2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

← 1995 14 May 2000 2005 →

All 231 seats in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, including 20 overhang and leveling seats
116 seats needed for a majority
Turnout7,409,399 (56.7% Decrease 7.3pp)
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Wolfgang Clement Jürgen Rüttgers
Party SPD CDU
Last election 108 seats, 46.0% 89 seats, 37.7%
Seats won 102 88
Seat change Decrease 6 Decrease 1
Popular vote 3,143,179 2,712,176
Percentage 42.8% 37.0%
Swing Decrease 3.2pp Decrease 0.7pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Jürgen Möllemann Bärbel Höhn
Party FDP Greens
Last election 0 seats, 4.0% 24 seats, 10.0%
Seats won 24 17
Seat change Increase 24 Decrease 7
Popular vote 721,558 518,295
Percentage 9.8% 7.1%
Swing Increase 5.8pp Decrease 2.9pp

Results for the single-member constituencies.

Government before election

First Clement cabinet
SPDGreen

Government after election

Second Clement cabinet
SPDGreen

The 2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election was held on 14 May 2000 to elect the 13th Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. The outgoing government was a coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and The Greens led by Minister-President Wolfgang Clement.

The SPD remained the largest party but declined to 42.8%, its worst result since 1958. However, the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed to capitalise, falling slightly to 37%. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) returned to the Landtag in third place with 10%, while the Greens took losses and recorded 7%. Overall, the incumbent government retained a reduced majority. Minister-President Clement met with FDP lead candidate Jürgen Möllemann post-election, but the SPD settled on renewing the coalition with the Greens. Clement was re-elected by the Landtag on 21 June.