political parties SPD and FDP aim to participate in the 2026 state election - SPD and FDP to contest in the 2026 parliamentary election, jointly vying for seats in the German legislature.
The political landscape of Southwest Germany is gearing up for a significant change, as the region prepares for its state election on March 8, 2026. The current ruling party, the Greens, is facing opposition from the SPD and FDP, who are both vying to determine the successor to Minister President Winfried Kretschmann.
The election, scheduled for the weekend of March 8, 2026, will mark the first time the region uses a new voting system that includes a second vote for the state list of a party. Under this mixed-member proportional (MMP) system, voters have two votes: a first vote for a direct candidate in single-member constituencies, and a second vote for a party list. The Sainte-Laguë method is used to determine the proportional distribution of seats among parties.
Both the SPD and FDP are preparing for the election at their respective party conferences in Fellbach near Stuttgart and Pforzheim, respectively. The parties will determine the order of their state lists at these conferences, as the order could be crucial due to the new voting system. Strong local candidates can secure direct seats, but the party list ensures proportional representation across the state.
The Greens have announced former Federal Minister Cem Özdemir as their candidate, while the CDU is fielding its state chairman, Manuel Hagel. The SPD and FDP are yet to announce their top candidates, but it is expected that the state and faction leader of the SPD, Andreas Stoch, and the FDP's Hans-Ulrich Rülke, could be in contention for the top candidate position in the 2026 election.
If the percentages are sufficient, a so-called Germany coalition of CDU, SPD, and FDP is also conceivable. However, a coalition of CDU and Greens led by Hagel would have a majority in the state election.
It is important to note that neither the SPD nor the FDP won any direct mandates in the constituencies in the last two elections in 2021 and 2016. This underlines the importance of the party list vote in the new MMP system.
The 2026 state election promises to be a fascinating contest, and voters can expect a lively campaign in the run-up to the election. For specific details on the election, it is advisable to consult state-level election authorities or announcements from the SPD and FDP parties regarding their strategies and candidate lists.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a policy-and-legislation proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, in the midst of the political change in Southwest Germany, as the region gears up for its state election on March 8, 2026. The political landscape is of significant importance, as the Greens, SPD, and FDP all vie for the successor to the Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. This election marks the first time the region uses a new voting system, and the order of party lists could be crucial under this mixed-member proportional system.
