It was the clearest result of yesterday’s super election day in Germany: Manuela Schwesig (SPD) won her first election as Prime Minister in the northeast German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The former Federal Minister for Family Affairs, who has been head of government in Schwerin since 2017, achieved 38.3 percent according to projections – an increase of 7.7 percentage points.
In a first reaction, Schwesig spoke of a “wonderful evening for our country” and of a “very moving result for myself”. The 47-year-old was also alluding to her cancer, which she only got over a few months ago.
By contrast, the right-wing AfD (18 percent) and the CDU were punished by the 1.3 million eligible voters. The conservatives fell by almost five percentage points to just 14.3 percent. This is the worst result since reunification in 1990. CDU top candidate Michael Sack spoke of a “catastrophic evening”.
Red and black continuation
Nevertheless, the previous red-black coalition in the Schwerin state parliament could be continued. Schwesig’s SPD and Sacks CDU have 40 out of a total of 71 seats in the new state parliament. A coalition of the SPD and the Left Party or an alliance of three parties would also be possible. Because the Greens and also the FDP made it back to the state parliament after a long break.
Prime Minister Schwesig left her coalition preference open on election evening – and she referred to the party committees that will meet today. “We’ll see who we’re going to talk to.”
The head of government, who promised yesterday that she would stay in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for the full legislative period, formulated three points for forming a coalition in several television interviews. “Firstly, I am striving for a stable majority, secondly, I want to advance as many SPD issues as possible, and thirdly, I want a reliable partner.”
At the helm in Schwerin since 2017
Manuela Schwesig took over the State Chancellery in 2017 in the current legislative period from her predecessor and sponsor Erwin Sellering. The popular country father had to take a long break because of cancer. The current election campaign of the northeast SPD was tailored entirely to Schwesig. The Prime Minister was referred to as “Frau fr MV” on the election posters, and there was no SPD party logo on it. It also published its own magazine called “Manu”. (shoe)
