NRW election: Greens fall to "kingmaker" role - Walter-Borjans warns SPD against "blow on cheeks"

Created: 05/16/2022Updated: 05/16/2022 07:23

By: Stephanie Munk, Andreas Schmid, Anna-Katharina Ahnefeld

Figures for the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The CDU celebrates a clear victory, the SPD slips bitterly.

The Greens are also cheering.

The NRW election in the live ticker. 

• State elections in NRW 2022: On Sunday (May 15), 13 million eligible voters in North Rhine-Westphalia decided on their new state government.

• Figures for the NRW election

  : According to the provisional final result, the CDU is the clear winner, the SPD is slipping, the Greens are historic.

• Coalition

  question: Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst sees a "clear government mandate" - but even the SPD around top candidate Thomas Kutschaty is not yet writing off a government.

• The role of the "kingmaker" falls to the Greens, led by top candidate Mona Neubaur.

• This

  news ticker for the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia

  on Sunday, May 15 is constantly updated.

Update from May 16, 7 a.m.:

Former SPD federal chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans does not see the SPD in a position to make demands after its election defeat in North Rhine-Westphalia.

"On an evening like this, when you've missed your own goals by a long way, it's not a moment where you blow your cheeks and make demands," said Walter-Borjans of the German Press Agency in Düsseldorf.

The evening of the election made it clear: "The SPD has to wait for talks, be ready for talks and hold talks."

He is still convinced that the SPD and the Greens have the greatest overlap, said Walter-Borjans, who was state finance minister in the red-green government until 2017.

But it depends on the Greens what options they see.

But it is clear that the CDU, as the winner of the election, and the Greens would now talk to each other.

"It's anything but a moment of challenge now," said Walter-Borjans.

"Anyone who would start now to make great success out of an unachieved goal would be doing something wrong." Despite the SPD's historically poor result in the state elections of around 26.6 percent, top candidate Thomas Kutschaty had declared his willingness to hold coalition talks.

NRW election 2022 live: election researchers blame corona politics for poor FDP performance

Update from May 16, 6.30 a.m .:

Election researcher Jürgen Falter has blamed the liberals’ corona policy for the FDP’s poor performance in the NRW election.

"A decisive factor is that, from the point of view of many of its older supporters, the FDP has not cut a happy figure in the fight against the pandemic," said the Mainz politics professor of the

(Monday edition).

"Giving freedom over security in Corona times is not well received by older people," emphasized Falter.

"Vulnerable populations are choosing the safety of a mask rather than the freedom to leave it off," the election researcher added.

According to the first election analyzes in the state elections on Sunday in North Rhine-Westphalia, the FDP lost a lot of votes, especially in the older group of voters. Overall, the Liberals slipped significantly, but still managed to jump over the five percent hurdle.

"The FDP is in a very unfortunate situation," Falter told the newspaper.

"Given the war in Ukraine, maybe it was a mistake to take on the Treasury Department this time and not the State Department," he said.

Federal Minister of Finance "The war and the pandemic have forced Christian Lindner to take on a large amount of new debt, which does not fit with his previous rhetoric."

NRW election: Greens fall to "kingmaker" role - Lindner speaks of "disastrous defeat"

Update from May 16, 5.30 a.m .:

Coalition building after the NRW election 2022: In addition to a grand coalition of CDU and SPD that is considered unlikely, an alliance of CDU and Greens or a traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP would be possible.

Voter turnout fell to an all-time low.

Compared to the state election in 2017, it fell by 9.6 percentage points to 55.5 percent nationwide.

The previous negative record in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia was 56.7 percent in 2000.

Mona Neubaur, NRW top candidate from Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, is standing in front of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament on the evening of the state elections.

© Friso Gentsch/dpa

On election night, both Wüst and the defeated Kuchaty announced talks with all democratic parties about a future government and courted the Greens.

After the election, the strengthened party assumes the role of kingmaker.

Lead candidate Neubaur stated that "there is no way around us"

NRW election: Greens fall to "kingmaker" role - Lindner speaks of "disastrous defeat"

"The voters produced two winners today - us and the Greens," said Wüst.

Although he did not want to commit himself to a coalition preference, he emphasized that the "reconciliation of climate protection and industrialized countries" would be the "central task" of a future state government.

Kuchaty said he could imagine a traffic light coalition in the most populous federal state.

According to surveys, such an alliance is a "more popular model" than black-green.

He wanted to "now see who gets the relevant majorities together," said Kuchaty.

"The CDU is back," said CDU leader Friedrich Merz.

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert, on the other hand, did not want to see any federal political signal or criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

FDP leader Christian Lindner admitted a "disastrous defeat".

Left leader Janine Wissler spoke of a “bitter result”.

Update from May 16, 5 a.m.:

The CDU won the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Greens have also increased significantly.

According to the preliminary official result, which the state returning officer published early Monday morning, Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst's CDU was the strongest party with 35.7 percent of the second votes.

The SPD, with its top candidate Thomas Kutschaty, fell to 26.7 percent.

The Greens tripled their result to 18.2 percent.

The previous coalition partner FDP, however, fell to 5.9 percent.

The AfD can just stay in the state parliament with 5.4 percent.

The left failed again with 2.1 percent at the five percent hurdle.

Voter turnout was 55.5 percent.

NRW election 2022 live: Wust about possible coalition - "Reconciliation of climate protection and industrialized country"

Update from May 15, 11:15 p.m .:

After his CDU’s election victory, NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst reaffirmed that he wanted to talk “with all democratic forces” about forming a coalition.

It's about nothing less than the "reconciliation of climate protection and industrialized countries," said the CDU politician on Sunday evening in ZDF's "Heute Journal".

A pointer in the direction of green?

The CDU politician did not want to commit himself.

Meanwhile, the SPD is also involved, which, according to current figures, ended up a whopping nine percentage points behind the CDU in the NRW election.

"Of course we are there," said SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty.

"We also want to hold talks." The SPD only has a chance in North Rhine-Westphalia in a traffic light coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP).

That currently seems the more unlikely scenario.

A black-green alliance seems more realistic, theoretically a Jamaica coalition with the FDP.

Update from May 15, 10:50 p.m .:

The AfD lost a lot of votes in the NRW state elections in their strongholds in the Ruhr area.

In constituencies such as Herne, Recklinghausen II, Oberhausen I and Duisburg II, it fell by up to four percentage points and slipped to less than 10 percent of the second vote.

According to provisional information from the state returning officer, the party in Gelsenkirchen II and Duisburg III remained in the double digits, but recorded losses of more than four percentage points.

For the whole of NRW, the projections saw the AfD in the evening at 5.6 or 5.7 percent.

When it entered the state parliament in 2017, the party had achieved 7.4 percent.

NRW election 2022 live: Kuchaty on coalition talks - "I'm ready"

Update from May 15, 10:30 p.m .:

 Despite the SPD’s historically poor result in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, top candidate Thomas Kutschaty is ready for coalition talks.

"I'm ready," confirmed Kuchaty on Sunday evening at the SPD election party in Düsseldorf.

The victory of the CDU and the strong result of the Greens "does not automatically mean that a government will be formed between the two," said the North Rhine-Westphalia SPD leader.

"That's why we'll be having talks again in the next few days." "Other options are definitely conceivable."

The SPD is dependent on the Greens.

Initially, they did not want to deal with coalition issues.

Lead candidate Mona Neubaur promised a future government "with a strong green handwriting".

Born in Pöttmes, Bavaria, she made it clear: “There is no way around us Greens.” The eco-party achieved historically good results in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the projections, it reached around 18 percent.

NRW election live: FDP probably "saved" according to new projection - Kühnert's desired coalition is gone

Update from May 15, 10 p.m

.: New projections for the NRW election will probably make the last doubts about the FDP’s entry into the state parliament disappear.

According to ARD figures, the liberals are now ahead of the AfD with 5.7 percent.

This is particularly exciting with a view to the coalitions.

Because with the entry of the FDP into the state parliament, a coalition of SPD and Greens would no longer be possible.

Leading Social Democrats such as party leader Lars Klingbeil and General Secretary Kevin Kühnert had publicly raved about this alliance. 

"It's no secret that this is a coalition that we in the SPD like very much," said Kühnert.

The runner-up could also “of course” lead the government.

If the SPD now wants to appoint the prime minister despite the election defeat, they now need the FDP.

A traffic light coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) would be possible, as is currently the case in the federal government.

Kevin Kühnert and the former Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hannelore Kraft.

A red-green coalition ruled under Kraft.

According to current figures for the NRW election, this alliance does not seem possible.

© IMAGO/Thomas Koehler/

However, the FDP assumes black and green, as is currently the case in Baden-Württemberg.

FDP top candidate Joachim Stamp said on WDR: "We have two clear election winners and I assume that the two will also form a coalition with each other." He pointed to the two top candidates from the CDU and the Greens, Hendrik Wüst and Mona Neubaur.

When asked about a conceivable participation of the FDP in a traffic light coalition, Stamp said: "You don't think that in view of this result we are now speculating about government participation." Among Democrats, things are never ruled out in principle.

But it is "others' turn to form the government here".

Update from May 15, 9:45 p.m

.: In the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, a possibly historically low turnout is emerging.

ARD and ZDF saw the turnout after the polling stations closed on Sunday evening at 56 percent.

That could change in the course of the election night.

However, if it stayed at this value, it would be even less than the historic low of 56.7 in a state election in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2000. In the 2017 state election, voter turnout was 65.2 percent.

NRW election live: Wüst and Kuchaty win constituencies - Green candidate second

Update from May 15, 9:30 p.m .:

SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty can at least be happy about his individual result after the disappointing performance in the NRW election.

In the Essen I constituency, the former justice minister received around 49 percent of the first votes.

The Greens' top candidate Mona Neubaur, on the other hand, missed the direct mandate.

In her constituency Düsseldorf I, after counting almost all district results on Sunday evening, Neubaur was only in second place with around 27 percent of the first votes.

The direct mandate was taken by the CDU member of parliament Olaf Lehne.

CDU man Wüst clearly triumphed in his Borken constituency with around 61 percent.

Update from May 15, 9:15 p.m .:

NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is pleased that his previous coalition partner FDP has the prospect of entering the state parliament despite significant losses.

"We have governed very well with the FDP in recent years, amicably and reliably," said Wüst on Sunday evening on ARD.

As things stand, the FDP is “in” the state parliament.

"And I like that.

I'm happy for our coalition partner from the last five years."

The FDP saw projections at around 5.6 percent - just above the important five percent hurdle.

At first she had to fear for her re-entry into the state parliament.

In the state elections in 2017, the party had reached 12.6 percent.

NRW election 2022 live: CDU clear election winner - Laschet congratulates with beer

Update from May 15, 9 p.m

.: New projections for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia have just been published.

The CDU seems to be quite successful in improving their results in the 2017 North Rhine-Westphalia elections.

At that time, the Christian Democrats under Armin Laschet got 33.0 percent.

Now they range stably between 35 and 36 percent.

Incidentally, Laschet is also a guest at the CDU election party.

In the evening he toasted the election victory with his successor Hendrik Wüst with a Kölsch beer.

Armin Laschet at the CDU election party.

The former head of North Rhine-Westphalia had to give up his position as prime minister due to his mandate in the Bundestag.

Hendrik Wüst took over.

©Oliver Berg/dpa

Update from May 15, 8:45 p.m

.: CDU man Hendrik Wüst got the absolute majority in the state election in his constituency.

After counting more than 95 percent of the votes in the conservative Borken I constituency, Wüst secured almost 61 percent of the votes.

In the 2017 state election, he got 52.9 percent.

Update from May 15, 8:30 p.m .:

The CDU is the clear winner in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Wüst therefore sees the task of forming a new government in the most populous federal state in the republic as lying with himself and the NRW-CDU.

"People have made it clear who they want to see leading a future government in North Rhine-Westphalia and this word was very clear: they want a government led by me, a government led by the CDU."

NRW election: The last coalitions in North Rhine-Westphalia

• since 2017:

  CDU and FDP

  under Prime Ministers Armin Laschet and Hendrik Wüst (both CDU)

• 2010 to 2017:

  SPD and Greens

  under Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft (SPD)

  
  
  

  2005 to 2010:

  CDU and FDP

  under Prime Minister Jürgen Rüttgers (CDU)

  
  
  

  2002 to 2005:

  SPD and Greens

  under Prime Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD)

Update from May 15, 8:15 p.m .:

The CDU got by far the most votes in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Nevertheless, the SPD also squints at the government.

Everything currently depends on the Greens, who in turn can look back on the historically best NRW result.

According to their political director Emily Büning, the Federal Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia can imagine a coalition with the CDU as well as with the SPD and FDP.

Büning said on ZDF on Sunday evening: "We will now hold talks in the next few days and explore (...) in which coalition we can implement the most green content." That has priority.

NRW election 2022 live: FDP and AfD now see new figures more clearly above 5 percent after the CDU victory

Update from May 15, 8 p.m

.: Current projections for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia bring more clarity to the election result.

According to current figures, the CDU around Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst comes to almost 36 percent, the SPD slips below 27 percent in the ARD.

The clearly worst result in a state election in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Now that more postal votes are included in the projections, the FDP is gradually climbing to 5.5 to 5.6 percent.

The expulsion from the Düsseldorf state parliament seems to be averted - just like with the AfD.

Update from May 15, 7:45 p.m

.: For CDU federal leader Friedrich Merz, the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia were “also a federal political mood test”.

"The CDU is back," said Merz on Sunday in Berlin and spoke of an "outstanding result" for Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst's state party.

"Our forward course has been confirmed," added Merz.

NRW election: Despite the SPD bankruptcy, Kühnert is heading for an explosive coalition construct - Spahn attests him "shock"

Update from May 15, 7.30 p.m

.: There are two winners in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.

On the one hand, the CDU, which was able to clearly distance itself from the SPD.

On the other hand, the Greens: They were able to bring in the biggest plus of all parties.

Almost twelve percent more than in the 2017 North Rhine-Westphalia election. You will thus become the kingmaker in the coalition question – which is why the party is already being campaigned for intensively.

Both from the CDU and the SPD.

On the evening of the election, the CDU never tired of emphasizing that there were “two election winners”.

The Greens, too, with whom, according to Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, one would speak “as with all democratic parties”.

The SPD wants to wait and see "whether red-green is possible," as party leader Lars Klingbeil said.

Secretary General Kevin Kühnert saw a "certain probability" that the SPD could appoint Thomas Kutschaty as prime minister.

"Of course, the runner-up can also negotiate a government," he said in the evening on ARD.

The former CDU Minister of Health Jens Spahn attested Kühnert a “shock” on ARD.

Kühnert listed "contortions" in view of the weak SPD results and wanted to make the SPD look better than it was.

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert (r) in the run-up to the North Rhine-Westphalia elections with SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty.

© IMAGO/MARC JOHN

And the Greens themselves?

They don't want to commit themselves for the time being.

It is now "not the evening to speculate about coalition options," said the leader of the Greens parliamentary group, Britta Haßelmann, on Sunday evening on ARD.

"We're going to enjoy this evening tonight."

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

The first postal votes are now included in the numbers for the NRW election.

This helps the FDP in particular, which climbs to 5.3 percent in the ARD surveys.

FDP party leader Christian Lindner nevertheless spoke of a "disastrous result", NRW's top candidate Joachim Stamp of a "very serious defeat".

Update from May 15, 7:10 p.m.:

According to preliminary information, voter turnout in North Rhine-Westphalia is 56 percent.

In 2017, 65.15 percent of eligible voters went to the polls.

NRW election 2022 live: FDP has to tremble after CDU election victory

Update from May 15, 7:05 p.m

.: New numbers for the NRW election.

The CDU around Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is the clear winner in North Rhine-Westphalia, that is now clear.

The projections for the FDP are exciting: ARD still sees the FDP at 5.0 percent, while ZDF at 5.5 percent.

The Liberals must tremble to the end.

Are you experiencing a scenario similar to that of the Greens in the Saarland election in March?

The eco-party was not entered the state parliament because of 23 votes too few.

Incidentally, the performance is extremely interesting for the coalition question.

Because: If the FDP does not make it into the state parliament, a red-green state government with an SPD Prime Minister Thomas Kutschaty would be conceivable.

NRW election 2022 live: Kuchaty disappointed after the worst SPD result

Update from May 15, 6:55 p.m .:

SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty was disappointed with the result of the NRW election.

“We wanted to be the strongest party.

We didn't succeed," said Kuchaty on Sunday evening.

In the last state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Social Democrats got 31.2 percent, which meant the worst result in North Rhine-Westphalia at the time.

According to current figures, the SPD is currently well below 30 percent - and around seven percentage points behind the election winner, the CDU.

Update from May 15, 6.45 p.m .:

In the current projections for the NRW election, the FDP is 5.0 percent.

The Free Democrats, previously government partners of the CDU, must therefore tremble about entering the state parliament.

FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann spoke of a “miserable result” for her party and said she was still hoping for postal votes.

"I'm assuming we'll get in.

That is not the question.”

NRW election 2022 live: CDU wins - Wüst sees "clear government mandate"

Update from May 15, 6:35 p.m

.: CDU Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst appeared at his party’s election party – and also spoke of a “clear government mandate” in North Rhine-Westphalia.

"The CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia clearly won this election," said Wüst on Sunday evening.

“People have clearly made us the strongest force.

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

He also praised both government partner FDP and co-election winner Greens.

SPD counter-candidate Thomas Kutschaty, on the other hand, spoke of a result “that we had imagined differently”.

On the other hand, the “electoral goal of voting out black and yellow” was successful.

According to current figures, this two-party alliance no longer has a majority.

A two-party coalition of the CDU and the Greens, on the other hand, does.

All information about the future government in the coalition ticker for the 2022 NRW election.

Election winner in North Rhine-Westphalia: The previous and possibly future Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst.

© Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

NRW election 2022 live: According to the extrapolation, the CDU is clearly the strongest force

Update from May 15, 6.30 p.m

.: Now there is the first projection for the NRW election.

It confirms the picture of the 6 p.m. forecast.

According to figures from ARD and ZDF, the CDU has 35 percent, the SPD 27.5 and 27.9 percent, respectively.

Update from May 15, 6:25 p.m

.: The CDU seems to be the clear winner of the NRW election.

According to the first figures, the Social Democrats are around seven percentage points behind the CDU.

"We lost this election," said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on ARD.

With regard to possible coalitions, the minister made it clear: "First, the election winners have to negotiate." For him, these are the CDU and the Greens.

Meanwhile, Secretary General Kevin Kühnert advocated exploring the chances of forming a red-green state government.

"Of course, the runner-up can also negotiate a government."

All reactions to the election in North Rhine-Westphalia at a glance.

Update from May 15, 6:15 p.m

.: Exuberant mood at the Greens’ election party.

A bitter setback, on the other hand, for the SPD, where they had expected a close race, but are now looking at the numbers quite soberingly.

The FDP and AfD, who cannot yet be completely sure of entering the state parliament, are also likely to be disappointed.

FDP politician Johannes Vogel therefore spoke on ARD of a "not a good evening".

Update from May 15, 6:10 p.m

.: First mood after the forecast for the NRW election: Great cheering from the CDU, which is likely to become the election winner.

With full beer kegs and Mett rolls, the CDU supporters celebrated the strong performance in bright sunshine.

Numerous state ministers - including Interior Minister Herbert Reul, Justice Minister Peter Biesenbach, Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann and Transport Minister Ina Brandes - celebrated with them.

CDU presidium member Jens Spahn praised "a great result" on ARD, CDU federal vice Karin Prien saw a "clear government mandate".

The CDU election party CDU supporters cheer after the announcement of the first election forecast at 6 p.m. © Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

NRW election live: the first numbers are there!

Wüst's CDU wins spectacularly, SPD disappoints, Greens with a hammer result

Update vom 15. Mai, 18 Uhr: Die CDU scheint der klare Wahlgewinner in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Laut 18-Uhr-Prognose von ARD und ZDF erreichen die Christdemokraten um Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst 35 Prozent. Die SPD, die in Umfragen vor der NRW-Wahl nur knapp hinter der CDU gelegen war, steht hingegen vor ihrem schlechtesten Ergebnis in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Die Grünen wiederum stehen derzeit bei einem Plus von 12 Prozent im Vergleich zur letzten NRW-Wahl 2017. Für AfD und FDP ist der Einzug in den Landtag indes noch nicht gesichert. Die Linke liegt deutlich unter der Fünf-Prozent-Hürde.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Umfragen sehen Wüst-CDU leicht vor Kutschaty-SPD

Update vom 15. Mai, 17.30 Uhr: In 30 Minuten kommt die erste Prognose zur Landtagswahl in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Dann gibt es erste Tendenzen, in welche Richtung sich die NRW-Wahl entwickelt. Umfragen hatten zuvor die CDU um Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst leicht vor der SPD und deren Spitzenkandidaten Thomas Kutschaty gesehen. In den Meinungserhebungen vor der Wahl bewegte sich die CDU knapp über und die SPD knapp unter der 30-Prozent-Marke. Drittstärkste Kraft werden aller Voraussicht nach die Grünen, dahinter folgen FDP und AfD, für die es unter Umständen auch noch knapp werden könnte. Die Linke scheint den Einzug in den Düsseldorfer Landtag abermals zu verpassen.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Niedrigere Wahlbeteiligung als 2017 zeichnet sich ab

Update vom 15. Mai, 17.05 Uhr: Die Wahlbeteiligung bei der Landtagswahl in Nordrhein-Westfalen ist offenbar doch geringer als zunächst gedacht. Die Wahlbeteiligung bis 16 Uhr war deutlich niedriger als bei der vorherigen Wahl von 2017 zur selben Zeit, wie die Landeswahlleitung in Düsseldorf mitteilte. Damals waren es um 16 Uhr rund 59 Prozent, nun sind es 53,35 Prozent. Landeswahlleiter Wolfgang Schellen wertete das als „mäßige Wahlbeteiligung“. Die Werte beruhen demnach auf Stichproben, auch Briefwähler zählen mit. 2017 hatte die Wahlbeteiligung am Ende des Wahltags bei 65,2 Prozent gelegen.

Update vom 15. Mai, 16.45 Uhr: Nordrhein-Westfalen ist das bevölkerungsreichste Bundesland - und brachte bereits einige Spitzenpolitiker auf Bundesebene hervor. Allein aus dem aktuellen Scholz-Kabinett sind fünf Minister(innen) in NRW geboren. Hinzu kommt mit dem Sauerländer Friedrich Merz auch der Oppositionsführer der CDU.

• Finanzminister Christian Lindner (FDP): Wuppertal
• Justizminister Marco Buschmann (FDP): Gelsenkirchen
• Familienministerin Lisa Paus (Grüne): Rheine
• Gesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach (SPD): Düren
• Entwicklungsministerin Svenja Schulze (SPD): Düsseldorf

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Niedrige Wahlbeteiligung in Köln und Dortmund

Update vom 15. Mai, 16.15 Uhr: Neue Zahlen zur Wahlbeteiligung bei der Landtagswahl in Nordrhein-Westfalen: In den Städten Dortmund und Köln gehen bisher offenbar weniger Menschen zur Wahlurne. In Dortmund waren es bis 11.30 Uhr nur fast 11 Prozent der Wahlberechtigten, in Köln bis 15 Uhr 41 Prozent, wobei es 2017 zum selben Zeitpunkt bereits 45 Prozent waren.

Update vom 15. Mai, 15.15 Uhr: Als letzter der Spitzenkandidaten hat bei der NRW-Wahl FDP-Politiker Joachim Stamp in Bonn seine Stimme abgegeben. AfD-Spitzenkandidat Markus Wagner soll dem WDR zufolge bereits per Briefwahl gewählt haben. An diesem Sonntag kommt es zum Wahl-Showdown im „Swing State“ NRW– die Wahl gilt als richtungsweisend für den Bund.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Laschet-Patzer wird bei Wüst zum Lacher

Update from May 15, 2:20 p.m .:

Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and his challenger Thomas Kutschaty from the SPD apparently have a similar sense of humor.

Both politicians joked about the correct folding of the ballot when they cast their votes in their respective home districts on Sunday.

"But it's difficult to fold so that nobody can see anything," said Kuchaty when he came out of the voting booth in Essen with his ballot.

The folding technique was also an issue for Prime Minister Wüst in Rhede.

A dpa photo reporter reported that Wüst reacted with a laugh.

Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, is standing in the polling station and casting his ballot.

© Guido Kirchner/dpa

Bei der Bundestagswahl im vergangenen Herbst hatte der frühere CDU-Kanzlerkandidat und Ex-NRW-Ministerpräsident Armin Laschet seinen Stimmzettel nicht korrekt zusammengefaltet. Beim Fototermin für den Einwurf des Stimmzettels waren dadurch Laschets Kreuze für die CDU zu sehen gewesen. Das hatte zu einer Debatte über die Gültigkeit des Stimmzettels und viel Häme für Laschet geführt.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Bislang hohe Wahlbeteiligung – erste Prognosen kurz nach 18 Uhr erwartet

Update vom 15. Mai, 13.59 Uhr: Die NRW-Wahl 2022 hat mit einer hohen Wahlbeteiligung begonnen: Bereits um 12 Uhr haben gut 36 Prozent der Wahlberechtigten ihre Stimme abgegeben. Das teilte Landeswahlleiter Wolfgang Schellen auf der Grundlage von Stichproben in acht Kreisen und kreisfreien Städten mit. Bei der vorherigen Landtagswahl im Jahr 2017 waren es zum selben Zeitpunkt etwa 34 Prozent gewesen.

Die Wahllokale sind seit 8 Uhr bis 18 Uhr geöffnet. Die erste Prognose zum Wahlausgang wird kurz danach erwartet. Unterdessen hat auch ein prominenter Sauerländer seine Stimme abgegeben: Unionsfraktionschef Friedrich Merz (CDU):

Update vom 15. Mai, 12.45 Uhr: NRW-Wahl 2022: Wie beteiligen sich die Wahlberechtigten in verschiedenen Städten? In Bielefeld waren um 9 Uhr laut dpa bereits etwa 30 Prozent von ihnen im Wahllokal. Das berichtet der WDR. In Essen lag dieser Wert bei 25 Prozent (Stand 12 Uhr). In Köln betrug sie zu dem Zeitpunkt gut 22 Prozent.

Update vom 15. Mai, 12.03 Uhr: Auch Mona Neubaur, Grünen-Spitzenkandidatin in NRW, hat an diesem Wahlsonntag schon ihre Stimme abgegeben, laut focus.de in einem Wahllokal in Düsseldorf. Ihre Partei könnte laut Umfragen (siehe vorheriges Update) mit 16 bis 18 Prozent ihr womöglich bislang bestes Landtagswahl in NRW erreichen.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Letzte Umfragen vor der Abstimmung

Update vom 15. Mai, 11.20 Uhr: Wer regiert nach der „kleinen Bundestagswahl“ in NRW? Sie ist ja auch deshalb spannend, weil es laut letzten Umfragen mehrere Möglichkeiten gäbe. Konkret:

• Große Koalition aus CDU und SPD
• Schwarz-Grün
• Jamaika-Bündnis (CDU, Grüne und FDP)
• Ampel-Koalition (SPD, Grüne und FDP)

Für eine rot-grüne Mehrheit reichte es demnach in einigen Umfragen nicht. NRW-Ministerpräsident Wüst (CDU) würde gern mit der FDP weiterregieren. NRW-SPD-Chef Kutschaty wurde im Wahlkampf von Kanzler Olaf Scholz unterstützt, auf Plakaten waren sie zusammen abgebildet.

Polls recently indicated a narrow victory for the CDU, which was seen at 30 to 32 percent.

The SPD was located at 28 to 29 percent.

The Greens could move into the NRW state parliament as the third strongest force with 16 to 18 percent.

FDP and AfD were seen at six to eight percent.

NRW election 2022 live: top candidates Wüst and Kuschaty cast votes

Update from May 15, 11:10 a.m

.: CDU top candidate Wüst has already cast his vote in the 2022 NRW election.

He went to a polling station in Rhede.

Like Kuchaty

, he had his wife with him, as well as his daughter Philippa.

She cannot be seen in the photo but is lying in the stroller:

Voting with daughter Philippa: Hendrik Wüst in a polling station in Rhede © Guido Kirchner/dpa

Update vom 15. Mai, 10.47 Uhr: SPD-Spitzenkandidat Kutschaty hat seinen Stimmzettel abgegeben, und zwar in einer Essener Schule, die er einst besucht hat. Der Politiker twitterte ein Foto von sich und seiner Frau aus dem dortigen Wahllokal, dankte den Wahlhelfenden und schrieb außerdem: „Ich nehme ein gutes Gefühl mit in den Tag.“

Update vom 15. Mai, 10.12 Uhr: Der Hashtag #nrwwahl2022 trendet an diesem Sonntag natürlich, und auch die Stadt Köln benutzt ihn. Die freut sich - siehe vorheriges Update - schon jetzt über eine gestiegene Wahlbeteiligung und ermuntert in einem Tweet, alle, die noch nicht im Wahllokal waren: „Ihr habt noch bis 18 Uhr Zeit.“

Update vom 15. Mai, 9.34 Uhr: In der einwohnerstärksten NRW-Stadt ist das Interesse an der Landtagswahl offenbar größer als beim vergangenen Mal: Stand 9 Uhr lag die Beteiligung in den Wahllokalen bereits bei gut 4,5 Prozent, und damit höher als im Jahr 2017 zur gleichen Uhrzeit. Das berichtet der Kölner Stadtanzeiger online.

NRW-Wahl 2022: „Heute gilt‘s“ meldet sich Wüst auf Twitter

Update vom 15. Mai, 9.04 Uhr: Auch die zwei Spitzenkandidaten Wüst und Kutschaty sind an diesem Wahlmorgen schon auf Twitter. Während ersterer appelliert („Heute gilt‘s“) begnügt sich zweiterer mit einem Retweet eines Wahlspots der NRW-SPD.

Update vom 15. Mai, 8.48 Uhr: Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Grüne) ist an diesem Sonntag auch schon früh wach - oder sie hat den Tweet vorgeplant: „Ich finde, NRW braucht mehr Frauen an der Macht. Das könnt ihr heute wählen“, schreibt die Bundestagsvizepräsidentin und wirbt damit für Parteikollegin und eine der Spitzenkandidaten in NRW, Mona Neubaur.

NRW-Wahl 2022 live: Hier geben Wüst und Kutschaty ihre Stimmen ab

Update vom 15. Mai, 8.35 Uhr: Das ist der Fahrplan bei der NRW-Wahl: CDU-Spitzenkandidat Wüst will seine Stimme am Vormittag in seinem Heimatort Rhede im Münsterland abgeben, SPD-Herausforderer Thomas Kutschaty wählt in seiner Heimatstadt Essen.

Wüst hatte erst vor gut einem halben Jahr Armin Laschet als NRW-Ministerpräsident abgelöst, nachdem dieser als Unionskanzlerkandidat bei der Bundestagswahl 2021 gescheitert war.

Update vom 15. Mai, 8.00 Uhr: Der Startschuss ist gefallen: Bei der NRW-Wahl können die Wahlberechtigten seit diesem Sonntag 8 Uhr ihre Stimme im Wahllokal abgeben. Das sind mehr als 13 Millionen Menschen.

Was sagen die Umfragen vor der „kleinen Bundestagswahl“ im bevölkerungsreichsten Bundesland? In Düsseldorf regiert seit der Landtagswahl 2017 eine schwarz-gelbe Koalition, für deren Fortführung es nicht mehr reichen dürfte. Stattdessen könnte etwa ein Jamaika-Bündnis, eine Ampel-Koalition oder eine schwarz-grüne Regierung zustande kommen. Auch für ein rot-grünes Bündnis könnte es knapp reichen.

NRW-Wahl 2022 im News-Ticker: Wüst laut Umfragen hauchdünn vorn

Erstmeldung: Düsseldorf/München – Mehr als 13 Millionen Bürger in Nordrhein-Westfalen können am Sonntag bei den Landtagswahlen in NRW 2022 an die Wahlurne treten. Es ist die dritte von insgesamt vier geplanten Landtagswahlen in diesem Jahr.

Im bevölkerungsreichsten Bundesland zeichnet sich ein enges Rennen zwischen der regierenden CDU und der SPD ab, wobei jüngste Umfragen zur NRW-Wahl den amtierenden CDU-Ministerpräsidenten Hendrik Wüst zuletzt um zwei bis vier Prozentpunkte vorn sahen. Herausforderer ist der SPD-Spitzenkandidat Thomas Kutschaty.

Landtagswahl NRW 2022: Wüst will in Nordrhein-Westfalen Ministerpräsident bleiben

Mit einer hauchdünnen Mehrheit von nur einem Sitz reagiert im Düsseldorfer Landtag seit fünf Jahren eine Koalition aus CDU und FDP. Nach der Landtagswahl 2017 löste Armin Laschet mit der CDU die SPD-Ministerpräsidentin Hannelore Kraft ab, deren Landesverband damals das schlechtestes Ergebnis seit 1947 eingefahren hatte.

Als Laschet nach seiner erfolglosen Bundeskanzler-Kandidatur im Oktober in den Bundestag einzog, übernahm der damalige Landesverkehrsminister Wüst das Amt des Ministerpräsidenten.

NRW-Wahl 2022: Wüst und Kutschaty wollen ins Ministerpräsidenten-Amt

Oppositionschef ist Wüsts SPD-Herausforderer Thomas Kutschaty. Für die Grünen sitzen 14 Abgeordnete im Landtag, die AfD hat 13 Sitze. Die Linke scheiterte zuletzt an der Fünfprozenthürde und ist nicht im Landtag vertreten. Auch aktuelle Umfragen zur NRW-Wahl sagen ihr ein Scheitern an der Fünf-Prozent-Hürde voraus.

Ob der Amtsbonus des derzeitigen Regierungschef Wüst für die CDU ausricht, ist fraglich: Er übernahm das Amt erst im Oktober 2021 von Armin Laschet. Die SPD setzt auf Oppositionsführer Kutschaty, der unter Ex-Ministerpräsidentin Hannelore Kraft das Justizministerium führte. Für die Grünen kandidiert Spitzenkandidatin Mona Neubaur. Die FDP will mit ihrem Landesvorsitzenden und derzeitigem Vizeministerpräsidenten Joachim Stamp auch im 18. Landtag regieren. Die AfD tritt mit ihrem Fraktionschef Markus Wagner an.

NRW-Wahl live: Bis zu fünf mögliche Koalitionen sind denkbar

Für eine Fortsetzung der schwarz-gelben Koalition würde es den jüngsten Umfragen zufolge nicht reichen. Auf jeden Fall dürften rechnerisch nach der Wahl ein Jamaikabündnis aus CDU, Grünen und FDP, eine Ampelkoalition unter Führung der SPD mit Grünen und FDP oder eine große Koalition aus Christ- und Sozialdemokraten möglich sein. Auch für Zweierbündnisse von CDU oder SPD mit den Grünen könnte es aber knapp reichen. Alle News zu Koalitionsgesprächen in NRW finden Sie auch hier.

Sollte die CDU in Nordrhein-Westfalen abgewählt werden, würden die Unionsparteien absehbar nur noch fünf von 16 Ministerpräsidentinnen und Ministerpräsidenten stellen, wohingegen die SPD mit einem Regierungschef in Nordrhein-Westfalen insgesamt neun Landesregierungen anführen würde.

After the bitter defeat in the federal elections last year and in the state elections in Saarland, a defeat in the most populous federal state would threaten the CDU with a further loss of importance and less say in the Bundesrat.

On the other hand, the clear election victory of Minister President Daniel Günther (CDU) in Schleswig-Holstein last Sunday could bring an upswing.

The first forecasts and projections for the NRW elections on Sunday can be found here.