Cablegate: Spd Wins Berlin Election; Outcome Reflects Local

VZCZCXRO5970
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHRL #2748 2611217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181217Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5305
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BERLIN 002748

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV GM
SUBJECT: SPD WINS BERLIN ELECTION; OUTCOME REFLECTS LOCAL
FACTORS

REF: BERLIN 2546

1. (U) As widely expected, Berlin's SPD won the Sept. 17
state election, taking 30.9 percent of the vote, up slightly
since the 2001 election. The SPD will have the option of
forming a government with either the Left Party.PDS or the
Greens, both of which took just over 13 percent of the vote.
Either coalition will have only a one-vote majority in the
Berlin legislature. Before the election, Mayor Wowereit
(SPD) had indicated a preference for renewing the coalition
with the Left Party.PDS. The conservative Christian
Democrats, led by Defense State Secretary Friedbert Pflueger,
performed poorly, taking only 21.2 percent, down slightly
from 2001. Likewise, the liberal Free Democrats also lost
votes, taking only 7.6 percent.

2. (U) The poll was marked by a very low turnout of only 59
percent of voters and by the high percent of the vote (nearly
14) given to parties which did not clear the 5 percent hurdle
for entry into parliament. The latter enables the SPD to
gain a majority of seats with either the LP.PDS or Greens,
despite having under 45 percent of the popular vote with
either party. In addition, the far-right NPD performed
slightly better than expected, gaining seats in four Berlin
district assemblies, including one in the west.

3. (U) Comment: Though the NPD performed slightly better than
expected in some districts, city-wide the party fell far
below the five percent hurdle for election to the state
parliament. The election should also not be seen as a
referendum on the national government or Chancellor Merkel.
Local factors, especially CDU internal weaknesses and the CDU
mayoral candidate's lack of personal appeal, more than
account for the CDU's poor result. End Comment.
TIMKEN JR

© Scoop Media