At more than 3000 doors Péter Vida rang in the election campaign to promote himself and his party. It was worth it.
The top candidate of the Free Voters moves with his party in fraction strength in Brandenburg's Landtag. In addition, he wins even in his Barnimer constituency the direct mandate and thereby stands out the SPD candidate and former President of the Parliament Britta Stark.
For the voters, the result in the state elections in Brandenburg is a historic success. The small party has never been so strong since its founding in 2008. Even before the election, most pollsters had seen the Free Voters just under five percent. On Election Day, however, they made a point landing and will be represented in the future with five deputies in the state parliament.
Parliamentary newcomers are the free voters but not: in fact, they have been represented in the parliament since 2014. Although BVB / FW received only 2.7 percent of the votes five years ago. However, a constituency candidate won a direct mandate, and the so-called Grundmandatsklausel guaranteed a party in Brandenburg in this case parliamentary seats according to their second vote share - even if it is less than five percent.
2.7 percent meant three seats. But the group disintegrated, leaving Péter Vida, now head of the Free Voters. He also hoped this time on the Grundmandatsklausel - but it does not need it now.
MPs previously active with CDU and SPD
But who is actually behind the "Brandenburger United Citizen Movement / Free Voters" (BVB / Free Voters), as the grouping is called in full name?
Similar to other federal states, the Free Voters in Brandenburg do not see themselves as a classic party with an ideological superstructure, but as a collection of local initiatives and groups. The Brandenburg Free Voters seem more liberal than, for example, their colleagues in Bavaria, who govern there with the CSU in a conservative-bourgeois coalition.
But like in Bavaria, the party does not pursue a uniform political line in Brandenburg. For example, Free Voters in their election program call for free day nurseries and more support for refugees in integration, but are also in favor of a stop on the development of wind turbines and suspicion-independent police checks. Party leader Vida gives as a motto: "Content instead of ideology."
Party with ideological flexibility
Thanks to this flexibility, the Free Voters are a reservoir for all kinds of beliefs and backgrounds. Three of the five members of parliament, who now move into the state parliament for the free voters, were previously active in other parties: Péter Vida and Matthias Stefke at the CDU, Philipp Zeschmann was formerly chairman of the SPD in Schöneiche.
The electorate is also heterogeneous: an analysis of voter migration shows that free voters were able to win votes from all other parties compared to the election five years ago. In addition, the party has acquired the second largest share of votes from former non-voters after the AfD.
Landtag election Brandenburg 2019
Preliminary final result
Second vote result
Shares in percent
SPD
26.2
-5.7
CDU
15.6
-7.4
The left
10.7
-7.9
AFD
23.5
+11.3
green
10.8
+4.6
BVB / Free Voters
5
+2.3
FDP
4.1
+2.6
other
4.1
+0.2
allocation of seats
Total: 88
Majority: 45 seats
10
25
10
5
15
23
The left (10)
SPD (25)
Green (10)
BVB / Free Voters (5)
CDU (15)
AfD (23)
Source: Provincial Returning Officer
Results in detail
Vida attributes the gains above all to the local roots of the voters: "In contrast to the other parties, we also include small, municipal issues in our work." In addition, the communication channels are shorter with the free voters. He sees himself primarily as a "mouthpiece" for communal interests, says Vida.
On election night, the joy of the party leader was great. All the events, the talks on the front doors and the mass of posters have paid off in the end. It was a phenomenal result, enthused Vida. "I think you rarely have an evening like this in life."
In the light of the TV cameras seemed a little breathless and nervous. Before the elections, the Free Voters had still argued with the RBB because the broadcaster Vida did not want to invite the television duel of the Brandenburg top candidates. Only the parties with the largest entry chances should participate at that time.
After the election, Vida was allowed to join the group of top candidates. His words spoke of satisfaction: "Many did not trust us with this success."