AreaRead the video transcript expand here
Cheering at the CDU in Düsseldorf.
The first polls put Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst's party clearly ahead of the SPD in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
CDU member at the party:
"Super, super, super!"
Accordingly, the Christian Democrats reached around 35 percent, the Social Democrats just under 28 percent.
Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (CD):
»We, the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia, clearly won this election!
The people have clearly made us the strongest force.
This is the mandate to form and lead a future government!
Thanks to the people for this clear vote of confidence.«
In the SPD, on the other hand, only defiant applause.
For the party, it is a historically poor result in its former home state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Since 1947, the Social Democrats have always won more than 30 percent.
Even if not all votes have been counted yet, it shouldn't be enough this time.
Thomas Kutschaty, the SPD's top candidate:
»Unfortunately, the result of this state election is not what we had imagined.
There are two parties that have increased, namely the Union, which has increased somewhat, and the Greens, who have tripled their result.
And that's why, in a fair competition, it's important to first congratulate the CDU, Hendrik Wüst, and Mona Neubaur from the Greens on their wins.
Congratulations to the Greens and CDU this evening, also here from the SPD!«
It is not clear who will lead the next state government.
The only thing that is clear is that it shouldn't work without the Greens.
With around 18 percent, they have tripled their result from 2017.
And that opens up options.
Thomas Kutschaty, top candidate SPD:
"Even though the CDU is ahead of us and the Greens have grown very, very strongly, I can say very clearly here: Social Democracy in North Rhine-Westphalia is also ready for a state government here in the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament. «
First, however, the winner of the election is Wüst's turn.
Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (CDU):
"I will now approach the democratic parties and I will do everything to ensure that our country gets through this difficult time well and is governed reliably."
A lot now depends on whether the FDP has cleared the five percent hurdle.
If the Liberals are thrown out of the state parliament, the distribution of seats could make a coalition of SPD and Greens possible.
