animal Protection Party}}| || align=left| [[Human Environment Animal Protection Party]] (Tierschutzpartei) || {{yes|8}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}| || align=left| [[National Democratic Party of Germany]] (NPD) || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| || align=left| [[Pirate Party Germany]] (PIRATEN) || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|5}} || 1 || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|8}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|1}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}| || align=left| [[Ecological Democratic Party]] (ÖDP) || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|46}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|13}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|4}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|V-Partei3}}| || align=left| [[V-Partei3|V-Partei<sup>3</sup> – Party for Change, Vegetarians and Vegans]] (V-Partei<sup>3</sup>) || 1 || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|2}} || – || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Democracy in Motion}}| || align=left| [[Democracy in Motion]] (DiB) || {{yes|6}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Bavaria Party}}| || align=left| [[Bavaria Party]] (BP) || – || {{yes|24}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance for Human Rights, Animal and Nature Protection}}| || align=left| [[Alliance for Human Rights, Animal and Nature Protection|Animal Protection Alliance]] (Tierschutzallianz) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|2}} || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany}}| || align=left| [[Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany]] (MLPD) || {{yes|22}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|31}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|8}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Partei für Gesundheitsforschung}}| || align=left| [[Partei für Gesundheitsforschung|Party for Health Research]] (Gesundheitsforschung) || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|2}} || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || {{yes|1}} || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|German Communist Party}}| || align=left| [[German Communist Party]] (DKP) || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|4}} || – || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|12}} || 1 || – || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|3}} || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Menschliche Welt}}| || align=left| Human World (MENSCHLICHE WELT) || 1 || – || 1 || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Grays – For All Generations}}| || align=left| The Greys – For all Generations (Die Grauen) || – || – || {{yes|1}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität}}| || align=left| [[Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität|Civil Rights Movement Solidarity]] (BüSo) || 2 || 5 || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || 1 || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Party of Humanists}}| || align=left| [[Party of Humanists]] (Die Humanisten) || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || – || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor=#004800| || align=left| Garden Party (Gartenpartei) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|1}} || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die Urbane. Eine HipHop Partei}}| || align=left| [[Die Urbane. Eine HipHop Partei|The Urbans. A HipHop Party]] (du.) || – || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|1}} || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|3}} || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Socialist Equality Party (Germany)}}| || align=left| [[Socialist Equality Party (Germany)|Socialist Equality Party, Fourth International]] (SGP) || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany}}| || align=left| [[Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany]] (dieBasis) || {{yes|36}} || {{yes|46}} || 11 || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|6}} || {{yes|21}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|27}} || {{yes|60}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|4}} || {{yes|16}} || {{yes|9}} || {{yes|11}} || {{yes|7}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance C – Christians for Germany}}| || align=left| [[Alliance C – Christians for Germany]] (Bündnis C) || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|2}} || – || – || – || – || {{yes|4}} || – || – || {{yes|2}} || – || – || {{yes|2}} || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Third Way (Germany)}}| || align=left| [[Third Way (Germany)|Third Way]] (III. Weg) || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|1}} || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#44AAE0| || align=left| Citizens' Movement for Progress and Change (BÜRGERBEWEGUNG) || {{yes|3}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#E71F71| || align=left| The Pinks/Alliance 21 (BÜNDNIS21) || {{yes|–}} || – || 1 || – || – || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|1}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#DC2F28| || align=left| European Party LOVE (LIEBE) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|1}} || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Conservative Reformers}}| || align=left| [[Liberal Conservative Reformers]] (LKR) || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|10}} || – || – || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || – || {{yes|8}} || {{yes|7}} || {{yes|3}} || – || 4 || – || {{yes|6}} || 2
|-
| bgcolor=#F5A419| || align=left| Party for Progress (PdF) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#D1165D| || align=left| Lobbyists for Children (LfK) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|–}} || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|South Schleswig Voters' Association}}| || align=left| [[South Schleswig Voters' Association]] (SSW){{efn|The South Schleswig Voters' Association is a recognised minority party representing the [[Danish minority of Southern Schleswig|Danish]] and [[North Frisians|Frisian]] minorities of Southern Schleswig, and is exempt from the 5% [[electoral threshold in Germany]].<ref name="Background information for the 2021 Bundestag Election: parties representing national minorities - The Federal Returning Officer" />}} || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || {{yes|5}} || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Team Todenhöfer}}| || align=left| [[Team Todenhöfer|Team Todenhöfer – The Justice Party]] (Team Todenhöfer) || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || – || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor=#FF9900| || align=left| Independents for Citizen-oriented Democracy (UNABHÄNGIGE) || – || {{yes|2}} || – || {{yes|3}} || – || – || 1 || 1 || – || 2 || 2 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Germany}}| || align=left| [[Volt Germany]] (Volt) || {{yes|13}} || {{yes|12}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|1}} || {{yes|3}} || {{yes|5}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|15}} || {{yes|10}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|–}} || {{yes|2}} || {{yes|–}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volksabstimmung}}| || align=left| {{ill|From now... Democracy by Referendum|de|Ab jetzt ... Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung}} (Volksabstimmung) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 2 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"}}| || align=left| [[Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"]] (B*) || – || – || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#BABABA| || align=left| The Others (sonstige) || – || – || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Family Party of Germany}}| || align=left| [[Family Party of Germany]] (FAMILIE) || – || – || – || 1 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#566467| || align=left| Grey Panthers (Graue Panther) || – || – || – || – || – || – || 1 || 1 || – || 2 || 2 || – || – || – || – || 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Klimaliste}}| || align=left| [[Klimaliste|Climate List Baden-Württemberg]] (KlimalisteBW) || 7 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –
|-
| bgcolor=#0083C1| || align=left| Thuringian Homeland Party (THP) || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| || align=left| ''[[Independent politician|Independents]] and voter groups'' || 15 || 26 || 9 || 18 || – || 2 || 15 || 2 || 21 || 31 || 22 || 1 || 22 || 7 || 2 || 3
|-
! colspan=2| Party
! [[Baden-Württemberg|BW]]
! [[Bavaria|BY]]
! [[Berlin|BE]]
! [[Brandenburg|BB]]
! [[Bremen (state)|HB]]
! [[Hamburg|HH]]
! [[Hesse|HE]]
! [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|MV]]
! [[Lower Saxony|NI]]
! [[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]]
! [[Rhineland-Palatinate|RP]]
! [[Saarland|SL]]
! [[Saxony|SN]]
! [[Saxony-Anhalt|ST]]
! [[Schleswig-Holstein|SH]]
! [[Thuringia|TH]]
|-
! colspan=2| Total constituencies
! 38 !! 46 !! 12 !! 10 !! 2 !! 6 !! 22 !! 6 !! 30 !! 64 !! 15 !! 4 !! 16 !! 9 !! 11 !! 8
|}
=== Registration of candidates ===
In July 2021, the respective state electoral committees rejected the lists of the AfD in [[Bremen]] and the Greens in [[Saarland]]. The AfD list was rejected for formal reasons, while the Green list in Saarland was declared invalid due to a controversial nomination process, in which one third of the state delegates were excluded from the nomination convention. Both state parties filed motions against the rulings. The federal electoral committee dismissed the motion of the Saarland Greens, while the AfD list in Bremen was permitted to run in the elections. The Green Party will thus not be eligible for the proportional vote in Saarland for the first time in the party's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/german-greens-sit-out-vote-saarland-federal-election-2021/|title=German Greens must sit out vote in one state during national election|date=5 August 2021|language=en|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=27 August 2021|archive-date=27 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827160247/https://www.politico.eu/article/german-greens-sit-out-vote-saarland-federal-election-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Campaign ==
=== Major issues ===
The federal election was impacted by incumbent chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]'s decision not to run again,<ref>{{cite news|date=20 April 2021|title=Who are the rivals to lead Germany after Chancellor Merkel?|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56821462|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606233628/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56821462|url-status=live}}</ref> and candidates to present themselves as the natural successor to Merkel.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 September 2021|title=German candidates fight to woo moderate voters|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/09/25/german-candidates-fight-to-woo-moderate-voters|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926230556/https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/09/25/german-candidates-fight-to-woo-moderate-voters|url-status=live}}</ref>
The [[2021 European floods]] put the climate issue back on the agenda in July. The SPD called for "everything to be done to stop global warming," while the CDU/CSU wanted to "speed up climate protection measures".<ref>{{Cite web|title=En Allemagne, les inondations obligent les politiques à prendre le climat " plus au sérieux "|url=https://reporterre.net/En-Allemagne-les-inondations-obligent-les-politiques-a-prendre-le-climat-plus-au-serieux|access-date=2021-09-18|website=Reporterre, le quotidien de l'écologie|date=16 July 2021 |language=fr|archive-date=16 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816185402/https://reporterre.net/En-Allemagne-les-inondations-obligent-les-politiques-a-prendre-le-climat-plus-au-serieux|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of July, 56 per cent of Germans believed that the floods made it "even more important than before" to combat climate change, and 73 per cent believed the government was not doing enough in this area; only the AfD's supporters were overwhelmingly of the opposite opinion.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-26|title=En Allemagne, la campagne électorale des législatives bouleversée par les inondations|language=fr|work=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/07/26/en-allemagne-la-campagne-electorale-des-legislatives-bouleversee-par-les-inondations_6089525_3210.html|access-date=2021-09-18|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918180548/https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/07/26/en-allemagne-la-campagne-electorale-des-legislatives-bouleversee-par-les-inondations_6089525_3210.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following those events, six people under the age of 30 began a hunger strike in front of the Reichstag building at the end of August. They demanded a sincere dialogue with the leaders of the main political parties before the elections and the establishment of a citizens' convention to decide on ambitious measures for the climate.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-18|title=The German activists starving themselves to make politicians face the climate crisis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/18/the-german-activists-starving-themselves-to-make-politicians-face-the-climate-crisis|access-date=2021-09-18|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918112359/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/18/the-german-activists-starving-themselves-to-make-politicians-face-the-climate-crisis|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the deadly [[2021 European floods in Germany|German floods]], while visiting [[Erftstadt]] on 18 July, the CDU/CSU lead candidate [[Armin Laschet]] was caught laughing on camera and making jokes while President [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] was speaking. Laschet was heavily criticized, despite his apology saying: "It was stupid and shouldn't have happened and I regret it." Both the CDU/CSU and Laschet's ratings suffered heavily in opinion polls and the SPD took the lead.<ref name="r725">{{cite news |last1=Chambers |first1=Madeline |title=Laughing in flood town was stupid, says Germany's Laschet as gaffe hits ratings |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/laughing-flood-town-was-stupid-says-germanys-laschet-gaffe-hits-ratings-2021-07-25/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Reuters |date=25 July 2021 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911153119/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/laughing-flood-town-was-stupid-says-germanys-laschet-gaffe-hits-ratings-2021-07-25/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="r911">{{cite news |last1=Carrel |first1=Paul |last2=Rinke |first2=Andreas |title=German SPD extends lead over Merkel's sliding conservatives |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-spd-extends-lead-over-merkels-sliding-conservatives-2021-09-02/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911151742/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-spd-extends-lead-over-merkels-sliding-conservatives-2021-09-02/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Red–red–green coalition ===
During the campaign, Scholz rejected tax cuts for the rich as immoral,<ref>{{cite news|url=|title=Election campaign with tax plans: Scholz calls relief for the rich 'immoral'|website=News in 24 english|date=15 August 2021|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033934|url-status=live}}</ref> pledged to "increase taxes on the wealthy, spend on cleaner technology and expand social programs",<ref>{{cite news|last=Jenen|first=Birgit|date=5 September 2021|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-09/scholz-pitches-taxing-the-rich-to-revive-bid-to-succeed-merkel|title=Scholz Pitches Taxing the Rich to Revive Bid to Succeed Merkel|agency=Bloomberg News|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033936/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-09/scholz-pitches-taxing-the-rich-to-revive-bid-to-succeed-merkel|url-status=live}}</ref> and a [[minimum wage]] increase to 12 euros.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Buergin|first=Rainer|date=19 September 2021|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-19/germany-s-scholz-lays-down-rules-for-any-future-coalition-ally|title=Germany's Scholz Lays Down Rules for Future Coalition Allies|agency=Bloomberg News|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033933/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-19/germany-s-scholz-lays-down-rules-for-any-future-coalition-ally|url-status=live}}</ref> In general, there was broad agreement among left-leaning parties on issues such as climate change, education, finance, health, and higher taxes for the rich, and The Left being more [[pro-European]] than similar left-wing parties like [[La France Insoumise]],<ref name="Oltermann 2021">{{cite news|last=Oltermann|first=Philip|date=24 September 2021|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/24/german-progressives-dare-to-dream-of-leftist-red-green-red-coalition|title=German progressives dare to dream of leftist 'red-green-red' coalition|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927030006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/24/german-progressives-dare-to-dream-of-leftist-red-green-red-coalition|url-status=live}}</ref> while issues of disagreement were foreign policy and security.<ref name="R2G">{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-could-there-soon-be-a-left-wing-government/a-59073355|title=German election: Could there soon be a left-wing government?|agency=Deutsche Welle|date=24 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926165408/https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-could-there-soon-be-a-left-wing-government/a-59073355|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[Philip Oltermann]] commented: "Paradoxically, some Social Democrats see such commonalities as an obstacle rather than a boon for an effective power-sharing deal: since all three parties already call for a wealth tax, for example, it's unclear what policy Die Linke could sell its supporters as a win even if were to get its hands on the coveted labour ministry."<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/> Both the SPD and the Greens did not speak much on the subject but did not rule it out in public, although in private they were more sceptics. One SPD delegate was quoted as saying: "To prepare the ground for a robust and functioning coalition, you need to make sure that no one walks out of talks looking like a loser. That's difficult enough with two, but it becomes even more difficult when you have three partners."<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/> Oltermann posited that The Left could see entering federal government as "a final chance to reverse the party's decline, even if it means moving some of its red lines of old."<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/>
In its election manifesto, The Left called for abolishing [[NATO]] in favour of a "collective security system with Russia's involvement", to which Scholz said that this is an example of minimum criteria to govern which is not negotiable.<ref name="Süddeutsche Zeitung">{{Cite news|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-wagenknecht-1.5395829|title=Bundestagswahl: Grüne fordern Tempo 130 auf Autobahnen|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|language=de|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922034549/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-wagenknecht-1.5395829|url-status=live}}</ref> The Left's lead candidates stated that those demands are a tribute to the party's historic [[anti-imperialist]] roots rather than reflecting ambitions to govern at the federal level and a discussion on the future of NATO is also being led by centrists such as France's [[Emmanuel Macron]].<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/> The party struck the anti-NATO demand from its immediate policy measures and [[Janine Wissler]] responded that foreign policy was more than NATO.<ref name="The Economist">{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/09/18/what-to-make-of-die-linke|title=What to make of Die Linke|newspaper=The Economist|date=18 September 2021|issn=0013-0613|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930205417/https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/09/18/what-to-make-of-die-linke|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gregor Gysi]], a member of the left wing of the party, stated that such demands are more of a vision, are not to be implemented as soon as possible, and should not be seen as inflexible preconditions for a left-wing coalition.<ref name="Politico">{{cite news|last=Nöstlinger|first=Nette|date=20 September 2021|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-election-2021-left-party-prepared-to-join-government-under-olaf-scholz-die-linke-gregor-gysi/|title=Germany's Marxist firebrand plots for the Left's moment|website=Politico|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033933/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-election-2021-left-party-prepared-to-join-government-under-olaf-scholz-die-linke-gregor-gysi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
As significant issues remain, attempts among willing delegates from both parties have been made over the years on how such issues could be solved in a coalition; the solution of an internal vote preceding foreign policies votes, such as foreign deployments, on a case-by-case analysis was deemed to be unworkable by many in the SPD. The Greens see foreign policy differences with The Left as big as financial and debt disagreements with the FDP.<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/> The Left joining the federal government would have broken a taboo due to being a democratic successor of East Germany's ruling party, and for its pacifist and anti-militarist stance,<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/> and could be seen as following examples in Spain and Sweden.<ref name="Ottens 2021">{{cite web|last=Ottens|first=Nick|date=3 September 2021|url=https://euobserver.com/opinion/152799|title=Scholz would be foolish to rule out a left-wing coalition|website=EUobserver|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001033935/https://euobserver.com/opinion/152799|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[traffic light coalition]] (SPD–FDP–Greens) was seen as the more likely scenario but a R2G coalition, which would be favoured by the left-wing leadership<ref name="Politico"/> and rank-and-file party members,<ref name="The Economist"/> was not excluded if coalition talks with FDP fail due minimum wage increase or the wealth tax.<ref name="Oltermann 2021"/>
=== Debates ===
; Armin Laschet vs. Annalena Baerbock vs. Olaf Scholz
For the first time since [[2002 German federal election|2002]], the four major television broadcasters [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], [[ZDF]], [[RTL (German TV channel)|RTL]], and [[ProSieben]]/[[Sat.1]] did not hold a joint television debate. Separate debates were previously prevented by incumbent chancellor Merkel, who did not run for reelection. For the first time in history, three-way major debates were held, as the Greens were invited after overtaking the SPD in opinion polls.<ref name="Niemier"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-justify: none"
! colspan="9" style="background:#B0C4DE" |2021 German federal election debates
|- style="font-size:small;"
! rowspan="3" |Date
! rowspan="3" |Broadcasters
! colspan="7" scope="col" |<!--
-->{{Colors|black|#90ff90| P }} {{small|Present }}<!--
-->{{Colors|black|#D0F0C0| S }} {{small|Surrogate }}<!--
-->{{Colors|black|#5FC| I }} {{small|Invited }}<!--
-->{{Colors|black|#A2B2C2| NI }} {{small|Not invited }}<!--
{{Colors|black|#ff9090| A }} {{small|Absent }}
{{Colors|black|#FFD| N }} {{small|No debate }}-->
|- style="font-size:small;"
! scope="col" |[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
! scope="col" |[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! scope="col" |[[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! scope="col" |[[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]
! scope="col" |[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! scope="col" |[[The Left (Germany)|Linke]]
! scope="col" |[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]
|-
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|Alternative for Germany}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};" |
! style="width:6.5em; background:{{party color|Christian Social Union in Bavaria}};" |
|-
| 17 May 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-17|title=Wer schafft's ins Kanzleramt?|url=https://www.rbb-online.de/fernsehen/beitrag/wer-schaffts-ins-kanzleramt-polittalk-mit-annalena-baerbock-und-olaf-scholz.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=[[RBB Fernsehen]]|language=de|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522154053/https://www.rbb-online.de/fernsehen/beitrag/wer-schaffts-ins-kanzleramt-polittalk-mit-annalena-baerbock-und-olaf-scholz.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[RBB Fernsehen]]
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 20 May 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|title=Das erste TV-Triell der Kanzlerkandidaten|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundestagswahl-kanzlerkandidatur-triell-101.html|access-date=2021-05-20|website=[[Tagesschau (German TV series)|tagesschau]]|language=de|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520121353/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundestagswahl-kanzlerkandidatur-triell-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]], [[tagesschau24]]
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 26 June 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-26|title=Kanzlerkandidaten zur Außenpolitik: Zwischen Dialog und Härte|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/aussenpolitik-kanzlerkandiaten-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-fragerunde-101.html|access-date=2021-06-27|website=[[Tagesschau (German TV series)|tagesschau]]|language=de|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627113658/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/aussenpolitik-kanzlerkandiaten-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-fragerunde-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|tagesschau24
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 29 August 2021<ref>{{Cite web|last=Niemeier|first=Timo|date=2021-05-19|title=RTL kommt Öffentlich-Rechtlichen mit Wahl-Triell zuvor|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/82823/rtl_kommt_oeffentlichrechtlichen_mit_dem_triell_zuvor/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=DWDL.de|language=de|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519145526/https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/82823/rtl_kommt_oeffentlichrechtlichen_mit_dem_triell_zuvor/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[RTL (German TV channel)|RTL]], [[n-tv]]
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 30 August 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-30|title=Wie geht's, Deutschland?|url=https://www.zdf.de/politik/wahlen/wahl-2021-wie-gehts-deutschland-100.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=zdf.de|language=de|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905161855/https://www.zdf.de/politik/wahlen/wahl-2021-wie-gehts-deutschland-100.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ZDF
| style="background:#D0F0C0; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''S'''<br>{{small|[[Jens Spahn|Spahn]]}}
| style="background:#D0F0C0; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''S'''<br>{{small|[[Franziska Giffey|Giffey]]}}
| style="background:#D0F0C0; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''S'''<br>{{small|[[Katrin Göring-Eckardt|Göring-Eckardt]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alice Weidel|Weidel]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Christian Lindner|Lindner]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Dietmar Bartsch|Bartsch]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alexander Dobrindt|Dobrindt]]}}
|-
| 12 September 2021<ref name="Niemier">{{Cite web|last=Niemeier|first=Timo|date=2021-05-19|title=Nach RTL planen auch ARD und ZDF ein Triell zur Wahl|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/82748/nach_rtl_planen_auch_ard_und_zdf_ein_triell_zur_wahl/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=DWDL.de|language=de|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519145526/https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/82748/nach_rtl_planen_auch_ard_und_zdf_ein_triell_zur_wahl/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[Das Erste]], [[ZDF]]
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 13 September 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Schlagabtausch - der Vierkampf von AfD, FDP, DIE LINKE und CSU|url=https://www.zdf.de/schlagabtausch2021-100.html|access-date=2021-09-18|website=zdf.de|language=de|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918110925/https://www.zdf.de/schlagabtausch2021-100.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|ZDF
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alice Weidel|Weidel]]}}
| style="background:#D0F0C0; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''S'''<br>{{small|[[Wolfgang Kubicki|Kubicki]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Janine Wissler|Wissler]]}}
| style="background:#D0F0C0; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''S'''<br>{{small|[[Markus Blume|Blume]]}}
|-
|13 September<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-05-19|title=Bundestagswahl 2021 in der ARD: 1500 Minuten Sondersendungen mit Talk, Triell, Townhall, Elefanten-Runde und Dokumentationen im Ersten|url=https://www.presseportal.de/pm/6694/4926639|access-date=2021-06-01|website=presseportal.de|language=de|archive-date=1 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601052936/https://www.presseportal.de/pm/6694/4926639|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Das Erste
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alice Weidel|Weidel]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Christian Lindner|Lindner]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Janine Wissler|Wissler]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alexander Dobrindt|Dobrindt]]}}
|-
| 19 September 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-19|title=ProSieben, Sat.1 Und Kabel eins bitten die Kanzlerkandidat:innen am Sonntag vor der Wahl zum finalen TV-Triell|url=https://www.prosieben.ch/tv/bundestagswahl/news/tv-triell-baerbock-scholz-laschet-prosieben-106508|access-date=2021-08-23|website=prosieben.ch|language=de|archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823090359/https://www.prosieben.ch/tv/bundestagswahl/news/tv-triell-baerbock-scholz-laschet-prosieben-106508|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[ProSieben]], [[Sat.1]], [[Kabel eins]]
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
| style="background:#A2B2C2; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''NI'''
|-
| 23 September 2021<ref name="Niemier"/>
|Das Erste, ZDF
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Armin Laschet|Laschet]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Olaf Scholz|Scholz]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Alice Weidel|Weidel]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Christian Lindner|Lindner]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Janine Wissler|Wissler]]}}
| style="background:#90ff90; color:black; text-align:center;" |'''P'''<br>{{small|[[Markus Söder|Söder]]}}
|}
== Members of Parliament standing down ==
=== AfD ===
* [[Axel Gehrke]]<ref>[ (AfD mourns politicians: Bundestag member Gehrke dies after illness)]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 23 September 2021</ref>
* [[Wilhelm von Gottberg]]<ref name="Abschied vom Bundestag">{{cite web|title=Abschied vom Bundestag|periodical=Sueddeutsche.de|publisher=|url=https://projekte.sueddeutsche.de/artikel/politik/abschied-vom-bundestag-e839209/|date=2021-06-27|language=|pages=|quote=|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626220103/https://projekte.sueddeutsche.de/artikel/politik/abschied-vom-bundestag-e839209/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Heiko Heßenkemper]]<ref>[https://www.saechsische.de/doebeln/muldaerin-will-fuer-afd-in-den-bundestag-mittelsachsen-wahl-5298823.html Saechsische.de: Muldaerin will für AfD in den Bundestag (German)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610201655/https://www.saechsische.de/doebeln/muldaerin-will-fuer-afd-in-den-bundestag-mittelsachsen-wahl-5298823.html |date=10 June 2021 }}, October 2020</ref>
* [[Lothar Maier]]<ref>{{citation|surname1=Manfred Schäfers|editor-surname1= [[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]|title=Mit einem lachenden und weinenden Auge|at=p. 19|date=2021-06-21|language=German
}}</ref>
* [[Roman Reusch]]<ref name="Abschied vom Bundestag"/>
* [[Heiko Wildberg]]<ref>{{cite web|title=AfD-Rhinland-Pfalz wählt zehn Kandidaten für die Landesliste zur Bundestagwahl|periodical=Pfalz-exptress.de|publisher=|url=https://www.pfalz-express.de/afd-rheinland-pfalz-waehlt-zehn-kandidaten-fuer-die-landesliste-zur-bundestagswahl/|date=2020-11-24|language=|pages=|quote=|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628083212/https://www.pfalz-express.de/afd-rheinland-pfalz-waehlt-zehn-kandidaten-fuer-die-landesliste-zur-bundestagswahl/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== CDU/CSU ===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Norbert Barthle]]<ref>[https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/ostalbkreis/schwaebisch-gmuend_artikel,-norbert-barthle-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-_arid,11229608.html Schwäbisch Gmünd: Norbert Barthle kandidiert nicht mehr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604070058/https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/ostalbkreis/schwaebisch-gmuend_artikel,-norbert-barthle-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-_arid,11229608.html |date=4 June 2020 }} ''[[Schwäbische Zeitung]]'', 6 May 2020.</ref>
* [[Manfred Behrens]]<ref name="Michael Bock">{{cite web|title=Kees de Vries verliert bei Nominierung|periodical=Volksstimme.de|publisher=[[Volksstimme (Saxony-Anhalt)|Volksstimme Magdeburg]]|url=https://www.volksstimme.de/sachsen-anhalt/sachsen-anhalt-cdu-kees-de-vries-verliert-bei-nominierung|author=Michael Bock|date=2020-09-29|language=de|pages=|quote=|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031172046/https://www.volksstimme.de/sachsen-anhalt/sachsen-anhalt-cdu-kees-de-vries-verliert-bei-nominierung|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Sybille Benning]]<ref>[https://www.muensterschezeitung.de/Lokales/Staedte/Muenster/4283856-Erklaerung-der-CDU-Bundestagsabgeordneten-Sybille-Benning-tritt-nicht-mehr-an Erklärung der CDU-Bundestagsabgeordneten: Sybille Benning tritt nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029210817/https://www.muensterschezeitung.de/Lokales/Staedte/Muenster/4283856-Erklaerung-der-CDU-Bundestagsabgeordneten-Sybille-Benning-tritt-nicht-mehr-an |date=29 October 2020 }} ''Münstersche Zeitung'', 28 September 2020.</ref>
* [[Peter Bleser]]<ref>Daniel Rühle (29 September 2019), [https://www.rhein-zeitung.de/region/aus-den-lokalredaktionen/kreis-cochem-zell_artikel,-cochemzeller-christdemokraten-haben-gewaehlt-anke-beilstein-ist-alte-und-neue-cdukreisvorsitzende-_arid,2032496.html Cochem-Zeller Christdemokraten haben gewählt: Anke Beilstein ist alte und neue CDU-Kreisvorsitzende] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614084813/https://www.rhein-zeitung.de/region/aus-den-lokalredaktionen/kreis-cochem-zell_artikel,-cochemzeller-christdemokraten-haben-gewaehlt-anke-beilstein-ist-alte-und-neue-cdukreisvorsitzende-_arid,2032496.html |date=14 June 2020 }} ''Rhein-Zeitung'', 10 July 2019.</ref>
* [[Norbert Brackmann]]<ref>[https://www.ln-online.de/Lokales/Lauenburg/Norbert-Brackmann-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-fuer-den-Bundestag Norbert Brackmann kandidiert nicht mehr für den Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115055255/https://www.ln-online.de/Lokales/Lauenburg/Norbert-Brackmann-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-fuer-den-Bundestag |date=15 November 2020 }} ''[[Lübecker Nachrichten]]'', 29 May 2020.</ref>
* [[Axel Fischer]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bnn.de/nachrichten/politik/axel-e-fischer-zieht-nach-23-jahren-bundestag-bilanz-ich-gehe-mit-einem-lachenden-und-einem-weinenden-auge |title=Badische Nachrichten: Bundestagsabgeordneter Axel E. Fischer: "Es gab gigantische Machtverschiebung vom Parlament zur Regierung" |date=2 August 2021 |access-date=13 October 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027060355/https://bnn.de/nachrichten/politik/axel-e-fischer-zieht-nach-23-jahren-bundestag-bilanz-ich-gehe-mit-einem-lachenden-und-einem-weinenden-auge |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Maria Flachsbarth]]<ref>Daniel Puskepeleitis (12 May 2020), [https://www.bild.de/regional/hannover/hannover-aktuell/nach-18-jahren-flachsbarth-kuendigt-rueckzug-aus-dem-bundestag-an-70592444.bild.html Nach 18 Jahren: Flachsbarth kündigt Rückzug aus dem Bundestag an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828183555/https://www.bild.de/regional/hannover/hannover-aktuell/nach-18-jahren-flachsbarth-kuendigt-rueckzug-aus-dem-bundestag-an-70592444.bild.html |date=28 August 2020 }} ''[[BILD]]''.</ref>
* [[Hans-Joachim Fuchtel]]<ref>Roland Weisenburger (12 May 2020), [https://bnn.de/nachrichten/politik/hans-joachim-fuchtel-tritt-nicht-mehr-an-merkels-schweizer-taschenmesser-verlaesst-den-bundestag Hans-Joachim Fuchtel tritt nicht mehr an: Merkels Schweizer Taschenmesser verlässt den Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614104557/https://bnn.de/nachrichten/politik/hans-joachim-fuchtel-tritt-nicht-mehr-an-merkels-schweizer-taschenmesser-verlaesst-den-bundestag |date=14 June 2020 }} ''[[Badische Neueste Nachrichten]]''.</ref>
* [[Alois Gerig]]<ref>[https://www.nokzeit.de/2020/07/10/gerig-verabschiedet-sich-aus-bundespolitik/ Nokzeit.de: Gerig verabschiedet sich aus Bundespolitik] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923011049/https://www.nokzeit.de/2020/07/10/gerig-verabschiedet-sich-aus-bundespolitik/ |date=23 September 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Eberhard Gienger]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-07|title=Eberhard Gienger tritt nicht wieder an|url=https://www.marbacher-zeitung.de/inhalt.bei-der-bundestagswahl-2021-eberhard-gienger-tritt-nicht-wieder-an.6e485092-a7e5-4416-944d-c546bfebe4eb.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208144354/https://www.marbacher-zeitung.de/inhalt.bei-der-bundestagswahl-2021-eberhard-gienger-tritt-nicht-wieder-an.6e485092-a7e5-4416-944d-c546bfebe4eb.html|archive-date=8 February 2020|access-date=|website=Marbacher Zeitung|language=de}}</ref>
* [[Astrid Grotelüschen]]<ref>Michael Korn (10 April 2020), [https://www.noz.de/lokales-dk/ganderkesee/artikel/2034249/astrid-grotelueschen-will-nicht-wieder-fuer-bundestag-kandidieren Astrid Grotelüschen will nicht wieder für Bundestag kandidieren] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418094901/https://www.noz.de/lokales-dk/ganderkesee/artikel/2034249/astrid-grotelueschen-will-nicht-wieder-fuer-bundestag-kandidieren |date=18 April 2020 }} ''[[Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Mark Hauptmann]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/consent-a-?targetUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fdeutschland%2Fcdu-maskenaffaere-abgeordneter-hauptmann-legt-bundestagsmandat-nieder-a-8a9e43f1-288f-40c7-9ed3-35bf8bb91785&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2F|title=Spiegel.de: CDU-Maskenaffäre, Abgeordneter Hauptmann legt Bundestagsmandat nieder (german)}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Matthias Heider]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lokalplus.nrw/nachrichten/politik-kreisolpe/cdu-mdb-matthias-heider-tritt-bei-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-mehr-an-44874|title=CDU-MdB Matthias Heider tritt bei Bundestagswahl 2021 nicht mehr an – Künftig wieder Arbeit als Anwalt|website=LokalPlus Nachrichten|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010042009/https://www.lokalplus.nrw/nachrichten/politik-kreisolpe/cdu-mdb-matthias-heider-tritt-bei-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-mehr-an-44874?utm_campaign=LokalPlus&utm_medium=Shared%20URL&utm_source=SocialMedia|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Heribert Hirte]]<ref>Andreas Damm (8 May 2021), [https://www.ksta.de/koeln/cdu-waehlt-kandidaten-schlappe-fuer-koelner-bundespolitiker-heribert-hirte-38369474?cb=1620492286206 CDU wählt Kandidaten: Schlappe für Kölner Bundespolitiker Heribert Hirte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172540/https://www.ksta.de/html/dumont-consent/index.html?param=eyJyZWRpcmVjdFVybCI6Ii9rb2Vsbi9jZHUtd2FlaGx0LWthbmRpZGF0ZW4tc2NobGFwcGUtZnVlci1rb2VsbmVyLWJ1bmRlc3BvbGl0aWtlci1oZXJpYmVydC1oaXJ0ZS0zODM2OTQ3ND9jYj0xNjM4MjkzMTQwNjQ0JmNiPTE2MjA0OTIyODYyMDYiLCJyZWZlcnJlciI6IiIsInN1YmRvbWFpbiI6Ind3dyJ9 |date=30 November 2021 }} ''[[Kölner Stadtanzeiger]]''.</ref>
* [[Karl Holmeier]]<ref>[https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/cham-nachrichten/karl-holmeier-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-20909-art1912711.html Karl Holmeier tritt 2021 nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022110813/https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/cham-nachrichten/karl-holmeier-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-20909-art1912711.html |date=22 October 2020 }} ''[[Mittelbayerische Zeitung]]'', 4 June 2020.</ref>
* [[Alois Karl]]<ref>Eva Gaupp (24 July 2020), [https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/neumarkt-nachrichten/alois-karl-nach-43-jahren-ist-schluss-21102-art1925337.html Alois Karl: Nach 43 Jahren ist Schluss] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806075523/https://www.mittelbayerische.de/region/neumarkt-nachrichten/alois-karl-nach-43-jahren-ist-schluss-21102-art1925337.html |date=6 August 2020 }} ''[[Mittelbayerische Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Volker Kauder]], former CDU/CSU parliamentary leader<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-21|title=Kauder kandidiert 2021 nicht wieder|url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/kauder-kandidiert-2021-nicht-wieder|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182545/https://www.badische-zeitung.de/kauder-kandidiert-2021-nicht-wieder|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=|website=Badische Zeitung|language=de}}</ref>
* [[Andreas Lämmel]]<ref name="Gunnar Saft, Thilo Alexe">{{cite web|title=So geht sächsisch im Bundestag bald nicht mehr|periodical=Saechsische.de|publisher=[[Sächsische Zeitung]]|url=https://www.saechsische.de/politik/deutschland/so-geht-saechsisch-im-bundestag-bald-nicht-mehr-5272965-plus.html|access-date=|author1=Gunnar Saft |author2=Thilo Alexe|date=2020-09-14|language=de|pages=|quote=|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422230723/https://www.saechsische.de/politik/deutschland/so-geht-saechsisch-im-bundestag-bald-nicht-mehr-5272965-plus.html|url-status=live}} ([[paywall]])</ref>
* [[Karl A. Lamers]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Serif|first=Walter|date=2020-03-07|title=Karl A. Lamers tritt 2021 nicht mehr an|url=https://www.morgenweb.de/mannheimer-morgen_artikel,-politik-karl-a-lamers-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-_arid,1613341.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307162219/https://www.morgenweb.de/mannheimer-morgen_artikel,-politik-karl-a-lamers-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-_arid,1613341.html|archive-date=7 March 2020|access-date=2020-11-23|website=Mannheimer Morgen|language=de}}</ref>
* [[Katharina Landgraf]]<ref>[https://www.lvz.de/Region/Borna/CDU-Abgeordnete-Katharina-Landgraf-kandidiert-nicht-wieder-fuer-den-Bundestag CDU-Abgeordnete Katharina Landgraf kandidiert nicht wieder für den Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223201744/https://www.lvz.de/Region/Borna/CDU-Abgeordnete-Katharina-Landgraf-kandidiert-nicht-wieder-fuer-den-Bundestag |date=23 December 2020 }} ''Leipziger Volkzeitung'', 11 June 2020.</ref>
* [[Nikolas Löbel]]<ref>[https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-maskendeal-ruecktritt-100.html Abgeordnete Nüßlein und Löbel – Maskenskandal setzt Union zu]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204153/https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-maskendeal-ruecktritt-100.html |date=10 March 2021 }} Zdf.de: Corona Masken-Skandal.</ref>
* [[Thomas de Maizière]], former [[Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community|Minister of the Interior]]<ref>Markus Langner (12 May 2020), [https://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/dresden-aktuell/sachsens-cdu-groesse-de-maiziere-macht-schluss-mit-bundestag-70589826.bild.html Ex-Bundesinnenminister De Maizière macht Schluss mit Bundestag ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130022801/https://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/dresden-aktuell/sachsens-cdu-groesse-de-maiziere-macht-schluss-mit-bundestag-70589826.bild.html |date=30 January 2021 }} ''[[BILD]]''.</ref>
* [[Hans-Georg von der Marwitz (politician)|Hans-Georg von der Marwitz]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moz.de/lokales/bernau/bundestagskandidat-cdu-waehlt-ueberraschend-sabine-buder-statt-hans-georg-von-der-marwitz-50880759.html|title=Bundestagskandidat: CDU wählt überraschend Sabine Buder statt Hans-Georg von der Marwitz|date=15 August 2020|website=moz.de|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613140712/https://www.moz.de/lokales/bernau/bundestagskandidat-cdu-waehlt-ueberraschend-sabine-buder-statt-hans-georg-von-der-marwitz-50880759.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Angela Merkel]], incumbent Chancellor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Spoiler-Merkel-bleibt-article21024105.html|title=Spoiler: Merkel bleibt|first=Benjamin|last=Konietzny|website=n-tv.de|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813175710/https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Spoiler-Merkel-bleibt-article21024105.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Hans Michelbach]]<ref>[https://www.np-coburg.de/inhalt.coburg-bundestagswahl-michelbach-tritt-nicht-mehr-fuer-coburg-kronach-an.058af25f-f56f-455f-8bab-18e48716b69a.html Michelbach tritt nicht mehr für Coburg im Bundestag an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201858/https://www.np-coburg.de/inhalt.coburg-bundestagswahl-michelbach-tritt-nicht-mehr-fuer-coburg-kronach-an.058af25f-f56f-455f-8bab-18e48716b69a.html |date=24 June 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Elisabeth Motschmann]]<ref>[https://www.bild.de/regional/bremen/bremen-aktuell/bremen-motschmann-zieht-kandidatur-zurueck-75278278.bild.html Bremen: Motschmann zieht Kandidatur zurück] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210200905/https://www.bild.de/regional/bremen/bremen-aktuell/bremen-motschmann-zieht-kandidatur-zurueck-75278278.bild.html |date=10 February 2021 }} ''[[Bild]]'', 8 February 2021.</ref>
* [[Gerd Müller (politician)|Gerd Müller]],<ref>Christian Deutschländer (13 September 2020), [https://www.merkur.de/politik/gerd-mueller-csu-entwicklungsminister-merkel-kabinett-regierung-csu-schluss-politik-90042706.html CSU-Minister Gerd Müller kündigt überraschend Rückzug aus der Politik an - „Großer Verlust"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204165851/https://www.merkur.de/politik/gerd-mueller-csu-entwicklungsminister-merkel-kabinett-regierung-csu-schluss-politik-90042706.html |date=4 February 2021 }} ''[[Münchner Merkur]]''.</ref> incumbent [[Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)|Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development]]
* [[Michaela Noll]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mettmann|first=Schaufenster|date=2019-08-23|title=Die Kreis-CDU äußert sich zu Michaela Nolls Abschied 2021: "Wir bedauern ihre Entscheidung"|url=https://www.schaufenster-mettmann.de/kreis/wir-bedauern-ihre-entscheidung_aid-45297455|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182538/https://www.schaufenster-mettmann.de/kreis/wir-bedauern-ihre-entscheidung_aid-45297455|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=|website=Schaufenster Mettmann}}</ref>
* [[Georg Nüßlein]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-maskendeal-ruecktritt-100.html |title=Zdf.de: Corona Maskenskandal |access-date=14 March 2021 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204153/https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-maskendeal-ruecktritt-100.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Martin Patzelt]]<ref>[https://www.moz.de/lokales/frankfurt-oder/politiker-aus-frankfurt-_oder_-der-bundestagsabgeordnete-martin-patzelt-und-das-finale-seiner-politischen-laufbahn-54833818.html Moz.de: Der Bundestagsabgeordnete Martin Patzelt und das Finale seiner politischen Laufbahn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203604/https://www.moz.de/lokales/frankfurt-oder/politiker-aus-frankfurt-_oder_-der-bundestagsabgeordnete-martin-patzelt-und-das-finale-seiner-politischen-laufbahn-54833818.html |date=24 June 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Joachim Pfeiffer]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/stuttgart/pfeiffer-legt-amt-nieder-100.html|title=Waiblinger CDU-Abgeordneter Pfeiffer verzichtet auf neuerliche Kandidatur für den Bundestag|first1=S. W. R.|last1=Aktuell|website=swr.online|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501004103/https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/stuttgart/pfeiffer-legt-amt-nieder-100.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Eckhardt Rehberg]]<ref name="SVG">[https://www.svz.de/regionales/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Viele-neue-Gesichter-unter-den-Kandidaten-fuer-die-Bundestagswahl-in-MV-id29961687.html Wer beerbt Merkel, Rehberg, Bluhm und Co?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923010228/https://www.svz.de/regionales/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Viele-neue-Gesichter-unter-den-Kandidaten-fuer-die-Bundestagswahl-in-MV-id29961687.html |date=23 September 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Lothar Riebsamen]]<ref>[https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/friedrichshafen/cdu-bundestagsabgeordneter-lothar-riebsamen-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-wahlkreis-bodensee-100.html Weingarten: Lothar Riebsamen kandidiert nicht mehr für den Bundestag]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Südwestrundfunk]]'', 9 July 2020.</ref>
* [[Anita Schäfer]]<ref>Andreas Ganter (19 August 2020), [https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/pirmasens_artikel,-bundestagsabgeordnete-anita-sch%C3%A4fer-macht-nach-%C3%BCber-20-jahren-platz-f%C3%BCr-die-n%C3%A4chste-generation-_arid,5100070.html?reduced=true Bundestagsabgeordnete Anita Schäfer macht nach über 20 Jahren Platz für die nächste Generation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831112458/https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/pirmasens_artikel,-bundestagsabgeordnete-anita-sch%C3%A4fer-macht-nach-%C3%BCber-20-jahren-platz-f%C3%BCr-die-n%C3%A4chste-generation-_arid,5100070.html?reduced=true |date=31 August 2020 }} ''[[Die Rheinpfalz]]''.</ref>
* [[Klaus-Peter Schulze]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Direktkandidat der CDU: Niggemann will vom Cottbuser Rathaus in den Bundestag|periodical=Niederlausitz-aktuell.de|url=https://www.niederlausitz-aktuell.de/cottbus/85265/direktkandidat-der-cdu-niggemann-will-vom-cottbuser-rathaus-in-den-bundestag.html|date=2021-01-07|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626231928/https://www.niederlausitz-aktuell.de/cottbus/85265/direktkandidat-der-cdu-niggemann-will-vom-cottbuser-rathaus-in-den-bundestag.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Uwe Schummer]]<ref>Andreas Reiner (26 December 2019), [https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/kempen/rp-gespraech-mit-dem-cdu-bundestagsabgeordneten-uwe-schummer_aid-47741647 RP-Gespräch mit dem CDU-Bundestagsabgeordneten Uwe Schummer: Erfolge der Koalition besser verkaufen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706231756/https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/kempen/rp-gespraech-mit-dem-cdu-bundestagsabgeordneten-uwe-schummer_aid-47741647 |date=6 July 2020 }} ''[[Rheinische Post]]''.</ref>
* [[Patrick Sensburg]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-04/friedrich-merz-bundestag-direktmandat-sauerland-cdu-patrick-sensburg |title=Zeit.de: Friedrich Merz zum Direktkandidaten der CDU im Sauerland gewählt (German) |newspaper=Die Zeit |date=17 April 2021 |access-date=1 May 2021 |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501003442/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-04/friedrich-merz-bundestag-direktmandat-sauerland-cdu-patrick-sensburg?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.de%2F |url-status=live |last1=Geil |first1=Karin }}</ref>
* [[Frank Steffel]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-25|title=Frank Steffel kündigt Rückzug von der Politik an|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/beitrag/2019/10/berlin-reinickendorf-frank-steffel-politik-Rueckzug.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182540/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/beitrag/2019/10/berlin-reinickendorf-frank-steffel-politik-Rueckzug.html|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=|website=rbb24|language=de}}</ref>
* [[Karin Strenz]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/Mecklenburg/Wismar/CDU-raeumt-auf-Muss-jetzt-auch-MV-Abgeordnete-Karin-Strenz-abtreten |title=Ostsee-Zeitung.de: CDU räumt auf |date=13 March 2021 |access-date=14 March 2021 |archive-date=13 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313181106/https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/Mecklenburg/Wismar/CDU-raeumt-auf-Muss-jetzt-auch-MV-Abgeordnete-Karin-Strenz-abtreten |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Peter Tauber]]<ref>[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/cdu-peter-tauber-beendet-2021-seine-politische-karriere-17008725.html Peter Tauber beendet 2021 seine politische Karriere] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121224825/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/cdu-peter-tauber-beendet-2021-seine-politische-karriere-17008725.html |date=21 November 2020 }} ''[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]'', 18 October 2020.</ref>
* [[Arnold Vaatz]]<ref name="Gunnar Saft, Thilo Alexe"/>
* [[Kees de Vries]]<ref name="Michael Bock"/>
* [[Peter Weiß]]<ref>Mark Alexander (17 July 2020), [https://www.badische-zeitung.de/der-cdu-abgeordnete-peter-weiss-kandidiert-bei-der-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-mehr--188227760.html Wahlkreis Emmendingen-Lahr: Der CDU-Abgeordnete Peter Weiß kandidiert bei der Bundestagswahl 2021 nicht mehr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726113311/https://www.badische-zeitung.de/der-cdu-abgeordnete-peter-weiss-kandidiert-bei-der-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-mehr--188227760.html |date=26 July 2020 }} ''[[Badische Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Marian Wendt]]<ref>[https://www.lvz.de/Region/Delitzsch/Paukenschlag-in-Nordsachsen-Politik-Bundestagsabgeordneter-Marian-Wendt-kuendigt-Rueckzug-an Paukenschlag in Nordsachsen-Politik: Marian Wendt kündigt Rückzug an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116161351/https://www.lvz.de/Region/Delitzsch/Paukenschlag-in-Nordsachsen-Politik-Bundestagsabgeordneter-Marian-Wendt-kuendigt-Rueckzug-an |date=16 January 2021 }} ''[[Leipziger Volkszeitung]]'', 2 September 2020.</ref>
* [[Tobias Zech]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article228680647/CSU-Abgeordneter-Zech-legt-Bundestagsmandat-und-Parteiaemter-nieder.html?source=k291_autocurated |title=Welt.de: Abgeordneter Zech legt Bundestagsmandat und Parteiämter nieder |date=19 March 2021 |access-date=19 March 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420092530/https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article228680647/Tobias-Zech-CSU-Abgeordneter-legt-Bundestagsmandat-und-Parteiaemter-nieder.html?source=k291_autocurated |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col end}}
=== SPD ===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Bela Bach]]<ref>spiegel.de: [https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bela-bach-spd-juengste-bundestagsabgeordnete-zieht-sich-aus-der-politik-zurueck-a-a49f29be-54aa-433d-8696-cc8014f91db6 ''SPD-Abgeordnete Bach zieht sich aus der Politik zurück''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318162408/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bela-bach-spd-juengste-bundestagsabgeordnete-zieht-sich-aus-der-politik-zurueck-a-a49f29be-54aa-433d-8696-cc8014f91db6 |date=18 March 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Lothar Binding]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Michael | last=Abschlag | date=4 April 2020 | url=https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/metropolregion_artikel,-heidelberg-spd-abgeordneter-lothar-binding-verlaesst-2021-den-bundestag-_arid,508035.html | title=Heidelberg: SPD-Abgeordneter Lothar Binding verlässt 2021 den Bundestag | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109171259/https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/metropolregion_artikel,-heidelberg-spd-abgeordneter-lothar-binding-verlaesst-2021-den-bundestag-_arid,508035.html | archivedate=9 January 2021 | work=Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung}}</ref>
* [[Ingrid Arndt-Brauer]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Sarah Lahrkamp zieht es nach Berlin|periodical=Wn.de|publisher=Westfälische Nachrichten|url=http://www.wn.de/article/sarah-lahrkamp-zieht-es-nach-b-1075097|date=2021-02-12|language=de|pages=|quote=|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172551/https://www.wn.de/muensterland/kreis-steinfurt/ochtrup/sarah-lahrkamp-zieht-es-nach-berlin-1075097|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Fritz Felgentreu]]<ref>Georg Ismar and Ulrich Zawatka-Gerlach (11 June 2020), [https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/spd-fraktion-verliert-verteidigungsfachmann-fritz-felgentreu-kuendigt-seinen-abschied-an/25908574.html SPD-Fraktion verliert Verteidigungsfachmann: Fritz Felgentreu kündigt seinen Abschied an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005230603/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/spd-fraktion-verliert-verteidigungsfachmann-fritz-felgentreu-kuendigt-seinen-abschied-an/25908574.html |date=5 October 2020 }} ''[[Der Tagesspiegel]]''.</ref>
* [[Ulrich Freese]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bundestagswahl 2021: Was Sie über die Lausitzer Kandidaten, Fristen und Parteien wissen müssen|periodical=Lr-online.de|publisher=[[Lausitzer Rundschau]]|url=https://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/brandenburg/bundestagswahl-2021-kanidaten-fristen-termine-51383654.html|author=Bodo Baumert|date=2021-04-27|language=de|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504143221/https://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/brandenburg/bundestagswahl-2021-kanidaten-fristen-termine-51383654.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dagmar Freitag]]<ref>Jürgen Overkott (12 November 2020), [https://www.wp.de/staedte/balve/nachfolge-von-dagmar-freitag-so-will-yalcin-geyhan-punkten-id230899680.html Nachfolge von Dagmar Freitag: So will Yalçin Geyhan punkten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113064138/https://www.wp.de/staedte/balve/nachfolge-von-dagmar-freitag-so-will-yalcin-geyhan-punkten-id230899680.html |date=13 November 2020 }} ''Westfalenpost''.</ref>
* [[Barbara Hendricks (politician)|Barbara Hendricks]],<ref name= "Kevelaerer Blatt">{{Cite web |url=https://www.kevelaerer-blatt.de/wenn-man-politik-macht-muss-man-menschen-moegen/ |title=Kevelaerer-Blatt.de: Wenn man Politik macht, muss man Menschen mögen |access-date=2 March 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420092532/https://www.kevelaerer-blatt.de/wenn-man-politik-macht-muss-man-menschen-moegen/ |url-status=live }}</ref> former minister of [[Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety]]
* [[Marcus Held]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/lokales/oppenheim/oppenheim/affare-marcus-held-das-spenden-gespenst-ist-zuruck_23252597 |title=Allgemeine Zeitung: Affäre Marcus Held |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=16 March 2021 |archive-date=2 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302115316/https://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/lokales/oppenheim/oppenheim/affare-marcus-held-das-spenden-gespenst-ist-zuruck_23252597 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Gustav Herzog]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-03|title=Kaiserslauterer SPD-Bundestagskandidatur: Fünf Bewerber|url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/kaiserslautern/artikel/kaiserslauterer-spd-bundestagskandidatur-fuenf-bewerber/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182531/https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/kaiserslautern/artikel/kaiserslauterer-spd-bundestagskandidatur-fuenf-bewerber/|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=|website=rheinpfalz.de|language=de}}</ref>
* [[Gabriele Hiller-Ohm]]
* [[Thomas Jurk]]<ref>Sebastian Beutler (4 October 2020), [https://www.saechsische.de/goerlitz/politik/ex-spd-chef-sachsen-thomas-jurk-bundestag-politik-rueckzug-5287734-plus.html Bundestag: Sachsens früherer SPD-Chef hört auf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026160840/https://www.saechsische.de/goerlitz/politik/ex-spd-chef-sachsen-thomas-jurk-bundestag-politik-rueckzug-5287734-plus.html |date=26 October 2020 }} ''[[Sächsische Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Arno Klare]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lokalklick.eu/2020/11/13/sebastian-fiedler-bewirbt-sich-fuer-bundestagswahlkreis-muelheim-essen-i/|title=Sebastian Fiedler bewirbt sich für Bundestagswahlkreis Mülheim – Essen I|date=13 November 2020|access-date=21 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921160822/https://lokalklick.eu/2020/11/13/sebastian-fiedler-bewirbt-sich-fuer-bundestagswahlkreis-muelheim-essen-i/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Daniela Kolbe]]<ref>[https://www.bild.de/regional/leipzig/leipzig-news/leipziger-spd-abgeordnete-kolbe-macht-schluss-mit-bundestag-65250324.bild.html Leipziger SPD-Abgeordnete: Kolbe macht Schluss mit Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028063503/https://www.bild.de/regional/leipzig/leipzig-news/leipziger-spd-abgeordnete-kolbe-macht-schluss-mit-bundestag-65250324.bild.html |date=28 October 2020 }} ''[[Bild]]'', 10 October 2020.</ref>
* [[Ralf Kapschack]]<ref>Jürgen Augstein-Peschel (14 October 2020), [https://www.waz.de/staedte/witten/spd-in-witten-kapschack-tritt-nicht-mehr-fuer-bundestag-an-id230663346.html SPD in Witten: Kapschack tritt nicht mehr für Bundestag an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018073952/https://www.waz.de/staedte/witten/spd-in-witten-kapschack-tritt-nicht-mehr-fuer-bundestag-an-id230663346.html |date=18 October 2020 }} ''[[Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Christine Lambrecht]], incumbent [[Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection]]<ref>[https://www.morgenweb.de/mannheimer-morgen_artikel,-politik-bundesjustizministerin-christine-lambrecht-spd-tritt-nicht-mehr-an-_arid,1683993.html Bundesjustizministerin Christine Lambrecht (SPD) tritt nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201234125/https://www.morgenweb.de/mannheimer-morgen_artikel,-politik-bundesjustizministerin-christine-lambrecht-spd-tritt-nicht-mehr-an-_arid,1683993.html |date=1 February 2021 }} ''Mannheimer Morgen'', 5 September 2020.</ref>
* [[Christian Lange (politician)|Christian Lange]]<ref>[https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/ostalbkreis/schwaebisch-gmuend_artikel,-christian-lange-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-f%C3%BCr-den-bundestag-_arid,11232055.html Christian Lange kandidiert nicht mehr für den Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610062834/https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/ostalbkreis/schwaebisch-gmuend_artikel%2C-christian-lange-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-f%C3%BCr-den-bundestag-_arid%2C11232055.html |date=10 June 2020 }} ''[[Schwäbische Zeitung]]'', 9 June 2020.</ref>
* [[Kirsten Lühmann]]<ref>Christoph Zimmer (28 August 2020), [https://www.cellesche-zeitung.de/Celle/Aus-der-Stadt/Celle-Stadt/Bundestagsabgeordnete-Kirsten-Luehmann-SPD-aus-Celle-tritt-nicht-mehr-an Kirsten Lühmann (SPD) tritt nicht wieder an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016214319/https://www.cellesche-zeitung.de/Celle/Aus-der-Stadt/Celle-Stadt/Bundestagsabgeordnete-Kirsten-Luehmann-SPD-aus-Celle-tritt-nicht-mehr-an |date=16 October 2020 }} ''[[Cellesche Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Caren Marks]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neustaedter-zeitung.de/artikel/11598.html|title=Caren Marks will 2021 nicht noch einmal für den Bundestag kandidieren|website=neustaedter-zeitung.de|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=17 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182538/https://www.neustaedter-zeitung.de/artikel/11598.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Christoph Matschie]]<ref>[https://www.mdr.de/thueringen/christoph-matschie-spd-kandidiert-nicht-bundestag-100.html Abschied von politischer Bühne SPD-Politiker Christoph Matschie kandidiert nicht mehr für Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130004245/https://www.mdr.de/thueringen/christoph-matschie-spd-kandidiert-nicht-bundestag-100.html |date=30 November 2020 }} ''[[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk]]'', 11 September 2020.</ref>
* [[Hilde Mattheis]]<ref>Johannes Rauneker (3 July 2020), [https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/alb-donau-kreis/ulm_artikel,-mattheis-kehrt-bundespolitik-den-r%C3%BCcken-ulmer-spd-muss-sich-neu-aufstellen-_arid,11241620.html Mattheis kehrt Bundespolitik den Rücken: Ulmer SPD muss sich neu aufstellen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704214403/https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/alb-donau-kreis/ulm_artikel,-mattheis-kehrt-bundespolitik-den-r%C3%BCcken-ulmer-spd-muss-sich-neu-aufstellen-_arid,11241620.html |date=4 July 2020 }} ''[[Schwäbische Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Markus Paschke]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Bundestag: Markus Paschke verzichtet auf Kandidatur|work=Ostfriesen-Zeitung|url=http://www.oz-online.de/-news/artikel/883826/Bundestag-Markus-Paschke-verzichtet-auf-Kandidatur|access-date=4 October 2021|author=Jonas Bothe|date=19 October 2020|language=de|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603194203/https://www.oz-online.de/-news/artikel/883826/Bundestag-Markus-Paschke-verzichtet-auf-Kandidatur|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Florian Pronold]]<ref>[https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/florian-pronold-tritt-nicht-mehr-bei-bundestagswahl-an,SDZK6bu Bayerischer Rundfunk: Florian Pronold tritt nicht mehr bei Bundestagswahl an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010092348/https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/florian-pronold-tritt-nicht-mehr-bei-bundestagswahl-an,SDZK6bu |date=10 October 2021 }}, October 2020 (German)</ref>
* [[Sascha Raabe]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.main-echo.de/regional/rhein-main-hessen/bundestag-kuenftig-ohne-sascha-raabe-art-6064282|title=Bundestag künftig ohne Sascha Raabe {{pipe}} Foto: foto di matti|first=Thomas|last=Jungewelter|date=20 June 2018|website=main-echo.de|access-date=17 February 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420092531/https://www.main-echo.de/regional/rhein-main-hessen/bundestag-kuenftig-ohne-sascha-raabe-art-6064282|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ernst Dieter Rossmann]]<ref>Alexander Sulanke (7 July 2020), [https://www.abendblatt.de/region/pinneberg/article229464348/Ernst-Dieter-Rossmann-hoert-auf-und-wirbt-fuer-Olaf-Scholz.html Ernst Dieter Rossmann hört auf – und wirbt für Olaf Scholz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214232017/https://www.abendblatt.de/region/pinneberg/article229464348/Ernst-Dieter-Rossmann-hoert-auf-und-wirbt-fuer-Olaf-Scholz.html |date=14 December 2020 }} ''[[Hamburger Abendblatt]]''.</ref>
* [[Ulla Schmidt]],<ref>[https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/spd-bundestagsvizepraesident-oppermann-schmidt-ziegler-1.5117280 Sueddeutsche.de: Eine Kandidatin zu viel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010092348/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/spd-bundestagsvizepraesident-oppermann-schmidt-ziegler-1.5117280 |date=10 October 2021 }} (German)</ref> former minister of [[Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)|Federal Ministry of Health]]
* [[Ursula Schulte]]<ref>Horst Andresen (23 July 2020), [https://www.borkenerzeitung.de/lokales/kreisborken/Ursula-Schulte-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-293601.html Ursula Schulte tritt 2021 nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724074203/https://www.borkenerzeitung.de/lokales/kreisborken/Ursula-Schulte-tritt-2021-nicht-mehr-an-293601.html |date=24 July 2020 }} ''Borkener Zeitung''.</ref>
* [[Martin Schulz]], SPD candidate for Chancellor in the 2017 federal election<ref>[https://www.aachener-nachrichten.de/politik/deutschland/ich-brenne-weiter-fuer-die-sache_aid-55222725 Interview mit Martin Schulz: „Ich brenne weiter für die Sache"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126053334/https://www.aachener-nachrichten.de/politik/deutschland/ich-brenne-weiter-fuer-die-sache_aid-55222725 |date=26 January 2021 }} ''[[Aachener Nachrichten]]'', 15 December 2020.</ref>
* [[Swen Schulz]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zawatka-Gerlach|first=Ulrich|date=2018-08-16|title=Sozialdemokrat Swen Schulz kandidiert nicht mehr für Bundestag|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/spd-berlin-sozialdemokrat-swen-schulz-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-fuer-bundestag/22919642.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182540/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/spd-berlin-sozialdemokrat-swen-schulz-kandidiert-nicht-mehr-fuer-bundestag/22919642.html|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=2020-11-23|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online}}</ref>
* [[Rainer Spiering]]<ref>''Bundestagswahl wirft Schatten voraus: Wer wechselt vom Landtag in den Bundestag?'' in: ''Rundblick – Politikjournal für Niedersachsen'' Nr. 108/2020, 10 June 2020, p. 3.</ref>
* [[Sonja Steffen]]<ref name="SVG"/>
* [[Kerstin Tack]]<ref>[https://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Hannoversche-SPD-Abgeordnete-Kerstin-Tack-will-nicht-wieder-in-den-Bundestag Hannoversche SPD-Abgeordnete: Kerstin Tack will nicht wieder in den Bundestag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420092533/https://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Hannoversche-SPD-Abgeordnete-Kerstin-Tack-will-nicht-wieder-in-den-Bundestag |date=20 April 2021 }} ''[[Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung]]'', 26 August 2020.</ref>
* [[Gabi Weber]]<ref>[https://www.blick-aktuell.de/Politik/Ich-werde-nicht-mehr-kandidieren-434530.html „Ich werde nicht mehr kandidieren"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923010657/https://www.blick-aktuell.de/Politik/Ich-werde-nicht-mehr-kandidieren-434530.html |date=23 September 2021 }}(German)</ref>
* [[Dagmar Ziegler]], incumbent [[Presidium of the Bundestag|Vice President of the Bundestag]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lassiwe|first=Benjamin|date=2019-12-16|title=Dagmar Ziegler tritt nicht wieder an: SPD-Bundestagsabgeordnete hört 2021 auf|url=https://www.pnn.de/brandenburg/dagmar-ziegler-tritt-nicht-wieder-an-spd-bundestagsabgeordnete-hoert-2021-auf/25341104.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228211501/https://www.pnn.de/brandenburg/dagmar-ziegler-tritt-nicht-wieder-an-spd-bundestagsabgeordnete-hoert-2021-auf/25341104.html|archive-date=28 December 2019|access-date=|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|language=de}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
=== FDP ===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Grigorios Aggelidis]]<ref>[https://fdp-nds.de/landesliste-der-fdp-niedersachsen-bis-platz-12-zur-bundestagswahl-gewaehlt FDP Niedersachsen: Landesliste der FDP Niedersachsen bis Platz 12 zur Bundestagswahl gewählt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202151/https://fdp-nds.de/landesliste-der-fdp-niedersachsen-bis-platz-12-zur-bundestagswahl-gewaehlt |date=24 June 2021 }}, Jun 5, 2021 (German)</ref>
* [[Britta Dassler]]<ref>[https://www.nordbayern.de/region/erlangen/unzufrieden-mit-der-arbeit-britta-dassler-fallt-bei-fdp-abstimmung-durch-1.10460185 Nordbayern.de: Unzufried mit der Arbeit, Britta Dassler fällt bei FDP-Abstimmung durch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704153113/https://www.nordbayern.de/region/erlangen/unzufrieden-mit-der-arbeit-britta-dassler-fallt-bei-fdp-abstimmung-durch-1.10460185 |date=4 July 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Hartmut Ebbing]]<ref>[https://hebbing.abgeordnete.fdpbt.de/beendigung-meines-bundestagsmandates Beendigung meines Bundestagsmandates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203056/https://hebbing.abgeordnete.fdpbt.de/beendigung-meines-bundestagsmandates |date=24 June 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Ulla Ihnen]]<ref>[https://www.neuepresse.de/Hannover/Meine-Stadt/Schluss-mit-Bundestag-Ulla-Ihnen-FDP-freut-sich-auf-neue-Freizeit Neue Presse: Schluss mit Bundestag, Ulla Ihnen freut sich auf neue Freizeit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204619/https://www.neuepresse.de/Hannover/Meine-Stadt/Schluss-mit-Bundestag-Ulla-Ihnen-FDP-freut-sich-auf-neue-Freizeit |date=24 June 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Marcel Klinge]]<ref>[https://www.suedkurier.de/region/schwarzwald/schwarzwald-baar-kreis/marcel-klinge-verzichtet-auf-vorderen-fdp-listen-platz-und-damit-auf-die-chance-wieder-in-den-bundestag-gewaehlt-zu-werden;art372502,10635124 Südkurier.de: Marcel Klinge verzichtet auf vorderen FDP-Listen-Platz und damit auf die Chance, wieder in den Bundestag gewählt zu werden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923010655/https://www.suedkurier.de/region/schwarzwald/schwarzwald-baar-kreis/marcel-klinge-verzichtet-auf-vorderen-fdp-listen-platz-und-damit-auf-die-chance-wieder-in-den-bundestag-gewaehlt-zu-werden;art372502,10635124 |date=23 September 2021 }} October 2020, (German)</ref>
* [[Alexander Kulitz]]<ref>[https://www.fdpbw.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gesammtergebnisse-LVV2020.pdf FDP Baden-Württemberg.de: Gesamtergebnisse 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926232434/https://www.fdpbw.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gesammtergebnisse-LVV2020.pdf |date=26 September 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Roman Müller-Böhm]]<ref>[https://www.fdp.nrw/sites/default/files/2021-03/Einzelwahlen.pdf FDP.NRW.de: Einzelwahlen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323112318/https://www.fdp.nrw/sites/default/files/2021-03/Einzelwahlen.pdf |date=23 March 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Martin Neumann]]<ref>[https://www.fdp-brandenburg.de/2021/03/21/fdp-stellt-landesliste-zur-bundestagswahl-2021-auf/ FDP Brandenburg: FDP stellt Landesliste zur Bundestagswahl 2021 auf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624221136/https://www.fdp-brandenburg.de/2021/03/21/fdp-stellt-landesliste-zur-bundestagswahl-2021-auf/ |date=24 June 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Wieland Schinnenburg]]<ref>[https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Hamburger-FDP-waehlt-Michael-Kruse-zum-Spitzenkandidaten-,fdp1004.html NDR.de: Hamburger FDP wählt Michael Kruse zum Spitzenkandidaten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428022425/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Hamburger-FDP-waehlt-Michael-Kruse-zum-Spitzenkandidaten-,fdp1004.html |date=28 April 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Frank Sitta]]<ref>Kai Gauselmann (July 8, 2020), [https://www.mz-web.de/sachsen-anhalt/landespolitik/in-kritik-geraten-fdp-landeschef-frank-sitta-kuendigt-rueckzug-an-36981406 In Kritik geraten FDP-Landeschef: Frank Sitta kündigt Rückzug an ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420092536/https://www.mz.de/mitteldeutschland/sachsen-anhalt/frank-sitta-fdp-landeschef-kundigt-ruckzug-an-1687257 |date=20 April 2021 }} ''[[Mitteldeutsche Zeitung]]''.</ref>
* [[Hermann Otto Solms]], [[Father of the House]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Soßdorf|first=Rüdiger|date=2019-01-28|title=Hermann Otto Solms: "Sehe für die AfD im Landkreis Gießen auf Dauer keine Zukunft"|url=https://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/kreis-giessen/lich-ort848773/hermann-otto-solms-sehe-landkreis-giessen-dauer-keine-zukunft-12157920.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117182537/https://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/kreis-giessen/lich-ort848773/hermann-otto-solms-sehe-landkreis-giessen-dauer-keine-zukunft-12157920.html|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=|website=giessener-allgemeine.de}}</ref>
* [[Katja Suding]]<ref>[https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/katja-suding-fdp-chefin-scheidet-aus-politik-aus-a-e8b77e3d-d045-4d8d-a94c-7a773d077fd5 Rückzug Hamburger: FDP-Chefin Katja Suding scheidet aus Politik aus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922201910/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/katja-suding-fdp-chefin-scheidet-aus-politik-aus-a-e8b77e3d-d045-4d8d-a94c-7a773d077fd5 |date=22 September 2020 }} ''[[Der Spiegel]]'', 5 September 2020.</ref>
{{div col end}}
=== Greens ===
* [[Anja Hajduk]]<ref>Andreas Dey (10 September 2020), [https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/kommunales/article230380050/anja-hajduk-gruene-bundestag-mandat-zurueck-ziehen-hamburg-senatorin-moorburg.html Anja Hajduk: Grünen-Politikerin zieht sich aus Bundestag zurück] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202231602/https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/kommunales/article230380050/anja-hajduk-gruene-bundestag-mandat-zurueck-ziehen-hamburg-senatorin-moorburg.html |date=2 December 2020 }} ''[[Hamburger Abendblatt]]''.</ref>
* [[Sylvia Kotting-Uhl]]<ref>Theo Westermann (22 January 2020), [https://bnn.de/lokales/karlsruhe/karlsruher-bundestagsabgeordnete-kotting-uhl-tritt-nicht-mehr-an Karlsruher Bundestagsabgeordnete Kotting-Uhl tritt nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123172751/https://bnn.de/lokales/karlsruhe/karlsruher-bundestagsabgeordnete-kotting-uhl-tritt-nicht-mehr-an |date=23 January 2020 }} ''[[Badische Neueste Nachrichten]]''.</ref>
* [[Monika Lazar]]<ref>[https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/politik/gruene-wollen-historisches-ergebnis-bei-bundestagswahl-100.html Delegiertenversammlung: Sachsens Grüne gehen mit Spitzentrio in die Bundestagswahl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427223036/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/politik/gruene-wollen-historisches-ergebnis-bei-bundestagswahl-100.html |date=27 April 2021 }} ''[[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk]]'', 24 April 2021.</ref>
* [[Friedrich Ostendorff]]<ref>[https://www.topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/ostendorff-tritt-zur-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-wieder-an-12379449.html Ostendorff tritt zur Bundestagswahl 2021 nicht wieder an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923010652/https://www.topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/ostendorff-tritt-zur-bundestagswahl-2021-nicht-wieder-an-12379449.html |date=23 September 2021 }} ''Topagrar'', 19 October 2020.</ref>
* [[Frithjof Schmidt]]<ref>[https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl/bundestagswahl-2021-in-bochum-wahllokale-kandidaten-parteien_aid-58809233 Was Sie zur Bundestagswahl 2021 in Bochum wissen müssen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613142048/https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl/bundestagswahl-2021-in-bochum-wahllokale-kandidaten-parteien_aid-58809233 |date=13 June 2021 }} ''[[Rheinische Post]]'', 6 June 2021.</ref>
=== The Left ===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Heidrun Bluhm]]<ref name="SVG"/>
* [[Sylvia Gabelmann]]<ref>[https://sylvia-gabelmann.de/2020/11/26/persoenliche-erklaerung-zur-bundestagswahl-2021/ Persönliche Erklärung im November 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416223619/https://sylvia-gabelmann.de/2020/11/26/persoenliche-erklaerung-zur-bundestagswahl-2021/ |date=16 April 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Fabio De Masi]]<ref>[https://m.tagesspiegel.de/politik/abgang-mit-knalleffekt-warum-der-linke-finanzexperte-fabio-de-masi-dem-bundestag-ciao-sagt/26951272.html Tagesspiegel.de: Abgang mit Knalleffekt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227005758/https://m.tagesspiegel.de/politik/abgang-mit-knalleffekt-warum-der-linke-finanzexperte-fabio-de-masi-dem-bundestag-ciao-sagt/26951272.html |date=27 February 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Ulla Jelpke]]<ref>[https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1144977.ulla-jelpke-erfahrene-linke.html Neues Deutschland-Aktuell.de: Nach fast 30 Jahren im Bundestag tritt Ulla Jelpke nicht wieder an.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205430/https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1144977.ulla-jelpke-erfahrene-linke.html |date=24 June 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Sabine Leidig]]<ref>[https://www.fr.de/thema/bundestagswahl-ere754863/janine-wissler-fuehrt-linke-in-die-wahl-90781182.html Frankfurter Rundschau: Die Linke in Hessen: Janine Wissler führt ihre Partei in die Bundestagswahl ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201427/https://www.fr.de/thema/bundestagswahl-ere754863/janine-wissler-fuehrt-linke-in-die-wahl-90781182.html |date=24 June 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Stefan Liebich]]<ref>[https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-linken-abgeordneter-stefan-liebich-will-nicht-erneut-fuer-bundestag-kandidieren/25565546.html Tagesspiegel.de: Berliner Linken Abgeordneter Stefan Liebich will nicht erneut für Bundestag kandidieren] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317012538/https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-linken-abgeordneter-stefan-liebich-will-nicht-erneut-fuer-bundestag-kandidieren/25565546.html |date=17 March 2021 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Michael Leutert]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Plenarprotokoll 19/198|periodical=Deutscher Bundestag|publisher=|url=https://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btp/19/19198.pdf|date=2020-12-09|pages=25010|archive-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210090218/https://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btp/19/19198.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Niema Movassat]]<ref>[https://movassat.de/zeit-fuer-veraenderung-persoenliche-erklaerung-von-niema-movassat-zur-bundestagswahl-2021 Movassat.de: Zeit für persönliche Veränderung] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624231459/https://movassat.de/zeit-fuer-veraenderung-persoenliche-erklaerung-von-niema-movassat-zur-bundestagswahl-2021 |date=24 June 2021 }}, 15 June 2020 (German)</ref>
* [[Kirsten Tackmann]]<ref>[https://www.agrarzeitung.de/nachrichten/personen/die-linke-tackmann-will-2021-nicht-mehr-kandidieren-91546?crefresh=1 Agrarzeitung.de: Tackmann tritt nicht mehr an] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203211/https://www.agrarzeitung.de/nachrichten/personen/die-linke-tackmann-will-2021-nicht-mehr-kandidieren-91546?crefresh=1 |date=24 June 2021 }} (German)</ref>
* [[Andreas Wagner (politician)|Andreas Wagner]]<ref>[https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/wolfratshausen/geretsrieder-politiker-im-bundestag-andreas-wagner-will-nicht-wieder-antreten-1.4859528 Sueddeutsche.de: Andreas Wagner will nicht wieder antreten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403082421/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/wolfratshausen/geretsrieder-politiker-im-bundestag-andreas-wagner-will-nicht-wieder-antreten-1.4859528 |date=3 April 2020 }}, (German)</ref>
* [[Hubertus Zdebel]]<ref>[https://www.dielinke-nrw.de/start/aktuell/detail/news/mit-dem-spitzenduo-wagenknecht-und-birkwald-in-den-bundestagswahlkampf/ Die Linke-NRW.de: Mit dem Spitzenduo Wagenknecht und Birkwald in den Bundestagswahlkampf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203125/https://www.dielinke-nrw.de/start/aktuell/detail/news/mit-dem-spitzenduo-wagenknecht-und-birkwald-in-den-bundestagswahlkampf/ |date=24 June 2021 }}, April 2021, (German)</ref>
{{div col end}}
=== Independents ===
* [[Frauke Petry]], former leader of AfD<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-11-05|title=Frauke Petry kündigt Ende ihrer "Blauen Partei" an|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frauke-petry-kuendigt-ende-ihrer-blauen-partei-an-a-1294984.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106162820/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frauke-petry-kuendigt-ende-ihrer-blauen-partei-an-a-1294984.html|archive-date=6 November 2019|access-date=|website=DER SPIEGEL|language=de}}</ref>
== Opinion polls ==
{{main|Opinion polling for the 2021 German federal election}}
{{wide image|Opinion polls Germany 2021.svg|1000px|[[Local regression]] of polls conducted}}
=== Poll trackers ===
Trackers of voting intentions and other election-related polling:
* [https://europeelects.eu/germany/ ''Europe Elects'']
* [https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/who-will-succeed-angela-merkel ''The Economist'']
* [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/21/german-election-poll-tracker-who-will-be-the-next-chancellor ''The Guardian''] – includes breakdown of hypothetical coalition governments
* [https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/08/german-election-2021-new-statesman-s-poll-tracker ''New Statesman''] – includes polling of German voters' preferred chancellor and the issues they prioritise as well as a breakdown of hypothetical coalition governments
* [https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/germany/ ''Politico'']
== Results ==
{{main|Results of the 2021 German federal election}}
Although the vote share of the [[South Schleswig Voters' Association]] (0.12%) was well below the 5% electoral threshold, due to its status of being representative of a recognised minority group (Danes and Frisians), an exception in federal law allowed the party to win one party-list seat.
{{Election results
|image=[[File:Bundestag 2021.svg]]
|firstround=Party-list|secondround=Constituency
|image=[[File:2009 German federal election - composition chart.svg]]
|party1=[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]|votes1=11901556|seats1=85|votes1_2=12184094|seats1_2=121|totseats1=206|sc1=+53
|party2party1=[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]]|votes2votes1=877491911828277|seats2seats1=5421|votes2_2votes1_2=1044592313856674|seats2_2seats1_2=98173|totseats2totseats1=152194|sc2sc1=−48+14
|party2=[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]|votes2=9990488|seats2=82|votes2_2=12079758|seats2_2=64|totseats2=146|sc2=−76
|party3=[[Alliance 90/The Greens]]|votes3=6814401|seats3=102|votes3_2=6435360|seats3_2=16|totseats3=118|sc3=+51
|party4party3=[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]]|votes4votes3=52910106316080|seats4seats3=9193|votes4_2votes3_2=40195624076496|seats4_2seats3_2=0|totseats4totseats3=9193|sc4sc3=+1132
|party5party4=[[AlternativeThe forLeft (Germany)|The Left]]|votes5votes4=48092285155933|seats5seats4=6760|votes5_2votes4_2=46999174791124|seats5_2seats4_2=16|totseats5totseats4=8376|sc5sc4=−11+22
|party5=[[Alliance 90/The Greens]]|votes5=4643272|seats5=67|votes5_2=3977125|seats5_2=1|totseats5=68|sc5=+17
|party6=[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|Christian Social Union]]|votes6=2402827|seats6=0|votes6_2=2788048|seats6_2=45|totseats6=45|sc6=−1
|party6=[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|Christian Social Union]]|votes6=2830238|seats6=0|votes6_2=3191000|seats6_2=45|totseats6=45|sc6=−1
|party7=[[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]|votes7=2255860|seats7=36|votes7_2=2286070|seats7_2=3|totseats7=39|sc7=−30
|party8party7=[[FreePirate VotersParty Germany]]|votes8votes7=1125666847870|seats8seats7=0|votes8_2votes7_2=133270746770|seats8_2seats7_2=0|totseats8totseats7=0|sc8sc7=0New
|party9party8=[[HumanNational EnvironmentDemocratic AnimalParty of Germany|National ProtectionDemocratic Party]]|votes9votes8=673669635525|seats9seats8=0|votes9_2votes8_2=160863768442|seats9_2seats8_2=0|totseats9totseats8=0|sc9sc8=0
|party9=[[Human Environment Animal Protection Party]]|votes9=230872|seats9=0|votes9_2=16887|seats9_2=0|totseats9=0|sc9=0
|party10=[[Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany|Grassroots Democratic Party]]|votes10=630153|seats10=0|votes10_2=732620|seats10_2=0|totseats10=0|sc10=New
|party10=[[The Republicans (Germany)|The Republicans]]|votes10=193396|seats10=0|votes10_2=30061|seats10_2=0|totseats10=0|sc10=0
|party11=[[Die PARTEI]]|votes11=460429|seats11=0|votes11_2=540165|seats11_2=0|totseats11=0|sc11=0
|party11=[[Ecological Democratic Party]]|votes11=132249|seats11=0|votes11_2=105653|seats11_2=0|totseats11=0|sc11=0
|party12=[[Team Todenhöfer]]|votes12=211860|seats12=0|votes12_2=5422|seats12_2=0|totseats12=0|sc12=New
|party13party12=[[PirateFamily Party of Germany|Family Party]]|votes13votes12=169591120718|seats13seats12=0|votes13_2votes12_2=6055017848|seats13_2seats12_2=0|totseats13totseats12=0|sc13sc12=0
|party13=[[:de:Rentnerinnen- und Rentner-Partei|Alliance 21/RRP]]|votes13=100605|seats13=0|votes13_2=37946|seats13_2=0|totseats13=0|sc13=New|color13={{party color|Alliance 21/RRP}}
|party14=[[Volt Germany]]|votes14=164272|seats14=0|votes14_2=77594|seats14_2=0|totseats14=0|sc14=New
|party14=[[:de:Rentner Partei Deutschland|Pensioners' Party]]|votes14=56399|seats14=0|totseats14=0|sc14=New|color14={{party color|Pensioners' Party}}
|party15=[[Ecological Democratic Party]]|votes15=112131|seats15=0|votes15_2=152540|seats15_2=0|totseats15=0|sc15=0
|party15=[[Bavaria Party]]|votes15=48311|seats15=0|votes15_2=32324|seats15_2=0|totseats15=0|sc15=0
|party16=[[National Democratic Party of Germany|National Democratic Party]]|votes16=64360|seats16=0|votes16_2=1090|seats16_2=0|totseats16=0|sc16=0
|party16=[[German People's Union]]|votes16=45752|seats16=0|totseats16=0|sc16=0
|party17=[[South Schleswig Voters' Association]]|votes17=55578|seats17=1|votes17_2=35027|seats17_2=0|totseats17=1|sc17=+1
|party17=[[Party of Bible-abiding Christians]]|votes17=40370|seats17=0|votes17_2=12052|seats17_2=0|totseats17=0|sc17=0
|party18=[[Partei für Gesundheitsforschung]]|votes18=48495|seats18=0|votes18_2=2173|seats18_2=0|totseats18=0|sc18=0
|party18=[[Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität]]|votes18=38706|seats18=0|votes18_2=34894|seats18_2=0|totseats18=0|sc18=0
|party19=[[Party of Humanists]]|votes19=47526|seats19=0|votes19_2=12672|seats19_2=0|totseats19=0|sc19=0
|party19=[[The Violets (political party)|The Violets]]|votes19=31957|seats19=0|votes19_2=5794|seats19_2=0|totseats19=0|sc19=0
|party20=[[Alliance C – Christians for Germany]]|votes20=39868|seats20=0|votes20_2=6222|seats20_2=0|totseats20=0|sc20=0
|party20=[[Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany|Marxist–Leninist Party]]|votes20=29261|seats20=0|votes20_2=17512|seats20_2=0|totseats20=0|sc20=0
|party21=[[Bavaria Party]]|votes21=32790|seats21=0|votes21_2=36748|seats21_2=0|totseats21=0|sc21=0
|party21=[[:de:Ab jetzt … Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung|Alliance for Germany]]|votes21=23015|seats21=0|votes21_2=2550|seats21_2=0|totseats21=0|sc21=0|color21={{party color|Volksabstimmung}}
|party22=[[V-Partei3]]|votes22=31762|seats22=0|votes22_2=10644|seats22_2=0|totseats22=0|sc22=0
|party22=[[:de:Freie Wähler Deutschland|Free Voters]]|votes22=11243|seats22=0|totseats22=0|sc22=New|color22={{party color|Free Voters}}
|party23={{ill|Independents for Citizen-oriented Democracy|de|Unabhängige für bürgernahe Demokratie}}|votes23=22736|seats23=0|votes23_2=13421|seats23_2=0|totseats23=0|sc23=0|color23=#FF9900
|party23=[[Christian Centre]]|votes23=6826|seats23=0|totseats23=0|sc23=0
|party24={{ill|The Greys – For All Generations|de|Die Grauen – Für alle Generationen}}|votes24=17304|seats24=0|votes24_2=1958|seats24_2=0|totseats24=0|sc24=0|color24={{party color|The Grays – For All Generations}}
|party25party24=[[DieCentre Urbane.Party Eine HipHop(Germany)|Centre ParteiParty]]|votes25votes24=177376087|seats25seats24=0|votes25_2votes24_2=1890369|seats25_2seats24_2=0|totseats25totseats24=0|sc25sc24=0
|party26party25=[[Marxist–LeninistSocialist Equality Party of (Germany)|Marxist–LeninistParty Partyfor Social Equality]]|votes26=17819|seats26=0|votes26_2votes25=225382957|seats26_2seats25=0|totseats26totseats25=0|sc26sc25=0
|party26=[[:de:Allianz der Mitte|Alliance of the Centre]]|votes26=2889|seats26=0|votes26_2=396|seats26_2=0|totseats26=0|sc26=New|color26=#0D6AA9
|party27=[[German Communist Party]]|votes27=14951|seats27=0|votes27_2=5446|seats27_2=0|totseats27=0|sc27=0
|party27=[[German Communist Party]]|votes27=1894|seats27=0|votes27_2=929|seats27_2=0|totseats27=0|sc27=0
|party28=[[Alliance for Human Rights, Animal and Nature Protection]]|votes28=13672|seats28=0|votes28_2=7371|seats28_2=0|totseats28=0|sc28=0
|party28=[[:de:Freie Union|Free Union]]|votes28_2=6121|seats28_2=0|totseats28=0|sc28=New|color28=#EFA700
|party29={{ill|European Party Love|de|Europäische Partei Liebe}}|votes29=12967|seats29=0|votes29_2=873|seats29_2=0|totseats29=0|sc29=New|color29=#DC2F28
|party29=[[Independent politician|Independents]] and voter groups|votes29_2=139275|seats29_2=0|totseats29=0|sc29=0
|party30=[[Liberal Conservative Reformers]]|votes30=11327|seats30=0|votes30_2=11003|seats30_2=0|totseats30=0|sc30=New
|invalid=634385|invalid2=757575
|party31=Lobbyists for Children|votes31=9189|seats31=0|totseats31=0|sc31=New|color31=#D1165D
|total_sc=+8
|party32=[[Third Way (Germany)|Third Way]]|votes32=7832|seats32=0|votes32_2=515|seats32_2=0|totseats32=0|sc32=New
|electorate=62168489|electorate2=62168489
|party33=[[Garden Party (Germany)|Garden Party]]|votes33=7611|seats33=0|votes33_2=2095|seats33_2=0|totseats33=0|sc33=0|color33=#004800
|source=[https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2009.html Bundeswahlleiter]
|party34=Citizens' Movement|votes34=7491|seats34=0|votes34_2=1556|seats34_2=0|totseats34=0|sc34=New|color34=#44AAE0
|party35=[[Democracy in Motion]]|votes35=7184|seats35=0|votes35_2=2609|seats35_2=0|totseats35=0|sc35=0
|party36=[[Menschliche Welt]]|votes36=3786|seats36=0|votes36_2=651|seats36_2=0|totseats36=0|sc36=0|color36={{party color|Menschliche Welt}}
|party37={{ill|The Pinks/Alliance 21|de|Die Pinken/Bündnis21}}|votes37=3488|seats37=0|votes37_2=373|seats37_2=0|totseats37=0|sc37=New|color37=#E71F71
|party38=[[Party of Progress (Germany)|Party of Progress]]|votes38=3228|seats38=0|totseats38=0|sc38=New|color38=#F5A419
|party39=[[Socialist Equality Party (Germany)|Socialist Equality Party]]|votes39=1400|seats39=0|totseats39=0|sc39=0
|party40=[[Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität]]|votes40=665|seats40=0|votes40_2=811|seats40_2=0|totseats40=0|sc40=0
|party41=[[Klimaliste|Klimaliste Baden-Württemberg]]|votes41_2=3967|seats41_2=0|totseats41=0|sc41=New
|party42=[[Family Party of Germany|Family Party]]|votes42_2=1817|seats42_2=0|totseats42=0|sc42=0
|party43={{ill|From now... Democracy by Referendum|de|Ab jetzt … Demokratie durch Volksabstimmung}}|votes43_2=1086|seats43_2=0|totseats43=0|sc43=0|color43={{party color|Volksabstimmung}}
|party44={{ill|Grey Panthers (Germany)|lt=Grey Panthers|de|Graue Panther (Partei)}}|votes44_2=961|seats44_2=0|totseats44=0|sc44=New|color44=#566467
|party45=Thuringian Homeland Party|votes45_2=549|seats45_2=0|totseats45=0|sc45=New|color45=#0083C1
|party46=The Others|votes46_2=251|seats46_2=0|totseats46=0|sc46=New|color46=#BABABA
|party47=[[Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"]]|votes47_2=191|seats47_2=0|totseats47=0|sc47=0
|party48=[[Independent politician|Independents]] and voter groups|votes48_2=110875|seats48_2=0|totseats48=0|sc48=0
|invalid=408976|invalid2=488496
|total_sc=+26
|electorate=61172771|electorate2=61172771
|source=[https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2021/ergebnisse/bund-99.html Bundeswahlleiter]
}}
=== Results by state ===
Second Vote ("Zweitstimme", or votes for party list)
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px"
! colspan=8| Party list vote share by state<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2021/ergebnisse/bund-99.html|title=Results Germany - The Federal Returning Officer|website=www.bundeswahlleiter.de|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928113624/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2021/ergebnisse/bund-99.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{|- class="wikitable sortable" style="heighttext-align:40px;right"
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:200px;" rowspan="2"| [[States of Germany|State]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[CDU/CSU|Union]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;"| [[The Left (Germany)|Linke]]
! class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others
|-
! [[States of Germany|State]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_09/ergebnisse/landesergebnisse/ |title=The Federal Returning Officer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115225314/https://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_09/ergebnisse/landesergebnisse/|archive-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> results in % || [[Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands|CDU]]/[[Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern|CSU]] || [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] || [[Freie Demokratische Partei|FDP]] || [[The Left (Germany)|LINKE]] || [[Bündnis 90/Die Grünen|GRÜNE]] || all others
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"|
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}};"|
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};"|
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};"|
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|Alternative for Germany}};"|
! class="wikitable sortable" style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};"|
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|SchleswigBaden-HolsteinWürttemberg}} || '''34.5''' || 19.3 || 18.8 || 7.2 || 13.9 || 6.3
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''28.0'''
| 22.0
| 18.3
| 12.5
| 6.8
| 3.6
| 8.7
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Mecklenburg-VorpommernBavaria}} {{efn|(formerly| part'''42.6''' of|| [[East16.8 Germany]])}}|| 14.7 || 6.5 || 10.8 || 8.6
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''29.1'''
| 17.4
| 7.8
| 8.2
| 18.0
| 11.1
| 8.4
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|HamburgBerlin}} || '''22.8''' || 20.2 || 11.5 || 20.2 || 17.4 || 7.9
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''29.7'''
| 15.4
| 24.9
| 11.4
| 5.0
| 6.7
| 6.9
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Lower SaxonyBrandenburg}} || 23.6 || 25.1 || 9.3 || '''28.5''' || 6.1 || 7.4
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''33.1'''
| 24.2
| 16.1
| 10.5
| 7.4
| 3.3
| 5.4
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Bremen}} || 23.9 || '''30.3''' || 10.6 || 14.2 || 15.4 || 5.6
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''31.5'''
| 17.2
| 20.9
| 9.3
| 6.9
| 7.7
| 6.4
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|BrandenburgHamburg}} {{efn|(formerly| part'''27.9''' of|| [[East27.4 Germany]])}}|| 13.2 || 11.2 || 15.6 || 4.7
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''29.5'''
| 15.3
| 9.0
| 9.3
| 18.1
| 8.5
| 10.3
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Saxony-AnhaltHesse}} {{efn|(formerly| part'''32.2''' of|| [[East25.6 Germany]])}}|| 16.6 || 8.5 || 12.0 || 5.1
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''25.4'''
| 21.0
| 6.5
| 9.5
| 19.6
| 9.6
| 8.4
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|BerlinMecklenburg-Vorpommern}} || '''33.2''' || 16.6 || 9.8 || 29.0 || 5.5 || 5.9
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''22.2'''
| 17.2
| 22.0
| 8.1
| 9.4
| 11.5
| 9.4
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|NorthLower Rhine-WestphaliaSaxony}} || '''33.2''' || 29.3 || 13.3 || 8.6 || 10.7 || 4.9
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''29.1'''
| 26.0
| 16.1
| 11.4
| 7.3
| 3.7
| 6.5
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|SaxonyNorth Rhine-Westphalia}} {{efn|(formerly| part'''33.1''' of|| [[East28.5 Germany]])}}|| 14.9 || 8.4 || 10.1 || 5.0
| 19.3
| 17.2
| 8.6
| 11.0
| {{Party shading/AfD}}| '''24.6'''
| 9.3
| 9.9
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|HesseRhineland-Palatinate}} || '''35.0''' || 23.8 || 16.6 || 9.4 || 9.7 || 5.5
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''27.6'''
| 22.8
| 15.8
| 12.8
| 8.8
| 4.3
| 7.9
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|ThuringiaSaarland}} {{efn|(formerly| part'''30.7''' of|| [[East24.7 Germany]])}}|| 11.9 || 21.2 || 6.8 || 4.7
| 23.4
| 16.9
| 6.6
| 9.0
| {{Party shading/AfD}}| '''24.0'''
| 11.4
| 8.7
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Rhineland-PalatinateSaxony}} || '''35.6''' || 14.6 || 13.3 || 24.5 || 6.7 || 5.3
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''29.4'''
| 24.7
| 12.6
| 11.7
| 9.2
| 3.3
| 9.2
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|BavariaSaxony-Anhalt}} || 30.1 || 16.9 || 10.3 || '''32.4''' || 5.1 || 5.2
| 18.0
| {{Party shading/CDU}}| '''31.7'''
| 14.1
| 10.5
| 9.0
| 2.8
| 13.9
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|BadenSchleswig-WürttembergHolstein}} || '''32.2''' || 26.8 || 16.3 || 7.9 || 12.7 || 4.1
| 21.6
| {{Party shading/CDU}}| '''24.8'''
| 17.2
| 15.3
| 9.6
| 3.3
| 8.2
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|SaarlandThuringia}} || '''31.2''' || 17.6 || 9.8 || 28.8 || 6.0 || 6.6
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''37.3'''
| 23.6
| –
| 11.5
| 10.0
| 7.2
| 10.5
|}
Line 895 ⟶ 317:
! rowspan="3" |State
! rowspan="3" |Total<br>seats
! colspan="65" |Seats won
|-
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Linke]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[The Left (Germany)|Linke]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Social Union in Bavaria}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Alternative for Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}};" |
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Baden-Württemberg]]
!38
|37
|1
|33
|
|4
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Bavaria]]
!4645
|
|
|45
|1
|
|
Line 931 ⟶ 349:
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Berlin]]
!12
|45
|3
|
|3
|
|2
|
|4
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Brandenburg]]
!10
|101
|5
|
|
|
|4
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Bremen (state)|Bremen]]
!2
|
|2
|
|
|
|
Line 958 ⟶ 373:
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Hamburg]]
!6
|43
|3
|
|
|2
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Hesse]]
!2221
|1415
|76
|
|1
|
|
Line 976 ⟶ 389:
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Lower Saxony]]
!30
|2216
|814
|
|
|
Line 984 ⟶ 396:
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]
!67
|6
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[North Rhine-Westphalia]]
!64
|3037
|3027
|
|4
|
|
Line 1,003 ⟶ 413:
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Rhineland-Palatinate]]
!15
|813
|72
|
|
|
Line 1,013 ⟶ 422:
!4
|4
|
|
|
Line 1,021 ⟶ 429:
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Saxony]]
!16
|116
|4
|
|
|
|10
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Saxony-Anhalt]]
!9
|4
|3
|
|
|25
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Schleswig-Holstein]]
!11
|89
|2
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Thuringia]]
!89
|37
|1
|
|
|42
|
|- class="sortbottom"
! style="text-align: left;" |Total
!299
!121173
!9864
!45
!16
!161
!3
|}
Line 1,069 ⟶ 472:
! rowspan="3" |State
! rowspan="3" |Total<br>seats
! colspan="75" |Seats won
|-
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[AlternativeAlliance for90/The GermanyGreens|AfDGrüne]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Linke]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Linke]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[South Schleswig Voters' Association|SSW]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance 90}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|AlternativeAlliance for Germany90}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|The Left (Germany)}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|South Schleswig Voters' Association}};" |
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Baden-Württemberg]]
!6446
|15
|14
|1611
|216
|10
|
|3
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Bavaria]]
!7146
|18
|14
|2316
|1210
|6
|4
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Berlin]]
!1711
|3
|3
|2
|2
|3
|2
|1
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Brandenburg]]
!159
|2
|
|1
|2
|
|5
|4
|2
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Bremen (state)|Bremen]]
!34
|1
|1
|
|
|1
|1
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Hamburg]]
!107
|2
|1
|2
|1
|1
|3
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Hesse]]
!2824
|8
|76
|16
|54
|5
|3
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Lower Saxony]]
!4332
|139
|85
|47
|6
|105
|3
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]
!107
|1
|2
|1
|
|3
|3
|2
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[North Rhine-Westphalia]]
!9165
|2420
|19
|19
|12
|1214
|611
|8
|- class="sortbottom"
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Rhineland-Palatinate]]
!2117
|5
|56
|43
|43
|2
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Saarland]]
!56
|
|1
|2
|1
|2
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Saxony]]
!2219
|4
|5
|72
|8
|3
|3
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Saxony-Anhalt]]
!98
|1
|2
|3
|1
|1
|2
|1
|2
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Schleswig-Holstein]]
!1713
|5
|4
|4
|3
|2
|
|2
|4
|1
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Thuringia]]
!119
|1
|2
|2
|3
|1
|2
|3
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |Total
!437323
!10293
!9182
!85
!67
!5460
!3621
!1
|}
== Further reading ==
=== MPs who lost their seat ===
* {{cite journal |last=Faas |first=Thorsten |year=2010 |title=The German Federal Election of 2009: Sprouting Coalitions, Drooping Social Democrats |journal=West European Politics |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=894–903 |doi=10.1080/01402381003794670 |s2cid=154171892 }}
{{main|List of MPs who lost their seat in the 2021 German federal election}}
* {{cite book |editor-first=Eric |editor-last=Langenbacher |title=Between Left and Right: The 2009 Bundestag Elections and the Transformation of the German Party System |location=New York |publisher=Berghahn Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85745-222-1 }} Scholarly studies.
* Reher, Stefanie. "The effect of congruence in policy priorities on electoral participation." ''Electoral Studies'' 36 (2014): 158–172. based on 2009 polls; [http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/events/epop2013/docs/Reher_EPOP2013_turnout-priority-congruence.pdf online]
== Notes ==
===10 closest constituencies===
{{notelist}}
Incumbents are denoted in bold and followed by ''(I)''.
==References==
{{Commons category|2009 Germany Bundestagswahl}}
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
{| class="wikitable"
* Hansen, Michael A., and Jonathan Olsen. "Rhapsody in Beige: The Impact of SPD Candidate Evaluations on Vote Choice in the 2009, 2013, and 2017 Federal Elections." ''German Politics'' 29.2 (2020): 223–243. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael-Hansen-7/publication/335959540_Rhapsody_in_Beige_The_Impact_of_SPD_Candidate_Evaluations_on_Vote_Choice_in_the_2009_2013_and_2017_Federal_Elections/links/5e4bc87ba6fdccd965af1f8f/Rhapsody-in-Beige-The-Impact-of-SPD-Candidate-Evaluations-on-Vote-Choice-in-the-2009-2013-and-2017-Federal-Elections.pdf online]
|-
* Schoen, Harald. "Merely a referendum on Chancellor Merkel? Parties, issues and candidates in the 2009 German federal election." ''German Politics'' 20.1 (2011): 92–106.
! [[List of Bundestag constituencies|Constituency]]
![[States of Germany|State]]
! colspan="2" | Winner
! colspan="2" | Runner-up
! Vote difference
|-
|[[Dresden II – Bautzen II]]
|[[Saxony]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|[[Lars Rohwer]], CDU
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alternative for Germany}}" |
|{{Ill|Andreas Harlaß|de|}}, AfD
|35
|-
|[[Südpfalz]]
|[[Rhineland-Palatinate]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
|[[Thomas Hitschler]], SPD
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|'''[[Thomas Gebhart]] (I)''', CDU
|41
|-
|[[Steinburg – Dithmarschen Süd]]
|[[Schleswig-Holstein]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|'''[[Mark Helfrich (politician)|Mark Helfrich]] (I)''', CDU
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
|[[Karin Thissen]], SPD
|52
|-
|[[Emmendingen – Lahr]]
|[[Baden-Württemberg]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|[[Peter Weiß]], CDU
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
|[[Johannes Fechner]], SPD
|90
|-
|[[Munich West/Centre (electoral district)|Munich West/Centre]]
|[[Bavaria]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Social Union in Bavaria}}" |
|'''[[Stephan Pilsinger]] (I)''', CSU
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}" |
|[[Dieter Janecek]], Grüne
|137
|-
|[[Mansfeld (electoral district)|Mansfeld]]
|[[Saxony-Anhalt]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alternative for Germany}}" |
|[[Robert Farle]], AfD
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|'''[[Torsten Schweiger]] (I)''', CDU
|198
|-
|[[Bonn (electoral district)|Bonn]]
|[[North Rhine-Westphalia]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}" |
|[[Katrin Uhlig]], Grüne
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
|[[Jessica Rosenthal]], SPD
|216
|-
|[[Leipzig-Land]]
|[[Saxony]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alternative for Germany}}" |
|[[Edgar Naujok]], AfD
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|{{Ill|Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch|de|}}, CDU
|282
|-
|[[Burgenland – Saalekreis]]
|[[Saxony-Anhalt]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}" |
|'''[[Dieter Stier]] (I)''', CDU
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alternative for Germany}}" |
|[[Martin Reichardt]], AfD
|321
|-
|[[Hamburg-Eimsbüttel (electoral district)|Hamburg-Eimsbüttel]]
|[[Hamburg]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}" |
|[[Till Steffen]], Grüne
|style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
|'''[[Niels Annen]] (I)''', SPD
|359
|-
|}
==External links==
=== Irregularities in Berlin leading to repeat elections ===
* [http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/en/bundestagswahlen/2009.html Official voting results from the Federal Returning Officer]
[[File:Auszählung Bundestagswahl 2021 in der Messe Berlin 19 34 42 378000.jpeg|thumb|The many postal ballot papers at [[Berlin-Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf]]]]
* [http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/index.htm Opinion poll tracker with data]
In [[Berlin]], vote casting and counting was not simple as the federal election was on the same day as the [[Berlin Marathon]], the [[2021 Berlin state election]] and a local referendum. The Federal Returning Officer felt compelled to request a report from the State Returning Officer Petra Michaelis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bundeswahlleiter fordert Bericht zu Berliner Wahlpannen an|url=https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/bundeswahlleiter-fordert-bericht-zu-berliner-wahlpannen-an--30777040.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=stern.de|language=de|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021234909/https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/bundeswahlleiter-fordert-bericht-zu-berliner-wahlpannen-an--30777040.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [http://www.abehnisch.com/btw09.html Opinion poll tracker with graph and monthly average]
* [http://www.bei-der-wahl-am.de/en/german-elections-for-the-bundestag-candidates/ Bundestag Election Candidates]
In some polling stations ballot papers were missing or ran out and could not be delivered on the same day due to the [[Berlin Marathon|Berlin marathon]]. Ballot papers (of which there were 115 different variants in Berlin) and postal voting documents were also swapped. Many votes were cast long after the official end of voting at 6 p.m, the last after 8 p.m. when the outcome was already being forecast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wahlchaos in Berlin: Schaden an der Demokratie|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/wahl-chaos-in-berlin-pannen-corona-marathon-frust-bei-den-waehlerinnen-und-waehlern-EDEI3WB7NNDSHK5WACOEV6RYSY.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.rnd.de|date=26 September 2021 |language=de-DE|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021234908/https://www.rnd.de/politik/wahl-chaos-in-berlin-pannen-corona-marathon-frust-bei-den-waehlerinnen-und-waehlern-EDEI3WB7NNDSHK5WACOEV6RYSY.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At least one polling station was closed due to missing documents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Offenbar haben in Berlin auch Minderjährige gewählt|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/wahl/abgeordnetenhaus/agh-2021/beitraege/bundestag-bundestagswahl-berlin-minderjaehrige-wahl.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.rbb24.de|date=6 October 2021 |language=de|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015211447/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/wahl/abgeordnetenhaus/agh-2021/beitraege/bundestag-bundestagswahl-berlin-minderjaehrige-wahl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Analysis of the election by Ingo Schmidt: [http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/255.php The German Federal Elections: Centre-Right Wins Majority, Social Democracy Suffers Crushing Defeat, The Left Receives a Boost]
In at least 16 Berlin polling stations, basic election data did not match (including impossible voter turnouts of over 100%).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bis zu 150% Wahlbeteiligung in Berlin - Tagesspiegel Checkpoint|url=https://checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de/langmeldung/2T4WHZc6fcPWxoPiM6RuHf|access-date=2021-10-21|website=checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de|language=de|archive-date=14 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014175452/https://checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de/langmeldung/2T4WHZc6fcPWxoPiM6RuHf|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 29 September 2021, Michaelis announced her resignation and that of her deputy.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Latz|first=Christian|date=2021-09-29|title=Berlins Landeswahlleiterin tritt nach Pannen bei der Wahl zurück|language=de-DE|work=Der Tagesspiegel Online|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/ich-uebernehme-die-verantwortung-berlins-landeswahlleiterin-tritt-nach-pannen-bei-der-wahl-zurueck/27660650.html|access-date=2021-10-21|issn=1865-2263|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021234906/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/ich-uebernehme-die-verantwortung-berlins-landeswahlleiterin-tritt-nach-pannen-bei-der-wahl-zurueck/27660650.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2022, the [[2021 Berlin state election]] was declared invalid, to be replaced by the February [[2023 Berlin repeat state election]]. Decision making on the federal level took even longer. In late 2023, a repeat of the federal election was ordered in 455 of 2,256 Berlin precincts.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-court-orders-partial-repeat-berlins-2021-election-2023-12-19/ German court orders partial repeat of Berlin's 2021 election]</ref> The result of the repeat election on 11 February 2024 replaced the original result in those precincts, resulting in the overall result of the election being recalculated. As a result of the repeat election, the FDP lost a seat in Berlin, resulting in the size of the Bundestag being reduced from 736 to 735 members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wiederholung der Bundestagswahl 2021: Vorläufiges Ergebnis - Die Bundeswahlleiterin |url=https://www.bundeswahlleiterin.de/info/presse/mitteilungen/bundestagswahl-2021/05_24_vorlaeufiges-ergebnis.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.bundeswahlleiterin.de}}</ref> The SPD, Greens, and The Left each lost a seat in Berlin, while gaining one in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse respectively,<ref name=":0" /> thus keeping the total number of seats won by those parties unchanged.
==Analysis and aftermath==
[[File:Erststimmenmehrheiten Bundestagswahl 2021.svg|thumb|Party affiliation of winning candidates by constituency]]
[[File:2021 German federal election - Results by state.svg|thumb|Results of the party list vote by state]]
[[File:2021 German federal election - List seats by state.svg|thumb|List seats by state]]
{| class="wikitable unsortable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
! colspan="10"| Sociology of the electorate
|-
! scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:180px;"| Demographic
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[CDU/CSU|Union]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[The Left (Germany)|Linke]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| [[Free Voters]]
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"| Others
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Union (Germany)}}" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|Alternative for Germany}}" |
! style="background-color: {{party color|The Left (Germany)}}" |
! style="background-color: #FF8000" |
! style="background-color: #a9a9a9" |
|-
! colspan="2"| Total vote
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''25.7%'''
| 24.1%
| 14.8%
| 11.5%
| 10.3%
| 4.9%
| 2.4%
| 6.3%
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="10"| Sex
|-
! colspan="2"| Men
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''25%'''
| 24%
| 14%
| 13%
| 12%
| 5%
| 2%
| 5%
|-
! colspan="2"| Women
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''27%'''
| 24%
| 16%
| 10%
| 8%
| 5%
| 2%
| 8%
|-
! colspan="10"| Age
|-
! colspan="2"| 18–24 years old
| 15%
| 10%
| {{Party shading/Grüne}}| '''23%'''
| 21%
| 7%
| 8%
| 3%
| 13%
|-
! colspan="2"| 25–34 years old
| 17%
| 14%
| {{Party shading/Grüne}}| '''21%'''
| 15%
| 12%
| 7%
| 3%
| 13%
|-
! colspan="2"| 35–44 years old
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''20%'''
| 19%
| 18%
| 12%
| 15%
| 5%
| 3%
| 8%
|-
! colspan="2"| 45–59 years old
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''26%'''
| 23%
| 16%
| 12%
| 12%
| 4%
| 3%
| 4%
|-
! colspan="2"| 60–69 years old
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''32%'''
| 28%
| 12%
| 9%
| 10%
| 4%
| 2%
| 3%
|-
! colspan="2"| 70 or older
| 35%
| {{Party shading/CDU}}| '''38%'''
| 7%
| 8%
| 5%
| 4%
| 1%
| 2%
|-
! colspan="10"| Socio-occupational classification
|-
! colspan="2"| Unemployed
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''23%'''
| 14%
| 17%
| 8%
| 17%
| 11%
| 3%
| 7%
|-
! colspan="2"| Blue-collar worker
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''26%'''
| 20%
| 8%
| 9%
| 21%
| 5%
| 3%
| 8%
|-
! colspan="2"| White-collar worker
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''24%'''
| 20%
| 17%
| 13%
| 11%
| 5%
| 3%
| 7%
|-
! colspan="2"| Self-employed
| 16%
| {{Party shading/CDU}}| '''26%'''
| 16%
| 19%
| 9%
| 5%
| 3%
| 6%
|-
! colspan="2"| Retired
| {{Party shading/SPD}}| '''35%'''
| 34%
| 10%
| 7%
| 7%
| 4%
| 2%
| 3%
|-
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="14"| Source: [[Infratest dimap]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Grafiken: Bundestagswahl 2021|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wahl/archiv/2021-09-26-BT-DE/umfrage-alter.shtml|publisher=tagesschau.de|date=27 Sep 2021|access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref>
|}
=== SPD ===
The SPD had their best result since [[2005 German federal election|2005]] at 25%; it was also the first time since [[2002 German federal election|2002]] that they emerged as the largest party in the [[Bundestag]]. For the first time since 2002, the SPD swept all single-member constituency seats in the states of [[Brandenburg]] and [[Saarland]], where they defeated [[Cabinet of Germany|cabinet ministers]] [[Peter Altmaier]] and [[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kramp-Karrenbauer ohne Direktmandat in Saarbrücken|url=https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/kramp-karrenbauer-ohne-direktmandat-in-saarbruecken-30777110.html|access-date=27 September 2021|work=Stern.de|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927104459/https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/kramp-karrenbauer-ohne-direktmandat-in-saarbruecken-30777110.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They also won all constituencies in [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] for the first time, including [[Vorpommern-Rügen – Vorpommern-Greifswald I]], the seat of outgoing chancellor [[Angela Merkel]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Merkel-Nachfolger verliert massiv im Wahlkreis 15: Ergebnisse der Bundestagswahl 2021 in Grafiken|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/wahlkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-vorpommern-greifswald-i-bundestagswahl-ergebnisse-2021-WLXWBJ6FINGADMYURO6LGUXP3Q.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=RND|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927131509/https://www.rnd.de/politik/wahlkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-vorpommern-greifswald-i-bundestagswahl-ergebnisse-2021-WLXWBJ6FINGADMYURO6LGUXP3Q.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the first time they won any single-member constituency seats in [[Saxony-Anhalt]] and [[Thuringia]] since 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=AfD stärkste Partei in Thüringen und Sachsen|url=https://www.stern.de/news/bundestagswahl-afd-staerkste-partei-in-thueringen-und-sachsen-30777136.html|access-date=27 September 2021|website=Stern.de|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927113731/https://www.stern.de/news/bundestagswahl-afd-staerkste-partei-in-thueringen-und-sachsen-30777136.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=SPD-Kandidat Ullrich gewinnt Südthüringer Wahlkreis deutlich vor CDU-Konkurrent Maaßen|url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/wahlen/bundestagswahl/suedthueringen-wahlkreis-wahlergebnis-ullrich-maasen-treutler-100.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=MDR|language=de|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926222724/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/wahlen/bundestagswahl/suedthueringen-wahlkreis-wahlergebnis-ullrich-maasen-treutler-100.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Thüringen: AfD gewinnt vier Bundestags-Wahlkreise und wird stärkste Partei|url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/wahlen/bundestagswahl/thueringen-endergebnis-afd-ullrich-maassen-100.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=MDR|language=de|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926222019/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/wahlen/bundestagswahl/thueringen-endergebnis-afd-ullrich-maassen-100.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The SPD had been written off by many political observers due to longtime internal quarrels<ref>{{cite news|date=24 May 2019|title=Bei der SPD stehen die Königinnenmörder schon bereit|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article194130297/Europawahl-2019-Die-SPD-ein-zerruetteter-Haufen.html|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=14 February 2018|title=NoGroKo-TourLeidenschaftliche Diskussion der SPD-Basis|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/nogroko-tour-leidenschaftliche-diskussion-der-spd-basis-100.html|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> and poor performances in prior elections, even those in early 2021. In the [[2019 European Parliament election in Germany|2019 European Parliament election]], they dropped to a historic low 15.8%, accelerating the decline of already deeply embattled and unpopular leader [[Andrea Nahles]].<ref>{{cite news|date=19 April 2019|title="Die Partei leidet erheblich unter Nahles' Ansehen"|url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/parteien/id_85610630/meinungsforscher-ueber-andrea-nahles-die-spd-leidet-erheblich-unter-ihrem-ansehen-.html|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> When the unpopular and little-known SPD leaders<ref>{{cite news|date=14 August 2020|title=Rangliste der deutschen Politiker: Walter-Borjans stürzt ab|url=https://www.focus.de/politik/ranking/focus-ranking-rangliste-der-deutschen-politiker-walter-borjans-stuerzt-ab_id_12321461.html|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> [[Norbert Walter-Borjans]] and [[Saskia Esken]] nominated moderate [[Olaf Scholz]], whom they had unexpectedly defeated in the [[2019 Social Democratic Party of Germany leadership election|2019 leadership election]], as Chancellor candidate in August 2020,<ref>{{cite news|date=10 August 2020|title=SPD-Spitze nominiert Olaf Scholz als Kanzlerkandidaten|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2020-08/olaf-scholz-spd-kanzlerkandidat|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> they were widely mocked.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 August 2020|title="Passt nicht zur Partei"|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/spd-scholz-kanzlerkandidat-reaktionen-1.4994780|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> The SPD sat at a distant third place in the polls and stayed there until their sudden surge late in the campaign.
However, even at their historic poll lows around 14%, [[Olaf Scholz]] had a significantly higher personal approval rating than both his party and the other Chancellor candidates Laschet and Baerbock.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 July 2021|title=Olaf Scholz in der Wählergunst vor Armin Laschet und Annalena Baerbock|url=https://www.fr.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-deutschlandtrend-ard-umfrage-olaf-scholz-vor-armin-laschet-und-annalena-baerbock-90836851.html|language=de|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> After the extreme personal unpopularity, resulting from gaffes and scandal, meant that first Baerbock and then Laschet floundered, the SPD surprisingly took the lead, for the first time since early 2017, in the final stretches of the election campaign. This surprising surge also meant that some [[Paper candidate|"paper candidates"]], a lot of them young, were unexpectedly elected to the Bundestag, for example [[Jan Plobner]], [[Jakob Blankenburg]] or [[Fabian Funke]].{{fact|date=September 2024}}
That being said, the surge and eventual outcome of the election was mainly decided by older voters, who switched from the CDU/CSU to the SPD,<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Haben die Alten die Wahl entschieden?|url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/analyse-wahlergebnisse-jung-alt-bundestagswahl-100.html|language=de|access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref> which some attributed to Scholz being very similar in his calm and moderate leadership style to incumbent [[Angela Merkel]].<ref>{{cite news|date=3 September 2021|title=Der Erbfall Merkel|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/fraktur/merkel-nachfolger-soeder-bezeichnet-scholz-als-erbschleicher-17515594.html|language=de|access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref>
=== CDU/CSU ===
The CDU/CSU had their worst result ever by far, eclipsing the previous worst of 31% in [[1949 West German federal election|1949]]. Many prominent politicians were defeated in their single-member constituency seats, including ministers Altmaier, [[Helge Braun]], Kramp-Karrenbauer, and [[Julia Klöckner]] as well as [[Hans-Georg Maaßen]] and [[Philipp Amthor]], though all of them except Maaßen were still elected to the Bundestag via their respective state party lists.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Diese Prominenten haben ihre Direktmandate gewonnen – oder verloren|url=https://de.euronews.com/2021/09/27/diese-prominenten-haben-ihre-direktmandate-gewonnen-oder-verloren|access-date=27 September 2021|website=Euronews|language=de|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926233539/https://de.euronews.com/2021/09/27/diese-prominenten-haben-ihre-direktmandate-gewonnen-oder-verloren|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|name="AKK"|Kramp-Karrenbauer and Altmaier renounced their mandate on 8 October, meaning they will not take their seat at the start of the new Bundestag.}} There was speculation that chancellor candidate [[Armin Laschet]] would lose election to the Bundestag;<ref>{{cite news|title=Kein Mandat für Armin Laschet? CDU-Kanzlerkandidat nach Wahlen 2021 vielleicht nicht im Bundestag|url=https://www.rtl.de/cms/kein-mandat-fuer-armin-laschet-cdu-kanzlerkandidat-nach-wahlen-2021-vielleicht-nicht-im-bundestag-4818234.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=RTL|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927104840/https://www.rtl.de/cms/kein-mandat-fuer-armin-laschet-cdu-kanzlerkandidat-nach-wahlen-2021-vielleicht-nicht-im-bundestag-4818234.html|url-status=live}}</ref> he was placed first on the [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] party list, and if the CDU gained [[overhang seats]], that list would not be used. Due to the CDU's bad performance in terms of single-member constituency seats, Laschet was elected to the Bundestag.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Tagesschau|title=CDU nach der Wahl: Wenn es wenig Posten zu verteilen gibt|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/cdu-nach-der-wahl-103.html|access-date=27 September 2021|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927104458/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/cdu-nach-der-wahl-103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The first time since 2005 that they did not win all single-member constituency seats in [[Bavaria]], the CSU also had their worst result in history.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title='Disaster avoided': How Bavaria voted in Germany's federal election|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20210927/disaster-avoided-how-bavaria-voted-in-germanys-federal-election/|access-date=27 September 2021|website=The Local Germany|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927111217/https://www.thelocal.de/20210927/disaster-avoided-how-bavaria-voted-in-germanys-federal-election/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Reasons given for the catastrophic defeat were corruption scandals of several CDU/CSU politicians in spring 2021,<ref>{{cite news|last=Frigelj|first=Kristian|date=9 March 2021|title=Laschet-Regierung weichte Korruptionsschutz auf – trotz Warnung|url=https://www.dw.com/en/covid-corruption-scandal-hounds-angela-merkels-cdu-csu/a-56819273|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> some minor allegations even being brought against Laschet himself.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thurau|first=Jens|date=18 May 2021|title=Laschet-Regierung weichte Korruptionsschutz auf – trotz Warnung|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article231219997/Maskendeals-Laschet-Regierung-weichte-Korruptionsschutz-auf.html|language=de|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> In addition, Laschet was suffering from extreme personal unpopularity,<ref>{{cite news|date=5 August 2021|title=Laschet auf dem letzten Platz – am liebsten hätten die Deutschen Söder als Kanzler|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article232954113/Forsa-Umfrage-Laschet-auf-dem-letzten-Platz-am-liebsten-haetten-die-Deutschen-Soeder-als-Kanzler.html|language=de|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> even in his own state.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 April 2021|title=Söder bei Menschen in NRW doppelt so beliebt wie Laschet|url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/id_89822464/nrw-soeder-bei-menschen-doppelt-so-beliebt-wie-laschet.html|language=de|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> Laschet did not have the incumbency advantage that helped moderately popular Merkel to win re-election three times, but still had to run on Merkel's legacy in voters minds. This meant that the otherwise popular CDU/CSU platform of increasing digitization, reducing bureaucracy and moderate climate action were not taken seriously as his party had not addressed them in sixteen years of government in the minds of many voters.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cerstin|first=Gammelin|date=21 June 2021|title=Ein Weiter-so, das es nicht geben darf|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/cdu-wahlprogramm-bundestagswahl-1.5328611|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022|website=Yahoo! Nachrichten}}</ref> In one infamous campaign moment, Laschet spoke of a [[Wind of Change (Scorpions song)|"Wind of Change"]] in his closing statement in the first three way debate,<ref>{{cite AV media|date=29 August 2021|title=Bundestagswahl 2021 LIVE: Das Triell - Baerbock Laschet Scholz|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6759&v=BDBITm3eumE&feature=youtu.be|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> which was widely ridiculed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Piehler|first=Moritz|date=30 August 2021|title=Spott nach dem TV-Triell: Armin Laschet und der "Wind der Veränderung"|url=https://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/spott-nach-dem-tv-triell-armin-laschet-und-der-wind-der-veranderung-084357061.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMlGzKjk_EqidI91vpwfboc_M1y0vKxI1mn0e8SesTeXOdhUQBRqF6SiZM7tpaL0H4I9O7R86l-ZAY373kmQdCMOwQbIos-lmeamroBxJ_n1nSS3_beaDOczrsSMr0ojDgrQjo64ANgH4ngiOFX5HXl-9kAeJnkNPwGeok9u8aND|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022|website=Yahoo! Nachrichten}}</ref> The contentious decision to have him run as CDU/CSU candidate instead of the much more popular CSU leader [[Markus Söder]] by the CDU establishment also played into this.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 April 2021|title=Wie das Laschet-Drama die Risse in der CDU offenlegt|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/basis-tendiert-zu-soeder-wie-das-laschet-drama-die-risse-in-der-cdu-offenlegt/27107586.html|language=de|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> During the belligerent internal selection process in spring, polls showed Söder faring a lot better than Laschet in the election, often higher than the [[2017 German federal election|2017 result]], and Söder was the preferred candidate of the base and the public at large.<ref>{{cite news|date=20 April 2021|title=Söder vs. Laschet: Umfragen zeigen eindeutiges Bild - Union legt trotz K-Zoff überraschend zu|url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/soeder-laschet-umfragen-kanzlerkandidat-cdu-csu-union-wahl-ueberblick-streit-90465422.html|language=de|access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref> Even fairly late into the election campaign, 70% of CDU/CSU supporters wanted to replace Laschet with Söder.<ref>{{cite news|date=25 August 2021|title=70 Prozent der Unionsanhänger wollen Laschet durch Söder ersetzen|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/umfrage-zum-kanzlerkandidaten-70-prozent-der-unionsanhaenger-wollen-laschet-durch-soeder-ersetzen/27547310.html|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> Söder publicly supported and defended Laschet, even on election night,<ref>{{cite AV media|date=26 September 2021|title=Berliner Runde zur Bundestagswahl 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=444|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> but was accused of backstabbing Laschet's candidacy<ref>{{cite news|date=29 July 2021|title=Schnellboot an Schlafwagen|url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/soeder-laschet-union-wahlkampf-100.html|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> in order to become chancellor candidate [[Next German federal election|in 2025]].
Laschet took responsibility for the result, but initially refused to resign in hopes of becoming Chancellor through a [[Jamaica coalition (politics)|Jamaica coalition]]. The ensuing talks were plagued by leaks damaging Laschet<ref>{{cite news|last=Ismar|first=Georg|date=6 October 2021|title=Neuer Sondierungs-Leak – Grüne sauer auf die Union|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/wird-laschets-jamaika-versuch-sabotiert-neuer-sondierungs-leak-gruene-sauer-auf-die-union/27675552.html|language=de|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> and after Söder prematurely declared the talks to be over,<ref>{{cite news|date=6 October 2021|title="De-facto-Absage an Jamaika": Söder sieht klare Vorentscheidung für Ampel-Koalition|url=https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/markus-soeder-sieht-klare-absage-fuer-jamaika-koalition-30806696.html|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> both Greens and FDP decided to enter coalition talks with the SPD instead.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forster|first=Josef|date=7 October 2021|title=Nach Absage an Jamaika-Koalition - Wie schnell kommt die Ampel?|url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/jamaika-absage-ampel-koalition-faas-fdp-spd-union-scholz-bundestagswahl-91036297.html|language=de|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> After intense pressure from his party and the public, Laschet announced on 8 October 2021 that he would step down but would moderate the next [[December 2021 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|CDU leadership election]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Stempfle|first=Michael|date=7 October 2021|title=Rückzug auf Raten|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/laschet-rueckzug-cdu-105.html|language=de|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> That leadership contest was the first to be decided by party members, who overwhelmingly chose conservative outsider [[Friedrich Merz]] in December 2021, after he failed in the previous two leadership elections, to [[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer]] [[2018 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|in 2018]] and Laschet [[January 2021 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|in January 2021]]. This was seen as a rebuttal to the party establishment, that backed Kramp-Karrenbauer and Laschet, both seen as being more moderate, aligned in both policy positions and leadership style to [[Angela Merkel]].
=== Greens ===
The Greens got their best result in history, nearly doubling from [[2017 German federal election|2017]]. This was also the first federal election in which they won single-member constituency seats outside of [[Berlin-Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg – Prenzlauer Berg East]]; however, expectations for them were a lot higher, with them polling at over 20% in the summer and peaking at around 25%, having briefly overtaken the CDU in April and May.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ellyatt|first=Holly|date=11 August 2021|title=The Greens were once favorites ahead of Germany's 'rollercoaster' election, but not anymore|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/germanys-greens-were-riding-high-in-the-polls-but-fell-from-grace.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=CNBC News|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927142857/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/germanys-greens-were-riding-high-in-the-polls-but-fell-from-grace.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Tretbar|first=Christian|date=26 September 2021|title=Schwarz und Grün scheitern an ihren Erwartungen|language=de|work=Der Tagesspiegel Online|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/hybris-patzer-und-lachende-dritte-schwarz-und-gruen-scheitern-an-ihren-erwartungen/27650138.html|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=1865-2263|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926233643/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/hybris-patzer-und-lachende-dritte-schwarz-und-gruen-scheitern-an-ihren-erwartungen/27650138.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Their slump in the polls was largely attributed to a number of gaffes from and the personal unpopularity of [[Annalena Baerbock]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Umfrage: Mehrheit hält Entscheidung der Grünen für Baerbock und gegen Habeck für falsch|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/baerbock-als-kanzlerkandidatin-der-gruenen-bei-waehlern-nicht-mehr-so-beliebt-wie-habeck-ZHPPY455OJBCDXDPABVKKWAMIM.html|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=RND|language=de|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927104500/https://www.rnd.de/politik/baerbock-als-kanzlerkandidatin-der-gruenen-bei-waehlern-nicht-mehr-so-beliebt-wie-habeck-ZHPPY455OJBCDXDPABVKKWAMIM.html|url-status=live}}</ref> though polls show that a lot of Green voters migrated to the SPD in the final weeks of the campaign to ensure the CDU would not form government.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diekmann|first1=Florian|last2=Pauly|first2=Marcel|date=27 September 2021|title=Bundestagswahl 2021: Ergebnis der Wählerwanderung im Detail|language=de|work=Der Spiegel|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2021-ergebnis-der-waehlerwanderung-im-detail-a-cebdad34-f727-4f07-b5d1-fe39d1245275|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=2195-1349|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927094923/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2021-ergebnis-der-waehlerwanderung-im-detail-a-cebdad34-f727-4f07-b5d1-fe39d1245275|url-status=live}}</ref>
Though she won in the party-list, Baerbock lost in [[Potsdam – Potsdam-Mittelmark II – Teltow-Fläming II]] to SPD's [[Olaf Scholz]] by a large margin.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=Kampf um Potsdam: Scholz holt Direktmandat im Duell gegen Baerbock|language=de|work=Der Spiegel|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/potsdam-olaf-scholz-holt-direktmandat-im-duell-gegen-annalena-baerbock-a-89f6ed52-5263-43f9-a12b-ac797528dc8d|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=2195-1349|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927030822/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/potsdam-olaf-scholz-holt-direktmandat-im-duell-gegen-annalena-baerbock-a-89f6ed52-5263-43f9-a12b-ac797528dc8d|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, though the Greens won 16 single-member constituency seats, all of them except [[Flensburg – Schleswig]], the constituency of future [[Vice Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]] [[Robert Habeck]], were entirely urban constituencies.
The Greens were also disqualified from running on the Saarland state list due to irregularities in the selection of list candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aus für die Landesliste: Schwarzer Tag für die Saar-Grünen|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/saarland-gruene-bundestagswahl-103.html|access-date=27 September 2021|work=Tagesschau|language=de|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926151002/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/saarland-gruene-bundestagswahl-103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Greens had, however, won only one seat in the Saarland in the previous two federal elections.
=== FDP ===
The FDP had their second best showing since [[German reunification]], gaining a few seats to maintain its fourth-place position.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Germany's FDP holds strong cards in post-election haggling|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210927-germany-s-fdp-holds-strong-cards-in-post-election-haggling|access-date=27 September 2021|website=France 24|agency=Agence France-Presse|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927135348/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210927-germany-s-fdp-holds-strong-cards-in-post-election-haggling|url-status=live}}</ref> This was enough to make it a kingmaker alongside the Greens in coalition talks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chazan|first=Guy|date=27 September 2021|title=Greens and FDP emerge as kingmakers in bid to succeed Merkel|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/35d5f827-2c04-42b0-b8e2-fff3ed8f88da|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926225549/https://www.ft.com/content/35d5f827-2c04-42b0-b8e2-fff3ed8f88da|url-status=live}}</ref>
Like the Greens, they did well with young voters; among first-time voters, they received the highest vote share of 23%.<ref>{{cite news|last=Engelke|first=Anja|date=4 October 2021|title=Warum haben so viele junge Menschen die FDP gewählt?|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.hessenschau.de/politik/bundestagswahl/warum-haben-so-viele-junge-menschen-die-fdp-gewaehlt,junge-fdp-waehler-100.html|access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> In addition, while they only marginally improved their result in the [[Old states of Germany|West German states]], their more significant increase in support in [[New states of Germany|former East Germany]] amounted to their best performance there in the party's history.
=== AfD ===
The AfD lost seats and went from the third largest party and [[Leader of the Opposition]] to the fifth largest party in the Bundestag; however, they performed strongly in former [[East Germany]], where they won 16 single-member constituency seats in [[Saxony]], Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=The Latest: Social Democrats beat Merkel bloc in German vote|url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-election-live-updates-8dee19485e83b9c7aa8859d81c2fbb29|access-date=27 September 2021|website=AP News|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927005538/https://apnews.com/article/germany-election-live-updates-8dee19485e83b9c7aa8859d81c2fbb29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Schultheis | first1=Emily | title=Germany's far-right AfD loses nationally, but wins in the East | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/german-election-far-right-afd-loses-nationally-but-wins-in-east/ | date=28 September 2021 | work=[[Politico]] | access-date=23 October 2021 | archive-date=23 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213410/https://www.politico.eu/article/german-election-far-right-afd-loses-nationally-but-wins-in-east/ | url-status=live }}</ref> While the AfD lost vote share in Saxony, the stronger losses of the CDU still allowed them to place ahead of the CDU, becoming the most voted party in Saxony. They also won the most party list votes in Thuringia, though only by 0.6%.
Reasons given for their drop in support include far less media attention, largely due to the open Chancellor's race, and large swaths of [[Protests over COVID-19 policies in Germany|Anti-lockdown]] and [[Anti-vaccination]] voters, which the AfD campaigned hard on, voting for new parties like [[Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany|dieBasis]] and [[Free Voters]]. Leader of the AfD [[Fraktion (Bundestag)|faction]] in the Bundestag Dr. [[Alice Weidel]] was widely ridiculed for claiming on election night that they surpassed their [[2017 German federal election|2017]] result if one added the results for dieBasis and Free Voters.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|last=Pollmer| first=Cornelius|title=Ohne Tattoos, dafür mit Alice Weidel|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/bundestagswahl-berliner-runde-laschet-scholz-baerbock-lindner-1.5420277|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|date=26 September 2021|title=Berliner Runde zur Bundestagswahl 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uK2hHJQOXs&t=903s|language=de|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>
=== The Left ===
The Left had their worst showing since 2002, when it was the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]], slumping from 69 seats in 2017 to just 39, or 4.9%. While they fell just short of the 5% [[election threshold]] they won three dozen extras seats as they had won three single-member constituency seats (two in their stronghold in the former [[East Berlin]], down from four, and one in Saxony), entitling them to proportional representation in the Bundestag according to their second votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Germany votes: Big gains for center-left parties, heavy losses for conservatives — as it happened|date=27 September 2021|url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2021-live-updates/a-59312264|access-date=27 September 2021|agency=Deutsche Welle|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926222025/https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2021-live-updates/a-59312264|url-status=live}}</ref> Under a longstanding electoral law intended to benefit parties with regional appeal (as is the case with the Left in the old East Germany), any party that wins at least three constituency seats is entitled to its share of proportionally-elected seats, regardless of vote share.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ACIDAAAQBAJ&q=PDS+1994+Germany+directly+elected&pg=PA27|title=The Left Party in Contemporary German Politics|author1=Dan Hough|author2=Michael Koß|author3=Jonathan Olsen|publisher=Springer|year=2007|isbn=978-0230592148|access-date=29 September 2021|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929193610/https://books.google.com/books?id=-ACIDAAAQBAJ&q=PDS+1994+Germany+directly+elected&pg=PA27|url-status=live}}</ref>
Apart from this symbolic defeat, their preferred government, a left-wing [[red–red–green coalition]],<ref>{{cite news|date=7 September 2021|work=Zeit Online|title=Rot-Rot-Grün: Die Linke will regieren|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/2021-09/die-linke-koalition-spd-die-gruenen-bundestagswahl-sofortprogramm-nachrichtenpodcast|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927104458/https://www.zeit.de/politik/2021-09/die-linke-koalition-spd-die-gruenen-bundestagswahl-sofortprogramm-nachrichtenpodcast|url-status=live}}</ref> does not have a majority in the Bundestag,<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Factbox: German 'traffic light' coalition seen as most likely|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-traffic-light-coalition-seen-most-likely-2021-09-27/|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928003621/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-traffic-light-coalition-seen-most-likely-2021-09-27/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the German financial market rallied as a result.<ref>{{cite news|last=Siedenbiedel|first=Christian|title=Erleichterung nach der Wahl: 'Das größte Risiko ist aus Finanzmarktsicht ausgeräumt'|language=de|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/aktienkurse-boerse-reagiert-erleichtert-nach-bundestagswahl-17557111.html|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=0174-4909|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927092651/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/aktienkurse-boerse-reagiert-erleichtert-nach-bundestagswahl-17557111.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Dax nach Bundestagswahl im Aufwind|language=de|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/dax-legt-nach-bundestagswahl-um-1-1-prozent-zu-17557068.html|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927100941/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/dax-legt-nach-bundestagswahl-um-1-1-prozent-zu-17557068.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Vice President of the Bundestag [[Petra Pau]] lost her single-member constituency of [[Berlin-Marzahn-Hellersdorf]] by a large margin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wehner|first=Markus|date=27 September 2021|title=Einzug ins Parlament: Die drei Retter der Linkspartei|language=de|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/bundestagswahl/wahl-die-linke-darf-dank-dreier-direktmandate-in-den-bundestag-17557074.html|access-date=27 September 2021|issn=0174-4909|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927081246/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/bundestagswahl/wahl-die-linke-darf-dank-dreier-direktmandate-in-den-bundestag-17557074.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The seat had been held by The Left and its predecessor parties since the [[1990 German federal election|1990 federal election]].
Reasons given for the massive slump were public quarrels in the party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Emendörfer|first=Jan|title=Wahlforscher: Linke hat als Reparaturbetrieb der Sozialdemokratie keine Zukunft|language=de|work=Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-warum-hat-die-linke-so-schlecht-abgeschnitten-FZTUNBEDYFDJFE77GB3EAJ7VNM.html|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jähnert|first=Christopher|title=Bloß kein weiterer Streit|language=de|work=tagesschau.de|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/kommentar/wahlprogramm-linkspartei-101.html|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> This included feuds surrounding the position on [[Afghanistan]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Maurer|first=Andrea|title=Warum die Linke keine Linie findet|work=ZDFheute|url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/afghanistan-linke-bundestag-100.html|language=de|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> the former leader [[Oskar Lafontaine]], who advised voting against his party in the [[Saarland]] due to alleged fraud,<ref>{{cite news|title=Streit bei der Partei Die Linke|work=SR.de|url=https://www.sr.de/sr/home/nachrichten/nachrichten_einfach/ne_streit_bei_der_partei_die_linke_100.html|language=de|access-date=26 January 2022|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126102328/https://www.sr.de/sr/home/nachrichten/nachrichten_einfach/ne_streit_bei_der_partei_die_linke_100.html}}</ref> and popular figure [[Sahra Wagenknecht]], who some in the party wanted to expel for her book "Die Selbstgerechten" in which she harshly criticizes, among other things, [[Woke|"Wokeness"]] within her party.<ref>{{cite news|title=Linke startet Ausschlussverfahren gegen Wagenknecht|work=tagesspiegel.de|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/streit-um-buch-der-ex-fraktionschefin-linke-startet-ausschlussverfahren-gegen-wagenknecht/27373104.html|language=de|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> These public feuds intensified after the election,<ref>{{cite news|last=Emendörfer|first=Jan|title=Die Linke will geschlossen erscheinen, aber intern brodelt es weiter|language=de|work=Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/die-linke-geschlossen-nach-aussen-spannungen-im-inneren-F6LNIRUPGJF7DJQ3WD3RL2GPZA.html|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> for example, the convicted former [[head of government]] of [[East Germany]] [[Hans Modrow]], who chairs The Left's "council of elders", denounced the party.<ref>{{cite news|title=Modrow sieht Linke in »westdeutscher Hand«|work=spiegel.de|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/die-linke-hans-modrow-sieht-partei-in-westdeutscher-hand-a-8afe2011-4747-42a9-bea9-1f3f445ee1c9|language=de|access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref>
From February 2022 onwards, the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] put a strain on The Left. Also, due to the irregularities during the 2021 elections in Berlin, affecting state level and federal level results, both elections were under ongoing scrutiny. According to court decision in 2022, the state election was repeated as a whole by the February [[2023 Berlin state election]], with losses for The Left. A possible upcoming 2024 repeat of the federal election in parts of Berlin was a threat to the faction status of The Left in the Bundestag, and to 38 of 39 members, with only the direct seat gained in Saxony being not affected. With the [[Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht]] establishing itself in October 2023 with 10 parliament members, the faction of The Left was dissolved in late 2023, losing funding and privileges by getting demoted to a group, or two in that case.
=== Ethnic minorities ===
In terms of representation of ethnic minorities, one source suggested that the Bundestag would have 24 new [[Member of the German Bundestag|MPs]] with "[[Balkans|Balkan]]" ancestry. Its list included, however, largely people of [[Turks in Germany|Turkish]] ancestry who mostly have roots in [[Anatolia]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Buyuk|first1=Hamdi Firat|last2=Sinoruka|first2=Fjori|date=27 September 2021|title=German Parliament Gets 24 New MPs with Balkan Roots|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/09/27/german-parliament-gets-24-new-mps-with-balkan-roots/|access-date=16 October 2021|website=Balkan Insight|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016201032/https://balkaninsight.com/2021/09/27/german-parliament-gets-24-new-mps-with-balkan-roots/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[South Schleswig Voters' Association]] (SSW), a regionalist party only contesting [[Schleswig-Holstein]] representing the [[Danish minority of Southern Schleswig|Danish]] and Frisian minorities in Southern Schleswig, won their first seat, becoming the first regionalist party to win seats since [[1953 West German federal election|1953]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=NDR|title=Stefan Seidler (SSW): 'Die ersten Zahlen sind sensationell'|date=26 September 2021|url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/bundestagswahl_2021/Stefan-Seidler-SSW-Die-ersten-Zahlen-sind-sensationell,shmag86702.html|language=de|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926194523/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/bundestagswahl_2021/Stefan-Seidler-SSW-Die-ersten-Zahlen-sind-sensationell,shmag86702.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Recognized minority parties are exempt from the threshold of 5%, which is how the SSW won a seat with 0.1% of the vote nationwide.{{efn|Seat are apportioned on a state level; the SSW won 3,2% of the vote in [[Schleswig-Holstein]].}} The SSW last contested in [[1961 West German federal election|1961]] and last won a seat in [[1949 West German federal election|1949]].<ref>{{cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=Social Democrats Narrowly Beat Merkel's Bloc In German Elections|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/09/26/1040818820/social-democrats-beat-merkels-bloc-in-german-elections|access-date=27 September 2021|via=NPR|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927041929/https://www.npr.org/2021/09/26/1040818820/social-democrats-beat-merkels-bloc-in-german-elections|url-status=live}}</ref> They named a felt discrimination of [[Northern Germany]] as reason for them contesting the election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission Bundestag|website=ssw.de|url=https://www.ssw.de/bundestagswahl|access-date=8 February 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411065252/https://www.ssw.de/bundestagswahl |archive-date=11 April 2021 }}</ref> [[Stefan Seidler]] was seated as their [[Member of the German Bundestag]].<ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Danish minority gets representation in German parliament|website=The Local|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20210927/danish-minority-gets-representation-in-german-parliament/|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927123517/https://www.thelocal.dk/20210927/danish-minority-gets-representation-in-german-parliament/|url-status=live}}</ref> Seidler was offered to sit in the SPD parliamentary group as a guest by their leader [[Rolf Mützenich]], but declined.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 October 2021|title=SPD umwirbt einzigen Dänen-Abgeordneten im Bundestag|website=Oldenburger Onlinezeitung|url=https://www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de/nachrichten/spd-umwirbt-einzigen-daenen-abgeordneten-im-bundestag-72109.html|access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
=== Minor parties ===
Minor parties did exceptionally well in the 2021 election. The left-wing [[List of frivolous political parties|satire party]] [[Die PARTEI]] had their best result ever, as did the [[Human Environment Animal Protection Party|Animal Protection Party]] and the [[Regionalism (politics)|regionalist]] [[Free Voters]], which doubled their result and received 7.5% in [[Bavaria]], where they take part in the [[Cabinet Söder II|state government]]. A few new minor parties emerged in the 2021 election, the most notable being the [[Protests over COVID-19 policies in Germany|Anti-lockdown]] and [[Anti-vaccination]] [[Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany|dieBasis]] party, which received between 1 and 1.9%. [[Team Todenhöfer]], founded in 2020 by notorious former CDU [[Member of the German Bundestag]] [[Jürgen Todenhöfer]], also first contested the 2021 election, running on [[Anti-militarism]] and receiving support from pro-Palestinian groups, but only garnered 0.5% of the vote. The 2021 election also accelerated the decline of the [[Far-right politics|far-right]] [[National Democratic Party of Germany|National Democratic Party]], which only got 0.1% of the vote. The NPD was at a time the most successful minor/fringe party, getting 1.6% [[2005 German federal election|in 2005]] and entering various state parliaments in former [[East Germany]].
== Government formation ==
{{main|List of members of the 20th Bundestag|Scholz cabinet}}
A three-party [[German governing coalition|governing coalition]], with the FDP and the Greens joining either the SPD or CDU/CSU, was discussed as a likely outcome.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58712619|title=Germany election: Coalition talks begin after close election|date=27 September 2021|agency=BBC Nceews|access-date=4 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001200022/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58712619|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/27/the-guardian-view-on-the-german-election-results-negotiating-a-new-era|title=The Guardian view on the German election results: negotiating a new era|date=28 September 2021|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928105050/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/27/the-guardian-view-on-the-german-election-results-negotiating-a-new-era|url-status=live}}</ref> While the grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD could have been renewed, numerous representatives of both the CDU/CSU and the SPD ruled out this option before the federal election,<ref>{{cite news|date=12 February 2020|title=Klingbeil: "Bis 2021 gewählt": SPD schließt Fortsetzung der Groko ohne Merkel aus|language=de|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/spd-schliesst-fortsetzung-der-groko-ohne-merkel-aus-16630154.html|access-date=3 October 2021|issn=0174-4909|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002200242/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/spd-schliesst-fortsetzung-der-groko-ohne-merkel-aus-16630154.html|url-status=live}}</ref> during the campaign,<ref>{{cite news|date=7 August 2021|title=SPD erteilt Union Absage: Parteichefin Esken gegen Groko nach Wahl – scharfe Attacke gegen Koalitionspartner|url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-spd-gegen-fortsetzung-der-grossen-koalition-mit-union-VGE465DEDQTABICWYIXBRV2MRQ.html|access-date=3 October 2021|agency=RND|language=de|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002200517/https://www.rnd.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-spd-gegen-fortsetzung-der-grossen-koalition-mit-union-VGE465DEDQTABICWYIXBRV2MRQ.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=16 September 2021|title=Im Fall einer neuen Groko: Kühnert kündigt Rücktritt als SPD-Vize an|url=https://www.fr.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-grosse-koalition-kevin-kuehnert-ruecktritt-spd-union-cdu-groko-90986249.html|access-date=3 October 2021|work=Frankfurter Rundschau|language=de|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002200221/https://www.fr.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2021-grosse-koalition-kevin-kuehnert-ruecktritt-spd-union-cdu-groko-90986249.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and after.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=Waigel schließt Große Koalition bei Scheitern von Dreierbündnissen aus|url=https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/Bundestagswahl-2021-Waigel-schliesst-Grosse-Koalition-bei-Scheitern-von-Dreierbuendnissen-aus-id60651966.html|access-date=3 October 2021|work=Augsburger Allgemeine|language=de|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002214800/https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/Bundestagswahl-2021-Waigel-schliesst-Grosse-Koalition-bei-Scheitern-von-Dreierbuendnissen-aus-id60651966.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Welche Koalitionen sind nach der Bundestagswahl möglich?|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/moegliche-koalitionen-101.html|access-date=3 October 2021|agency=Tagesschau|language=de|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002200220/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/moegliche-koalitionen-101.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On election night, SPD leader Scholz reiterated his goal to form a government, citing the fact that his party emerged as the largest in parliament.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Deutsche Welle|date=27 September 2021|language=de|title=Jamaika, die Ampel und der Machtanspruch von SPD und Union|url=https://www.dw.com/de/jamaika-die-ampel-und-der-machtanspruch-von-spd-und-union/a-59322903|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927093907/https://www.dw.com/de/jamaika-die-ampel-und-der-machtanspruch-von-spd-und-union/a-59322903|url-status=live}}</ref> He expressed his intention to become chancellor and his preference for a [[traffic light coalition]] with the FDP and the Greens.<ref>{{cite news|work=Der Tagesspiegel|date=27 September 2021|language=de|title=Scholz will so schnell wie möglich Ampelregierung bilden|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2021-olaf-scholz-will-so-schnell-wie-moeglich-ampel-regierung-bilden-a-33427d18-039b-4bd9-af03-b97bba227c6f|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927102957/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2021-olaf-scholz-will-so-schnell-wie-moeglich-ampel-regierung-bilden-a-33427d18-039b-4bd9-af03-b97bba227c6f|url-status=live}}</ref> Leading figures in the CDU/CSU such as [[Michael Kretschmer]] stated that since the CDU/CSU was knocked down to second place, it should not form the government.<ref>{{cite news|work=Der Tagesspiegel|date=27 September 2021|language=de|title=Laschet wirbt weiter für Jamaika|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/laschet-union-streit-103.html|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927132545/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/btw21/laschet-union-streit-103.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The FDP and the Greens, having won 210 seats between them, announced that they would talk separately before deciding on whom to support as a senior coalition partner.<ref>{{cite news|work=Der Tagesspiegel|date=27 September 2021|language=de|title=FDP-Vorstand beschließt 'Vorsondierungen' mit Grünen|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/trotz-groesster-inhaltlicher-unterschiede-fdp-vorstand-beschliesst-vorsondierungen-mit-gruenen/27653038.html|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927144840/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/trotz-groesster-inhaltlicher-unterschiede-fdp-vorstand-beschliesst-vorsondierungen-mit-gruenen/27653038.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Greens and the FDP held discussions for two days after the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-greens-and-fdp-meet-for-preliminary-two-way-talks/a-59346191|title=German election: Greens and FDP meet for preliminary two-way talks|date=29 September 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=12 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012094112/https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-greens-and-fdp-meet-for-preliminary-two-way-talks/a-59346191|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 October, the two parties met with the SPD for the first round of exploratory talks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-spd-greens-and-fdp-hold-first-3-way-talks-to-explore-possible-coalition/a-59433451|title=German election: SPD, Greens and FDP hold first 3-way talks to explore possible coalition|date=7 October 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=12 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012041204/https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-spd-greens-and-fdp-hold-first-3-way-talks-to-explore-possible-coalition/a-59433451|url-status=live}}</ref> with a second round on 11 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-spd-greens-and-fdp-resume-coalition-talks-after-tight-election/a-59465099|title=Germany: SPD, Greens and FDP resume coalition talks after tight election|date=11 October 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=12 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012173546/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-spd-greens-and-fdp-resume-coalition-talks-after-tight-election/a-59465099|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 October, the SPD agreed to more ambitious climate targets, as pledged by the Greens.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58924480|title=German coalition plan sets bigger green targets|agency=BBC News|date=15 October 2021|access-date=16 October 2021|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015205827/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58924480|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 October, the Greens voted to enter formal coalition talks with the SPD and FDP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-green-party-agrees-to-start-formal-coalition-talks/a-59529940|title=Germany: Green Party agrees to start formal coalition talks|date=17 October 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=18 October 2021|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019065155/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-green-party-agrees-to-start-formal-coalition-talks/a-59529940|url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, the FDP voted to do the same.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-free-democrats-vote-to-join-formal-coalition-talks/a-59535205|title=Germany: Free Democrats vote to join formal coalition talks|date=18 October 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=18 October 2021|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018233633/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-free-democrats-vote-to-join-formal-coalition-talks/a-59535205|url-status=live}}</ref> The 20th Bundestag was officially sworn in on 26 October.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kurmayer|first=Nikolaus J.|date=26 October 2021|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/bundestag-holds-constituting-session/|title=Bundestag holds constituting session|website=Euractiv|access-date=27 October 2021|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026151311/https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/bundestag-holds-constituting-session/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 16 November, the [[general secretaries]] of the three traffic light coalition parties (SPD, FDP, Greens) announced that an agreement document was almost complete, with Scholz to become Chancellor, and that the details would be issued some time in the next week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-draft-coalition-deal-to-be-ready-next-week/a-59836865|title=Germany: Draft coalition deal to be ready next week|date=16 November 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=17 November 2021|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117182128/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-draft-coalition-deal-to-be-ready-next-week/a-59836865|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 November, an agreement for a traffic light coalition was finalised.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Annette|last1=Weisbach|first2=Holly|last2=Ellyatt|date=22 November 2021|title=German coalition deal set to be announced as talks near completion|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/22/germanys-next-coalition-government-whos-who.html|access-date=24 November 2021|website=CNBC|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124102607/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/22/germanys-next-coalition-government-whos-who.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The three parties announced a number of policies, including plans to phase out coal energy by 2030, eight years ahead of the previous target, as well as lower the federal [[voting age]] to 16 years, raise the [[minimum wage]] to €12 per hour, and lower barriers to acquiring German citizenship. Annalena Baerbock will become foreign minister, while Robert Habeck will head a new "super ministry" with responsibility for climate, energy, and economy. Christian Lindner will become finance minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-spd-fdp-and-greens-unveil-governing-coalition-deal/a-59915201|title=Germany's SPD, FDP and Greens unveil governing coalition deal|date=24 November 2021|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=25 November 2021|archive-date=25 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125002044/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-spd-fdp-and-greens-unveil-governing-coalition-deal/a-59915201|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/24/from-environment-to-economy-what-to-expect-from-new-german-government|title=From environment to economy: what to expect from new German government|date=25 November 2021|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=25 November 2021|archive-date=25 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125025126/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/24/from-environment-to-economy-what-to-expect-from-new-german-government|url-status=live}}</ref> The SPD convention voted 98.8% in favour of approving the agreement on 4 December,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-social-democrats-vote-to-approve-coalition-agreement/a-60018960|title=Germany's Social Democrats vote to approve coalition agreement|date=4 December 2021|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref> followed by the FDP with 92.4% on 5 December.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://apnews.com/article/europe-elections-germany-olaf-scholz-christian-lindner-415713e5b08204e13ec9f62fb338c3cb | title= 2nd party approves deal for Scholz's new German government | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date= 5 December 2021 | accessdate = 5 December 2021}}</ref> The results of the Greens membership ballot were announced on 6 December, with 86% voting to approve the coalition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Germany's Greens approve three-party coalition deal|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-greens-approve-three-party-coalition-deal/a-60030550|agency=Deutsche Welle|date=6 December 2021|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> Scholz was elected as Chancellor by the Bundestag on 8 December,<ref>{{cite web|last=Whiteside|first=Philip|date=8 December 2021|title=Olaf Scholz: Who is the new German chancellor - and what will his coalition government mean for Europe and the UK?|url=https://news.sky.com/story/olaf-scholz-who-is-the-new-german-chancellor-and-what-will-his-coalition-government-mean-for-europe-and-the-uk-12489135|access-date=11 December 2021|publisher=Sky News}}</ref>{{efn|During the government formation talks, [[Angela Merkel]] headed a [[caretaker government]] after the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet]] was formally dismissed by the [[President of Germany]] on 26 October 2021;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/angela-merkel-social-democrats-olaf-scholz-berlin-germany-b1945346.html|title=Germany's newly elected parliament to convene for first time|website=AP News|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=26 October 2021|access-date=27 October 2021|via=The Independent|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026090749/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/angela-merkel-social-democrats-olaf-scholz-berlin-germany-b1945346.html|url-status=live}}</ref> had the new government not taken office by 17 December, Merkel would have overtaken [[Helmut Kohl]] as the longest-serving chancellor since [[Otto von Bismarck]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The mess Merkel leaves behind |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/09/25/the-mess-merkel-leaves-behind |access-date=11 October 2021 |newspaper=The Economist |date=25 September 2021 |quote=Only Otto von Bismarck and Helmut Kohl served longer as Germany's chancellor than Angela Merkel has. |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011111021/https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/09/25/the-mess-merkel-leaves-behind |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Ruchir |title=Angela Merkel's shrewd avoidance of stale leader syndrome |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fdd79a2b-7c1c-4b41-9200-e10a8ba49623 |access-date=11 October 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=11 November 2021 |quote=Much has been written about how Angela Merkel is about to become the joint longest-serving German leader since Bismarck, but even that underplays her achievement. |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011111812/https://www.ft.com/content/fdd79a2b-7c1c-4b41-9200-e10a8ba49623 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} with 395 votes of 707 cast, with 303 votes against.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/olaf-scholz-elected-new-chancellor-by-german-lawmakers/a-60052911|title=Olaf Scholz elected new chancellor by German lawmakers|date=8 December 2021|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|accessdate=9 December 2021}}</ref>
==Noted==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{German federal elections}}
{{German Chancellor Candidate}}
{{2021 elections in Germany}}
[[Category:2021 elections in Europe|Germany]]
[[Category:2021 elections in Germany|Federal]]
[[Category:Federal elections in Germany]]
[[Category:September2009 2021 eventselections in Germany|Federal Election]]
[[Category:Angela Merkel]]
[[Category:Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]
[[Category:September 2009 events in Germany|Federal Election]]