German federal election, 2002

Infobox Election
election_name = German federal election, 2002
country = Germany
type = parliamentary
ongoing = no
previous_election = German federal election, 1998
previous_year = 1998
next_election = German federal election, 2005
next_year = 2005
seats_for_election = All 603 seats to the Bundestag
election_date = September 22 , 2002


leader1 = Gerhard Schröder
party1 = Social Democratic Party of Germany
leaders_seat1 =
last_election1 = 298 seats
seats1 = 251
seat_change1 = -47
popular_vote1 = 18.484.560
percentage1 = 38.5%


leader2 = Edmund Stoiber
party2 = Christian Social Union of Bavaria
leaders_seat2 =
last_election2 = 245 seats
(CDU-CSU coalition)
seats2 = 248
(CDU-CSU coalition)
seat_change2 = +3
popular_vote2 = 18.475.696
percentage2 = 38.5%

title = PM
before_election = Gerhard Schröder
before_party = Social Democratic Party of Germany
after_election = Gerhard Schröder
after_party = Social Democratic Party of GermanyThe 15th German federal election, 2002 was conducted on September 22, 2002, to elect members to the Bundestag (lower house) of Germany.

Issues and Campaign

Several issues dominated the campaign, with the opposition CDU/CSU attacking the government's performance on the economy as well as campaigning on family values issues and against taxes (particularly on fuel). The government, on the other hand, was helped by broad support for its opposition to the Iraq War and by Gerhard Schröder's personal popularity relative to the opposition's candidate for Chancellor, CSU leader Edmund Stoiber.

Results

Although the opposition gained seats, and the result was in doubt for most of the election night, the governing coalition retained a narrow majority. In particular, the SPD was able to partially offset declines in their vote share in the West with an increase in the East, with the PDS falling below both the 5% threshold and the 3-seat threshold, either of which is required to qualify a party for top-up seats. Consequently the PDS held only two directly-elected seats.

Post-election

The coalition between the SPD and the Greens continued in government with Gerhard Schröder as chancellor.

Further reading

* cite journal
quotes =
last = Pulzer
first = Peter
authorlink =
coauthors =
date =
year = 2003
month = April
title = The devil they know: The German federal election of 2002
journal = West European Politics
volume = 26
issue = 2
pages = 153–164
doi = 10.1080/01402380512331341151
id =
url =
language =
format =
accessdate =
laysummary =
laysource =
laydate =
quote =

ources

* [http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/e/index_e.htm The Federal Returning Officer]
* [http://psephos.adam-carr.net Psephos]