Coalition in NRW after the election: Wüst wins, but his government is voted out

Created: 05/15/2022, 19:25

By: Patrick Mayer, Cindy Boden, Anna-Katharina Ahnefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia elected a new parliament in the 2022 state elections.

From this a new government is formed - who enters into a coalition?

News ticker.

• NRW state election 2022

  :

  On Sunday (May 15) NRW elected a new state parliament.

  A coalition of CDU and FDP

  currently governs the Düsseldorf state parliament

  .

• After the elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst

  sees the task for the

  new government

  .

• The Minister of

  Justice says in advance of the NRW election

  :

  The runner-up can also probe.

  Kevin Kühnert

  is also looking in this direction

  .

• This

  news ticker on the coalition issue relating to the NRW elections

  is constantly updated.

Update from May 15, 7:13 p.m.:

The ARD projection from 7:11 p.m. now also includes the first postal votes: the FDP can at least increase slightly and is at 5.3 percent.

It could possibly be just enough for a move into parliament for the current governing party.

But there is still no final result.

In a possible traffic light coalition, the FDP could then play a role again.

Update from May 15, 7:07 p.m

.: The NRW state election also has a special federal political significance.

You can read more about the reactions from the federal government in this news ticker.

Coalition after the NRW state elections: CDU "clearly made the strongest force"

Update from May 15, 7:05 p.m .:

After the success of the CDU in the state elections, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, sees a clear mandate to continue leading the government.

The voters in North Rhine-Westphalia had "clearly made the CDU the strongest force," said Wüst on Sunday in Düsseldorf.

"That is the mandate to form and lead a future government."

Wüst thanked the previous coalition partner FDP, which suffered heavy losses in the elections and, according to the projections of ARD and ZDF, ended up just above the five percent hurdle.

This means that the black-yellow coalition can no longer continue.

But the Greens are coming into focus: Karin Prien from the CDU speaks of a "broad, reliable alliance".

Should it not be enough for red-green in the end, the traffic light in the country could also play a role.

The parliamentary group leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Britta Haßelmann, said on TV: "We have a clear progress program, we want to continue working on it." The CDU and SPD will now vie for the favor of the Greens.

Coalition after the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: "Election goal number 1 achieved, black and yellow voted out"

Update from May 15, 6.45 p.m .:

Although the SPD result does not show a good value according to the projections for top candidate Thomas Kutschaty, he makes it clear in a first statement to supporters: Election goal number 1 has been achieved, black and yellow voted out.

Hendrik Wüst as the CDU top candidate and thus in the winning party, will now start exploring after the NRW elections.

Black-green would have a clear majority.

According to Infratest-dimap surveys, red-green is again rated as good by the majority, but according to current calculations, this is not enough for a majority in the state parliament.

According to ZDF, a seat is missing shortly after half past five in the evening.

Update from May 15, 6:21 p.m .:

It is not yet clear whether the FDP will move into the state parliament in North Rhine-Westphalia.

So far there is only the first forecast.

According to ZDF, it is no longer enough for the CDU and FDP (should the Liberals come in).

The government would be voted out.

Black-green would be enough for a coalition after seats.

Whether it is enough for the SPD and the Greens is not yet entirely certain.

A traffic light coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) in NRW would be possible according to the current status.

CDU top candidate in North Rhine-Westphalia: Hendrik Wüst will now try to forge a coalition.

© Tobias Schwarz/AFP

Coalitions in NRW after the election: Kühnert thinks about red-green

Update from May 15, 6:18 p.m .:

SPD Secretary General Kevin Kühnert is apparently already preparing the option of a red-green coalition in NRW.

"Black and yellow has been deselected," he says in the first.

An alliance of SPD and Greens is popular in the country, if there is a possibility, one must explore accordingly.

That a second-placed party leads a coalition "wouldn't be a novelty either," says Kühnert.

The election result also reflects less a defeat of the SPD than an election campaign by the CDU at the expense of the coalition partner FDP.

Update from May 15, 6:12 p.m .:

The first forecasts are known: According to figures from ARD and ZDF, the CDU is clearly ahead.

The SPD, on the other hand, fell below 30 percent.

The FDP may still have to tremble and is currently around 5 percent.

The AfD is slightly better than the Liberals in terms of numbers.

The Greens gain very clearly.

State elections in NRW: "All parties represented in the state parliament have the right to form a coalition"

Update from May 15, 5:45 p.m .:

The first numbers will be announced in a few minutes – and possible coalitions will also be discussed.

In the North Rhine-Westphalian state elections, the intention of State Justice Minister Peter Biesenbach (CDU) could also be the runner-up to explore a coalition and form a government.

"I think that's something legitimate in democracy," said Biesenbach on Sunday of the German Press Agency.

"All parties represented in the state parliament have the right to form a coalition," said the lawyer.

"Majorities count, and if majorities are formed, then I think that's legitimate." The only right that the party with the most votes has is to ask the president of the state parliament.

"I don't see any other claims."

Coalition after state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: state returning officer sees “moderate turnout”

Update from May 15, 5:18 p.m .:

A few hours before the polling stations closed, the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia indicated a slightly lower turnout than in the 2017 elections.

By 4 p.m. it was 53.35 percent on average in eight selected districts and urban districts, as state returning officer Wolfgang Schellen announced on Sunday afternoon.

He rated this as “moderate turnout”.

In the 2017 state election, it was around 59 percent at that point.

The random survey was based on data from the districts of Düren and Gütersloh, the Rhine district of Neuss and the independent cities of Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Cologne and Mülheim an der Ruhr.

You can read more about the election night in NRW in this news ticker.

Update from May 15, 4:39 p.m .:

After the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the coalition question will also be dealt with quite quickly.

Several options are likely to come into question

- of course depending on the final result.

On Sunday evening, Anne Will will also speak about the NRW election in her talk round.

Coalition after the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: Another change at the top of the government?

Update from May 15, 3 p.m.:

Five parliamentary groups are currently represented in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia: CDU, SPD, Greens, FDP and AfD.

In the 2017 state election, the CDU had 33 percent of the votes, the SPD 31.2 percent.

The FDP followed in third place with 12.6 percent.

The AfD entered the state parliament in Düsseldorf for the first time with 7.4 percent.

At that time, the Greens experienced a defeat and only got 6.4 percent of the votes.

A coalition of CDU and FDP replaced the previous red-green alliance after the 2017 NRW elections.

Will there be an election showdown in the "Swing State" NRW on Sunday?

According to current polls, it will be a close race between the CDU and SPD.

Coalition in NRW: Greens probably "kingmakers" - only one option possible without them

Update from May 15, 1 p.m.:

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

Accordingly, there could hardly be a way around the Greens when forming a coalition.

Only in the unpopular variant of a grand coalition of CDU and SPD is the party not represented.

Could the party around top candidate Mona Neubaur ultimately become a kingmaker after the "small federal election"?

Greens top candidate Mona Neubaur and Economics Minister Robert Habeck at the closing rally of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen party's election campaign for the state election campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia on the Heumarkt.

© IMAGO/Christoph Hardt/dpa

Update from May 15, 9.40 a.m .:

There could be several options for the next state government in NRW.

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.

In some polls, it is not enough for a red-green majority.

NRW Prime Minister Wüst would like to continue governing with the FDP, but the Liberals - like the Greens - are keeping all options open.

The head of the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia and former state justice minister Kutschaty, who is also the deputy federal chairman of the SPD, can imagine the formation of a traffic light coalition like in the federal government.

Kuschaty received strong support from Chancellor Scholz during the election campaign.

Kuchaty and Scholz are also shown together on election posters.

Wüst wants to cast his vote on Sunday morning in his home town of Rhede in the Münsterland region, while Kuschaty votes in his home town of Essen.

Which coalition will govern North Rhine-Westphalia in the future?

And are the Greens or the FDP or even both allowed to join the NRW alliance?

© IMAGO/Christian Ohde

Coalitions after state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: According to surveys, black and yellow no longer have a majority

Update from May 15, 9 a.m.:

The NRW election has begun, a close race between the CDU and SPD is expected.

For the federal parties and the traffic light coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP ruling in the federal government, the vote in NRW, also known as the "small federal election", is an important test of mood.

In polls, the black-yellow coalition that has been in office for five years no longer has a majority.

Until 2017, a red-green coalition was in power in NRW.

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

The first forecast of the outcome of the election is expected shortly after the polling stations close at 6 p.m.

Coalition in NRW: Which alliance will govern North Rhine-Westphalia in the future?

Traffic light is possible

First report from May 14, 10 p.m.:

Munich/Düsseldorf – Before he clearly failed in the 2021 federal election, ex-chancellor candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) had given his party a victory in the 2017 state election in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With a plus of 6.7 percent of the votes, the Aachener replaced the red-green coalition of Hannelore Kraft in a black-yellow coalition with the FDP.

When Laschet ran in the federal elections in September, Hendrik Wüst (CDU) took his place as the new prime minister within the party.

The 46-year-old Munsterlander became head of state without having to face an election.

That changes this Sunday, May 15th.

The 2022 NRW state election is about whether Wüst can defend the government for his CDU.

And if so, in which coalition.

Shortly before the ballot, things looked good for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia: who will govern in Düsseldorf after the 2022 state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Specifically: Four days before the 2022 state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the CDU had increased its lead over the SPD, according to an INSA survey.

In numbers: In a survey published on Thursday (May 12), the CDU came to 32 percent.

The SPD, with its top candidate Thomas Kutschaty, was 28 percent.

According to the INSA survey, the Greens were around 16 percent in the electoral favour, while the FDP was at risk of an election defeat with eight percent of the votes compared to 2017 (12.6 percent).

Both parties are potential coalition partners for the two "big" CDU and SPD.

NRW state election 2022: Jamaica, traffic lights, red-green - these coalitions are possible in North Rhine-Westphalia

• Grand coalition:

  CDU and SPD would have to work together, but one of the two parties would have to provide the small coalition partner - it would be a perceived political defeat.

  This is not the only reason why this alliance is rather unlikely.

  The offensive opposition policy of the CDU in the federal government also speaks for this.

• Jamaica coalition:

  With an alliance of CDU, FDP and Greens, the latter would probably have to be broadened.

  In recent years, the FDP has ruled quite loyally and quietly alongside the CDU in Düsseldorf.

  But: The Greens recently reaffirmed their interest in a two-party alliance.

  "We will do everything we can to be as strong as possible until May 15," said top candidate Mona Neubaur: "The stronger the Greens are, the higher the probability that it will be enough for a two-person constellation in North Rhine-Westphalia .”

• red-green coalition:

  The Greens would probably prefer to govern with the SPD.

  Many protagonists know each other from the joint coalition before the state elections in 2017. With the goal of a two-party alliance, the Greens probably want to avoid too big compromises with the FDP, for example in tax policy or environmental policy.

  The party had to get through this in the federal government, as several representatives later admitted.

  However, a red-green alliance is shaky, for which the SPD in particular would have to overtake the CDU in the final sprint.

• black-green coalition:

  From INSA to research group elections to Infratest dimap - in the latest NRW surveys by opinion research institutes, the CDU recently had an overall lead over the Social Democrats.

  CDU and Greens - that has never existed in North Rhine-Westphalia.

  Meanwhile, Wüst is eagerly campaigning for a possible coalition partner.

  In an interview with Die

  Zeit

  he praised: "The Greens, for example, have followed a more consistent line towards Putin's Russia and have always clearly expressed skepticism and criticism."

• Traffic light coalition:

  what if the SPD should overtake the CDU in the voters' favor in the last few meters?

  Then a traffic light alliance of SPD, FDP and Greens would be possible not only in Berlin but also in Düsseldorf.

  All three parties must work together in the complex situation of the Russia-Ukraine war.

  That creates experiences.

INSA survey on the 2022 NRW state elections (as of May 12): CDU left SPD behind

Which coalition will govern in North Rhine-Westphalia after the 2022 state elections?

In this news ticker we will keep you up to date.