2005 German Federal Election

Merkel's first win

18 September 2005 · The Berlin Republic · 614 seats, 308 for a majority

A federal election was held in Germany on 18 September 2005 to elect the members of the 16th Bundestag. The snap election was called after the government's defeat in the North Rhine-Westphalia state election, which caused them to intentionally lose a motion of confidence to trigger an early federal election.

Chancellor before

Gerhard Schröder

SPD

Chancellor after

Angela Merkel

CDU

Largest force

CDU/CSU

226 of 614 seats

Turnout

77.7%

The result

Sort by

CDU/CSU

Angela Merkel · 35.2% of votes · -22 seats

226

seats

SPD

Gerhard Schröder · 34.2% of votes · -29 seats

222

seats

FDP

Guido Westerwelle · 9.8% of votes · +14 seats

seats

The Left.PDS

Gregor Gysi & · 8.7% of votes · +52 seats

seats

Greens

8.1% of votes · -4 seats

seats


CDU/CSU	Angela Merkel	226	-22	16.631.049	35.2%	-3.3
SPD	Gerhard Schröder	222	-29	16.194.665	34.2%	-4.3
FDP	Guido Westerwelle	61	+14	4.648.144	9.8%	+2.4
The Left.PDS	Gregor Gysi &	54	+52	4.118.194	8.7%	+4.7
Greens	—	51	-4	3.838.326	8.1%	-0.5