Final sprint of the election campaign in NRW: Wüst on a home visit - this is how the candidates fight for the last votes

Created: 05/14/2022, 09:13

By: Kathrin Reikowski

Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa/archive image

Elections in NRW: Corona, Ukraine war, flood - the state elections in NRW have become a "small federal election".

The showdown in the election campaign follows on Saturday.

Düsseldorf (dpa) - Hendrik Wüst (CDU) or Thomas Kutschaty (SPD) - who will be the next prime minister in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Polls predict a tight race between the SPD and CDU in the NRW state elections - and for the Greens and FDP it is also about government participation.

The election is also of national political importance: It is referred to as a "small federal election" - and is considered a voting test for the traffic light coalition in Berlin, as well as for the work of CDU opposition leader Friedrich Merz.

Therefore, the candidates throw everything into the balance again on Saturday, before the polling stations open on Sunday.

This is what the election campaign looks like on Saturday in NRW:

• CDU: The central final rally took place on Friday.

  Top candidate Hendrik Wüst campaigns in the streets and travels to Lübbecke in East Westphalia as well as to Bad Salzuflen, Wiedenbrück and Lippstadt for doorstep campaigns.

• SPD: The central final rally took place on Friday.

  Top candidate Thomas Kutschaty is campaigning for votes in Essen, Düsseldorf and Gelsenkirchen.

• FDP: Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and the deputy Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and top candidate Joachim Stamp are campaigning for votes in Düsseldorf.

Election campaign in NRW: support Scholz, Lindner and Habeck

On Friday, the CDU, SPD and Greens held their final rallies with many prominent politicians.

In Altenberge in Münsterland, Wüst emphasized the importance of stable political conditions in order to "be able to do what is important" - that is the election campaign slogan of the North Rhine-Westphalia CDU.

Wüst received support from Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU), who won the state elections last Sunday by a wide margin.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared for the SPD in Cologne next to the cathedral and campaigned for the SPD's top candidate Kuchaty.

At rallies in Düsseldorf and Cologne, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck backed the Greens' top candidate Mona Neubaur.

NRW election: Polls assume a close race between the CDU and SPD

In several surveys, a tight race between the CDU and SPD has recently emerged.

With around 30 to 32 percent, the CDU was only just ahead of the SPD with 28 to 29 percent.

According to polls, the CDU/FDP coalition that has been in office since 2017 no longer has a majority.

The outcome of the election and possible future coalitions are considered completely open.

Around 13 million are entitled to vote in the most populous federal state on Sunday.

The Greens are in polls at 16 to 18 percent and could achieve their best state election result.

The FDP, which had become the third strongest force in 2017 with 12.6 percent, could only count on 7 to 8 percent.

The AfD is 6 to 8 percent.

With around 3 to 4 percent, the left would again miss entering the state parliament.

"Small federal elections" in NRW: GroKo, Jamaica, traffic lights - which government will the state get after the election?

There could be several options for the next state government.

According to surveys, in addition to a rather unpopular grand coalition of CDU and SPD, a black-green alliance or a Jamaica alliance of CDU, Greens and FDP would be possible.

The SPD could also form a traffic light coalition with the Greens and FDP, as in the federal government.

For a red-green majority, it is also just enough in some polls.

Even more than the elections in Saarland in March and in Schleswig-Holstein last Sunday, the vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, also known as the "small federal election", is of national political importance.

It is considered the most important mood test for the federal parties and the traffic light coalition in Berlin.

Wüst only succeeded Armin Laschet, who failed as a candidate for Union Chancellor in the federal election, as head of government in NRW at the end of October 2021.

(dpa/kat)