General election 1976

← 1972Election to the
8th Bundestag in 19761980 →

(Second votes)

%

50

40

30th

20th

10

0

48.6

42.6

7.9

0.9

union

SPD

FDP

Otherwise.

Gains and losses

compared to 1972

% p

4th

2

0

-2

-4

+3.7

-3.2

-0.5

± 0.0

union

SPD

FDP

Otherwise.

A total of 518 seats

SPD : 224
CDU / CSU : 254
FDP : 40

Helmut Schmidt during an interview on election night

The 1976 Bundestag election took place on October 3, 1976. The election to the 8th German Bundestag was the first after the resignation of Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt ( SPD ) in May 1974 and thus the first practical test for his successor Helmut Schmidt . The SPD lost first place to the Union parties , but the social-liberal coalition of the SPD and FDP maintained an absolute majority and was continued.

background

The CDU Chairman and Prime Minister of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate , Helmut Kohl , stood for the Union parties .

Despite an increase in votes for the Union parties, which led to an almost absolute majority, the social-liberal coalition was able to assert itself, but the SPD lost its position as the strongest parliamentary group .

The SPD took part in the election campaign under the motto Model Germany , while the CDU put up posters such as “safe, social and free”.

The reduction of the age of majority from 21 to 18 on January 1, 1975 meant that the minimum age for the right to stand for election to the Bundestag fell from 21 to 18, because this is legally linked to the age of majority.

Official end result

Result of the federal election on October 3, 1976
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats¹	±	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats¹	±	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	42,058,015	100.0	42,058,015	100.0
Voters	38.165.753	90.7	38.165.753	90.7
Invalid	470.109	1.2	343.253	0.9
Valid	37,695,644	100.0	37,822,500	100.0	496 (22)	0	248
from that:
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	16,471,321	43.7	16,099,019	42.6	214 (10)	- 16	114
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)	14.423.157	38.3	14,367,302	38.0	190 (11)	+ 13	94
Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU)	4,008,514	10.6	4,027,499	10.6	53	+ 5	40
Free Democratic Party (FDP)	2,417,683	6.4	2,995,085	7.9	39 (1)	- 2nd	-
Action Group Independent Germans (AUD)	19,490	0.1	22,202	0.1	-	-	-
Action Group Fourth Party (AVP)	2,636	0.0	4,723	0.0	-	-	-
Christian Bavarian People's Party (CBV)	4,876	0.0	6,720	0.0	-	-	-
German Communist Party (DKP)	170,855	0.5	118,581	0.3	-	-	-
European Workers Party (EAP)	3,177	0.0	6,811	0.0	-	-	-
5% block	985	0.0	2,940	0.0	-	-	-
International Marxists Group (GIM)	2,037	0.0	4,759	0.0	-	-	-
Communist Party of Germany (KPD)	8,822	0.0	22,714	0.1	-	-	-
Communist Federation of West Germany (KBW)	21,414	0.1	20,018	0.1	-	-	-
National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD)	136.028	0.4	122,661	0.3	-	-	-
Independent Workers Party (UAP)	499	0.0	765	0.0	-	-	-
United Left (VL)	217	0.0	701	0.0	-	-	-
Law and Freedom Party (RFP)	227	0.0	-	-	-	-	-
Groups of voters / individual applicants	3,706	0.0	-	-	-	-	-

¹ in brackets: number of Berlin Bundestag members elected on the same day by the Berlin House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote

Results in the federal states

Result of the 1976 federal election in Baden-Württemberg
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	6,118,464	100.0	6,118,464	100.0
Voters	5,452,370	89.1	5,452,370	89.1
Invalid	67,844	1.2	46,836	0.9
Valid	5,384,526	100.0	5,405,534	100.0	71	36
from that:
SPD	2,060,398	38.3	1,980,313	36.6	26th	4th
CDU	2,887,782	53.6	2,882,365	53.3	38	32
FDP	375.122	7.0	489,661	9.1	7th	-
AUD	8,746	0.2	7,509	0.1	-	-
DKP	19,147	0.4	12,524	0.2	-	-
EAP	163	0.0	978	0.0	-	-
5% BLOCK	166	0.0	-	-	-	-
GIM	1,100	0.0	2,050	0.0	-	-
KPD	772	0.0	2,881	0.1	-	-
KBW	4,626	0.1	3,842	0.1	-	-
NPD	25,201	0.5	23,411	0.4	-	-
Individual applicants	1,303	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Bavaria
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	7,547,820	100.0	7,547,820	100.0
Voters	6,764,839	89.6	6,764,839	89.6
Invalid	82,213	1.2	51,144	0.8
Valid	6,682,626	100.0	6,713,695	100.0	88	44
from that:
SPD	2,249,609	33.7	2,201,692	32.8	29	4th
CSU	4,008,514	60.0	4,027,499	60.0	53	40
FDP	353.354	5.3	419.335	6.2	6th	-
AUD	6,571	0.1	5,242	0.1	-	-
AVP	-	-	1,777	0.0	-	-
CBV	4,876	0.1	6,720	0.1	-	-
DKP	21,452	0.3	13,511	0.2	-	-
EAP	446	0.0	1,283	0.0	-	-
5% BLOCK	707	0.0	2,940	0.0	-	-
GIM	104	0.0	-	-	-	-
KPD	2,376	0.0	4,611	0.1	-	-
NPD	34,617	0.5	29,085	0.4	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Bremen
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	528.346	100.0	528.346	100.0
Voters	475,582	90.0	475,582	90.0
Invalid	3,474	0.7	2,594	0.5
Valid	472.108	100.0	472,988	100.0	5	3
from that:
SPD	256.721	54.4	255.544	54.0	3	3
CDU	154,642	32.8	153,842	32.5	2	-
FDP	51,656	10.9	55.903	11.8	-	-
AUD	148	0.0	-	-	-	-
AVP	-	-	117	0.0	-	-
DKP	4,498	1.0	3,593	0.8	-	-
EAP	242	0.1	189	0.0	-	-
KPD	515	0.1	584	0.1	-	-
KBW	2,022	0.4	1,647	0.3	-	-
NPD	1,664	0.4	1,569	0.3	-	-

Result of the 1976 Bundestag election in Hamburg
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	1,287,473	100.0	1,287,473	100.0
Voters	1,173,082	91.1	1,173,082	91.1
Invalid	6,661	0.6	4,995	0.4
Valid	1,166,421	100.0	1,168,087	100.0	14th	8th
from that:
SPD	632.991	54.3	614.284	52.6	8th	8th
CDU	420,932	36.1	418.994	35.9	5	-
FDP	94,599	8.1	118,969	10.2	1	-
AUD	802	0.1	831	0.1	-	-
DKP	11,650	1.0	9,028	0.8	-	-
EAP	126	0.0	226	0.0	-	-
GIM	359	0.0	939	0.1	-	-
KPD	1,055	0.1	1,143	0.1	-	-
KBW	1,193	0.1	949	0.1	-	-
NPD	2.714	0.2	2,724	0.2	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Hessen
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	3,899,454	100.0	3,899,454	100.0
Voters	3,585,275	91.9	3,585,275	91.9
Invalid	41,244	1.2	27.273	0.8
Valid	3,544,031	100.0	3,558,002	100.0	47	22nd
from that:
SPD	1,660,580	46.9	1,626,365	45.7	22nd	17th
CDU	1,597,948	45.1	1,593,695	44.8	21st	5
FDP	244.232	6.9	300,864	8.5	4th	-
AUD	-	-	2.113	0.1	-	-
AVP	416	0.0	619	0.0	-	-
DKP	22,157	0.6	15,732	0.4	-	-
EAP	452	0.0	731	0.0	-	-
GIM	134	0.0	-	-	-	-
KPD	822	0.0	2,568	0.1	-	-
KBW	3,908	0.1	3,327	0.1	-	-
NPD	12,797	0.4	11,988	0.3	-	-
Individual applicants	585	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Lower Saxony
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	5,205,680	100.0	5,205,680	100.0
Voters	4,757,376	91.4	4,757,376	91.4
Invalid	109,778	2.3	98,398	2.1
Valid	4,647,598	100.0	4,658,978	100.0	62	30th
from that:
SPD	2,182,156	47.0	2,129,502	45.7	29	18th
CDU	2,147,647	46.2	2,129,143	45.7	28	12
FDP	283,448	6.1	369,526	7.9	5	-
AUD	434	0.0	-	-	-	-
DKP	16,055	0.3	11,232	0.2	-	-
EAP	493	0.0	1,165	0.0	-	-
GIM	197	0.0	-	-	-	-
KPD	410	0.0	2,297	0.0	-	-
KBW	4,544	0.1	3,979	0.1	-	-
NPD	12,128	0.3	12.134	0.3	-	-
Individual applicants	86	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in North Rhine-Westphalia
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	12,118,533	100.0	12,118,533	100.0
Voters	11,066,546	91.3	11,066,546	91.3
Invalid	107.261	1.0	76,984	0.7
Valid	10,959,285	100.0	10,989,562	100.0	148	73
from that:
SPD	5,251,009	47.9	5,153,959	46.9	70	45
CDU	4,907,990	44.8	4,892,278	44.5	66	28
FDP	703.914	6.4	860.331	7.8	12	-
AUD	1,299	0.0	4,928	0.0	-	-
AVP	2.015	0.0	1,786	0.0	-	-
DKP	56,610	0.5	38.176	0.3	-	-
EAP	1,019	0.0	1,428	0.0	-	-
5% BLOCK	112	0.0	-	-	-	-
GIM	143	0.0	1,770	0.0	-	-
KPD	2,426	0.0	6,179	0.1	-	-
KBW	3,038	0.0	3,903	0.0	-	-
NPD	27,243	0.2	23,358	0.2	-	-
UAP	499	0.0	765	0.0	-	-
VL	217	0.0	701	0.0	-	-
RFP	227	0.0	-	-	-	-
Individual applicants	1,524	0.0	-	-	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Rhineland-Palatinate
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	2,676,890	100.0	2,676,890	100.0
Voters	2,448,946	91.5	2,448,946	91.5
Invalid	27,477	1.1	19,693	0.8
Valid	2,421,469	100.0	2,429,253	100.0	31	16
from that:
SPD	1,026,588	42.4	1,013,574	41.7	13	6th
CDU	1,214,976	50.2	1.211.208	49.9	16	10
FDP	157,468	6.5	183,575	7.6	2	-
AUD	127	0.0	-	-	-	-
AVP	118	0.0	-	-	-	-
DKP	9,525	0.4	6,627	0.3	-	-
EAP	236	0.0	811	0.0	-	-
KPD	261	0.0	1,618	0.1	-	-
KBW	994	0.0	1,046	0.0	-	-
NPD	11,176	0.5	10,794	0.4	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Saarland
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	811,322	100.0	811,322	100.0
Voters	753.786	92.9	753.786	92.9
Invalid	9,832	1.3	7,471	1.0
Valid	743,954	100.0	746.315	100.0	8th	5
from that:
SPD	347,668	46.7	344.187	46.1	4th	3
CDU	345.938	46.5	344,850	46.2	4th	2
FDP	41,883	5.6	49,299	6.6	-	-
AUD	423	0.1	491	0.1	-	-
AVP	-	-	183	0.0	-	-
DKP	4,499	0.6	4,054	0.5	-	-
NPD	3,543	0.5	3,251	0.4	-	-

Result of the 1976 federal election in Schleswig-Holstein
Subject of evidence	First votes		Second votes		Seats	Direct mandates
Subject of evidence	number	%	number	%	Seats	Direct mandates
Eligible voters	1,864,033	100.0	1,864,033	100.0
Voters	1,687,951	90.6	1,687,951	90.6
Invalid	14,325	0.8	7,865	0.5
Valid	1,673,626	100.0	1,680,086	100.0	22nd	11
from that:
SPD	803.601	48.0	779,599	46.4	10	6th
CDU	745.302	44.5	740.927	44.1	10	5
FDP	112.007	6.7	147,622	8.8	2	-
AUD	940	0.1	1,088	0.1	-	-
AVP	87	0.0	241	0.0	-	-
DKP	5,262	0.3	4,104	0.2	-	-
KPD	185	0.0	833	0.0	-	-
KBW	1,089	0.1	1,325	0.1	-	-
NPD	4,945	0.3	4,347	0.3	-	-
Individual applicants	208	0.0	-	-	-	-

First majority in the constituencies:

SPD

CDU / CSU

consequence

TV interview with Helmut Kohl

Helmut Schmidt was re-elected as Federal Chancellor with the votes of the social-liberal coalition in the Bundestag. Helmut Kohl moved to Bonn as the opposition leader of the CDU / CSU, he resigned his office as Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, and in addition to the party chairmanship he took over the chairmanship of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group .

The previous opposition leader, Karl Carstens , was first elected as the new President of the Bundestag and in 1979 as Federal President.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Election to the 8th German Bundestag on October 3, 1976 ( Memento from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
^ Election to the 7th German Bundestag on November 19, 1972 ( Memento from January 30, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer
↑ Advertising slogan on HDG.de
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Result of the election to the 8th German Bundestag on October 3, 1976 by country ( Memento of July 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 48 kB)
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Seats of the parties on October 3, 1976 by country ( Memento of February 6, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 21 kB)

Web links

Commons : Bundestag election 1976 - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Results of the election to the 8th German Bundestag on October 3, 1976 at the Federal Statistical Office
Coalition: "Now we have to do something" . In: Der Spiegel . No. 42 , 1976, pp. 21st ff . ( Online - Oct. 11, 1976 ).

[Wahl_1976-1] Election to the 8th German Bundestag on October 3, 1976 ( Memento from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer

[Wahl_1965-2] Election to the 7th German Bundestag on November 19, 1972 ( Memento from January 30, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) The Federal Returning Officer

[3] Advertising slogan on HDG.de

[Länder-4] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Result of the election to the 8th German Bundestag on October 3, 1976 by country ( Memento of July 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 48 kB)

[Sitze-5] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Seats of the parties on October 3, 1976 by country ( Memento of February 6, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) (XLS; 21 kB)