Bundestag election 1961
The 1961 federal election took place on September 17, 1961. In the election to the 4th German Bundestag , the Union parties lost their absolute majority, but were able to continue to govern in a coalition with the FDP .
For the first time in 1961 only three parliamentary groups sat in the Bundestag; this was to remain so for 22 years.
background
The election campaign was influenced by the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. For the CDU / CSU, Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer , who was accused of his long term in office (since the founding of the Federal Republic of 1949), came up for the construction of the wall Reacting hesitantly and waiting too long to go to Berlin after the Wall was built . He was only there for the first time on August 22, 1961, while US Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson , for example , was in Berlin on August 19, 1961. However, in the Allensbach polls this only meant a short-term slump in Adenauer's popularity.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Willy Brandt stood for the first time as a candidate for Chancellor of the SPD . It was the first choice for the SPD after the adoption of the Godesberg program of 1959, in which it finally said goodbye to the theory of historical materialism , Marxism and planned economy .
In the elections, the CDU / CSU lost the absolute majority it had gained in the 1957 Bundestag elections , while the SPD achieved significant gains, as did the FDP, which achieved its best result at federal level until 2009 under the motto With the CDU but without Adenauer . The German Party (DP), which was absorbed into the All- German Party , lost its last seats.
Official end result
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats¹ | ± | Direct mandates |
Overhang mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||||
Eligible voters | 37,440,715 | 100.0 | 37,440,715 | 100.0 | ||||
Voters | 32,849,624 | 87.7 | 32,849,624 | 87.7 | ||||
Invalid | 845.158 | 2.6 | 1,298,723 | 4.0 | ||||
Valid | 32.004.466 | 100.0 | 31,550,901 | 100.0 | 499 (22) | + 2 | 247 | 5 |
from that: | ||||||||
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) | 11,672,057 | 36.5 | 11,427,355 | 36.2 | 190 (13) | + 21 | 91 | - |
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) | 11,622,995 | 36.3 | 11.283.901 | 35.8 | 192 (9) | - 23 | 114 | 5 |
Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 3,866,269 | 12.1 | 4,028,766 | 12.8 | 67 | + 26 | - | - |
Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) | 3,104,742 | 9.7 | 3,014,471 | 9.6 | 50 | - 5th | 42 | - |
German Peace Union (DFU) | 587,488 | 1.8 | 609.918 | 1.9 | - | - | - | - |
German Community (DG) | 21,083 | 0.1 | 27.308 | 0.1 | - | - | - | - |
German Reich Party (DRP) | 242,649 | 0.8 | 262,977 | 0.8 | - | - | - | - |
All-German Party (GDP) | 859.290 | 2.7 | 870.756 | 2.8 | - | - 17² | - | - |
South Schleswig Association of Voters (SSW) | 24,951 | 0.1 | 25,449 | 0.1 | - | - | - | - |
Community of voters for a neutral Germany (WGnD) | 778 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Groups of voters / individual applicants | 2.164 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
¹ in brackets: number of the Berlin Bundestag deputies elected by the Berlin House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote
² seventeen deputies of the German Party (DP)
Results in the federal states
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 5,211,883 | 100.0 | 5,211,883 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 4,419,748 | 84.8 | 4,419,748 | 84.8 | ||
Invalid | 145,850 | 3.3 | 230,585 | 5.2 | ||
Valid | 4,273,898 | 100.0 | 4,189,163 | 100.0 | 66 | 33 |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 1,385,442 | 32.4 | 1,342,885 | 32.1 | 22nd | 6th |
CDU | 1,955,620 | 45.8 | 1,899,266 | 45.3 | 32 | 27 |
FDP | 697.279 | 16.3 | 697.311 | 16.6 | 12 | - |
DFU | 90.287 | 2.1 | 95,137 | 2.3 | - | - |
DG | 6.111 | 0.1 | 6,901 | 0.2 | - | - |
DRP | 27,455 | 0.6 | 31.052 | 0.7 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 111,704 | 2.6 | 116,611 | 2.8 | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 6,551,728 | 100.0 | 6,551,728 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 5,714,545 | 87.2 | 5,714,545 | 87.2 | ||
Invalid | 136,235 | 2.4 | 227,583 | 4.0 | ||
Valid | 5,578,310 | 100.0 | 5,486,962 | 100.0 | 86 | 47 |
from that: | ||||||
CSU | 3,104,742 | 55.7 | 3,014,471 | 54.9 | 50 | 42 |
SPD | 1,690,099 | 30.3 | 1,652,642 | 30.1 | 28 | 5 |
FDP | 450.506 | 8.1 | 479.830 | 8.7 | 8th | - |
DFU | 83,946 | 1.5 | 87,388 | 1.6 | - | - |
DG | 7,299 | 0.1 | 7,772 | 0.1 | - | - |
DRP | 24,768 | 0.4 | 28,699 | 0.5 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 214,672 | 3.8 | 216.160 | 3.9 | - | - |
WGnD | 633 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Individual applicants | 1,645 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 507.760 | 100.0 | 507.760 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 447.936 | 88.2 | 447.936 | 88.2 | ||
Invalid | 8,312 | 1.9 | 19,695 | 4.4 | ||
Valid | 439.624 | 100.0 | 428.241 | 100.0 | 5 | 3 |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 220.130 | 50.1 | 212.734 | 49.7 | 3 | 3 |
CDU | 121,347 | 27.6 | 115.493 | 27.0 | 1 | - |
FDP | 63,985 | 14.6 | 64,955 | 15.2 | 1 | - |
DFU | 12,362 | 2.8 | 12,639 | 3.0 | - | - |
DRP | 4,767 | 1.1 | 4,922 | 1.1 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 17,033 | 3.9 | 17,498 | 4.1 | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 1,386,411 | 100.0 | 1,386,411 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 1,227,787 | 88.6 | 1,227,787 | 88.6 | ||
Invalid | 18,143 | 1.5 | 34,050 | 2.8 | ||
Valid | 1,209,644 | 100.0 | 1,193,737 | 100.0 | 18th | 8th |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 570,382 | 47.2 | 560.038 | 46.9 | 9 | 8th |
CDU | 392.417 | 32.4 | 380,613 | 31.9 | 6th | - |
FDP | 182.919 | 15.1 | 187.255 | 15.7 | 3 | - |
DFU | 42,670 | 3.5 | 43,442 | 3.6 | - | - |
DRP | 10.175 | 0.8 | 10,541 | 0.9 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 11,081 | 0.9 | 11,848 | 1.0 | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 3,395,285 | 100.0 | 3,395,285 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 3,028,241 | 89.2 | 3,028,241 | 89.2 | ||
Invalid | 84,359 | 2.8 | 149,552 | 4.9 | ||
Valid | 2,943,882 | 100.0 | 2,878,689 | 100.0 | 45 | 22nd |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 1,271,675 | 43.2 | 1,233,312 | 42.8 | 21st | 19th |
CDU | 1,055,277 | 35.8 | 1.003.279 | 34.9 | 17th | 3 |
FDP | 425.210 | 14.4 | 438.726 | 15.2 | 7th | - |
DFU | 62.507 | 2.1 | 65,989 | 2.3 | - | - |
DG | 585 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
DRP | 14,375 | 0.5 | 18,418 | 0.6 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 114,100 | 3.9 | 118.965 | 4.1 | - | - |
Individual applicants | 153 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 4,613,112 | 100.0 | 4,613,112 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 4,083,490 | 88.5 | 4,083,490 | 88.5 | ||
Invalid | 81,650 | 2.0 | 140,535 | 3.4 | ||
Valid | 4,001,840 | 100.0 | 3,942,955 | 100.0 | 60 | 34 |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 1,556,255 | 38.9 | 1,526,824 | 38.7 | 25th | 19th |
CDU | 1,606,479 | 40.1 | 1,536,956 | 39.0 | 26th | 15th |
FDP | 476,886 | 11.9 | 519.139 | 13.2 | 9 | - |
DFU | 46,259 | 1.2 | 50,380 | 1.3 | - | - |
DG | 2,543 | 0.1 | 4,186 | 0.1 | - | - |
DRP | 59,731 | 1.5 | 63.251 | 1.6 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 253,372 | 6.3 | 242.219 | 6.1 | - | - |
Individual applicants | 315 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 11,085,775 | 100.0 | 11,085,775 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 9,799,429 | 88.4 | 9,799,429 | 88.4 | ||
Invalid | 233.453 | 2.4 | 281.183 | 2.9 | ||
Valid | 9,565,976 | 100.0 | 9,518,246 | 100.0 | 155 | 66 |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 3,593,596 | 37.6 | 3,549,359 | 37.3 | 60 | 25th |
CDU | 4,602,409 | 48.1 | 4,530,553 | 47.6 | 76 | 41 |
FDP | 1,063,302 | 11.1 | 1,118,460 | 11.8 | 19th | - |
DFU | 184,218 | 1.9 | 188,442 | 2.0 | - | - |
DG | 2,299 | 0.0 | 4,369 | 0.0 | - | - |
DRP | 41,851 | 0.4 | 43,932 | 0.5 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 78.105 | 0.8 | 83.131 | 0.9 | - | - |
WGnD | 145 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Individual applicants | 51 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | |||
Eligible voters | 2,348,108 | 100.0 | 2,348,108 | 100.0 | ||
Voters | 2,069,927 | 88.2 | 2,069,927 | 88.2 | ||
Invalid | 69,645 | 3.4 | 99.994 | 4.8 | ||
Valid | 2,000,282 | 100.0 | 1,969,933 | 100.0 | 31 | 15th |
from that: | ||||||
SPD | 675.693 | 33.8 | 659.830 | 33.5 | 11 | 5 |
CDU | 988.462 | 49.4 | 964.270 | 48.9 | 16 | 10 |
FDP | 255.961 | 12.8 | 259,578 | 13.2 | 4th | - |
DFU | 29,260 | 1.5 | 29,867 | 1.5 | - | - |
DG | 1,194 | 0.1 | 1,978 | 0.1 | - | - |
DRP | 42,389 | 2.1 | 44,644 | 2.3 | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 7,323 | 0.4 | 9,766 | 0.5 | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
Overhang mandate |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | ||||
Eligible voters | 714.512 | 100.0 | 714.512 | 100.0 | |||
Voters | 626.817 | 87.7 | 626.817 | 87.7 | |||
Invalid | 35,156 | 5.6 | 47.208 | 7.5 | |||
Valid | 591,661 | 100.0 | 579,609 | 100.0 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
from that: | |||||||
SPD | 198,625 | 33.6 | 194.003 | 33.5 | 3 | - | - |
CDU | 291.936 | 49.3 | 284.255 | 49.0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
FDP | 75,373 | 12.7 | 74,893 | 12.9 | 1 | - | - |
DFU | 18,580 | 3.1 | 18,683 | 3.2 | - | - | - |
DG | 300 | 0.1 | 633 | 0.1 | - | - | - |
DRP | 5,303 | 0.9 | 5,404 | 0.9 | - | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 1,544 | 0.3 | 1,738 | 0.3 | - | - | - |
Subject of evidence |
First votes |
Second votes |
Seats | Direct mandates |
Overhang mandates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | % | number | % | ||||
Eligible voters | 1,626,141 | 100.0 | 1,626,141 | 100.0 | |||
Voters | 1.431.704 | 88.0 | 1.431.704 | 88.0 | |||
Invalid | 32,355 | 2.3 | 68,338 | 4.8 | |||
Valid | 1,399,349 | 100.0 | 1,363,366 | 100.0 | 24 | 14th | 4th |
from that: | |||||||
SPD | 510.160 | 36.5 | 495.728 | 36.4 | 8th | 1 | - |
CDU | 609.048 | 43.5 | 569.216 | 41.8 | 13 | 13 | 4th |
FDP | 174,848 | 12.5 | 188,619 | 13.8 | 3 | - | - |
DFU | 17,399 | 1.2 | 17,951 | 1.3 | - | - | - |
DG | 752 | 0.1 | 1,469 | 0.1 | - | - | - |
DRP | 11,835 | 0.8 | 12.114 | 0.9 | - | - | - |
GDP (DP-BHE) | 50,356 | 3.6 | 52,820 | 3.9 | - | - | - |
SSW | 24,951 | 1.8 | 25,449 | 1.9 | - | - | - |
consequences
For the first time, only three parliamentary groups were represented in the Bundestag. The previously opposition FDP entered into a coalition with the CDU / CSU. Contrary to the previous maxim, she elected Chancellor Adenauer as Federal Chancellor on November 7, 1961, as she was able to assert herself with the demand that he should cede the office to a successor in the same legislative period. Nevertheless, for a long time she was called to have "fallen over". In October 1963, Konrad Adenauer finally resigned as Federal Chancellor, his successor was the popular Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard .
The SPD, on the other hand, managed to attract new groups of voters, for which the new party program and the new candidate were reasons. The SPD was on the way to becoming a People's Party .
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
- ^ Election to the 3rd German Bundestag on September 15, 1957 ( Memento from May 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Result of the election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 32 kB)
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Seats of the parties on September 17, 1961 by country ( Memento of January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 21 kB)
- ↑ Godehard Weyerer: Chancellor on call: 50 years ago Konrad Adenauer was elected Chancellor for the fourth time , calendar sheet of November 7, 2011, Deutschlandfunk
Web links
- Results of the election to the 4th German Bundestag on September 17, 1961 at the Federal Statistical Office
- Bonn. Forming a government: who spoons . In: Der Spiegel . No. 40 , 1961, pp. 25-32 ( online ).
- Map of the results by constituency