The Greens have narrowly won the Baden-Württemberg state election with 30.2 percent, ahead of the CDU with 29.7 percent. Both parties will receive 56 seats each in the state parliament. CDU leader Manuel Hagel offered his resignation after the defeat, which was unanimously rejected by the state executive.
In the Baden-Württemberg state election on Sunday, the Greens under top candidate Cem Özdemir achieved 30.2 percent of the votes, edging out the CDU with 29.7 percent. Both parliamentary groups will have 56 seats each in the new state parliament. The SPD fell to 5.5 percent, its worst result in a state election. The FDP missed the threshold with 4.4 percent, leading to the resignation of state leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke.
Following the narrow defeat, CDU state leader Manuel Hagel offered his resignation. The state executive unanimously rejected the offer, as General Secretary Tobias Vogt announced. "It was clearly, distinctly, and unanimously rejected," Vogt said. Hagel will lead the CDU in government negotiations. The meeting ended with standing ovations for Hagel.
A continuation of the grand coalition between Greens and CDU is seen as the most realistic option. Özdemir emphasized the Greens' claim to governorship and rejected CDU proposals for sharing the term of the minister-president. The CDU accused the Greens of a "dirty campaign" during the election.
The Greens were particularly successful among young voters: 28 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds voted for them, while the CDU only got 16 percent. Experts like political scientist Kilian Hampel attribute this to satisfaction with Green issues such as environmental protection and sustainability.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with SPD leader Bärbel Bas and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil. The election defeats would have no impact on the black-red coalition in Berlin, it was stated.
