Saarland: SPD Dominates Regional Politics Ahead of Federal Election
Political Landscape and Key Players
SPD:
- Strongest party in the Saarland state parliament
- Winner of the 2021 federal election in Saarland
- Led by top candidate Esra Limbacher
CDU:
- Second-largest party in the state parliament
- Candidate Roland Theis as Spitzenkandidat (top candidate)
AfD:
- Populist, far-right party with significant presence in Saarland
- Led by Carsten Becker
FDP:
- Liberal party with a strong performance in the 2021 election
- Led by incumbent Bundestag member Oliver Luksic
Greens:
- Ecologist party that did not field a valid state list in 2021 due to internal disputes
- Candidate Jeanne Dillschneider as Spitzenkandidat
Other Parties:
- Left Party
- Free Voters
- Sahra Wagenknecht’s Bündnis (first-time participation)
Electoral System and Important Dates
- Election Date: February 23, 2023
- Number of Eligible Voters: Approximately 750,000
- Electoral System: Mixed-member proportional representation
- Voters cast two votes: one for a direct candidate in their electoral district and one for a political party’s state list
- Number of Electoral Districts in Saarland: 4
Key Issues
- Economic Challenges: The decline of traditional industries such as steel and automotive poses significant risks to the regional economy.
- Structural Transformation: The shift toward environmentally friendly production requires major restructuring in key sectors.
- Job Losses: Automobile suppliers have announced job cuts, raising concerns about employment prospects.
- Support for Small Businesses: Strengthening the middle class and small businesses is a primary focus of many political platforms.
Federal Representation
- Current Saarland Representation in the Bundestag: 9 members
- SPD: 4
- CDU: 2
- FDP: 1
- AfD: 1
- Left Party: 1
##的历史
In the 2021 federal election, the SPD emerged victorious in Saarland with 37.3% of the second votes. The CDU followed with 23.6%, the FDP with 11.5%, the AfD with 10.0%, and the Left Party with 7.2%.
