# 2006 Berlin state election

The 2006 Berlin state election was held on 17 September 2006 to elect the members of the 16th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin. The incumbent government of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) narrowly retained a majority, though PDS suffered major losses. Mayor Klaus Wowereit continued in office.

## Parties

The table below lists parties represented in the previous, 15th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin.
| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Leader(s) | 2001 result | 2001 result |
| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Leader(s) | Votes (%) | Seats |
| | SPD | Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands | Social democracy | Klaus Wowereit | 29.7% | 44 / 141 |
| | CDU | Christian Democratic Union of Germany Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands | Christian democracy | Friedbert Pflüger | 23.8% | 35 / 141 |
| | PDS | Party of Democratic Socialism Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus | Democratic socialism | Harald Wolf | 22.6% | 33 / 141 |
| | FDP | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei | Classical liberalism | Martin Lindner | 9.9% | 15 / 141 |
| | Grüne | Alliance 90/The Greens Bündnis 90/Die Grünen | Green politics | Franziska Eichstädt-Bohlig | 9.1% | 14 / 141 |

## Opinion polling

| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | SPD | CDU | PDS | FDP | Grüne | WASG | Others | Lead |
| 2006 state election | 17 Sep 2006 | – | 30.8 | 21.3 | 13.4 | 7.6 | 13.1 | 2.9 | 10.8 | 9.5 |
| Emnid | 4–7 Sep 2006 | 1,001 | 33 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| Forsa | 4–7 Sep 2006 | 1,001 | 31 | 20 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 11 |
| Forschungsgruppe Wahlen | 4–7 Sep 2006 | 1,027 | 32 | 22 | 17 | 8 | 13 | – | 8 | 10 |
| Infratest dimap | 4–6 Sep 2006 | 1,000 | 33 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| Emnid | 21–24 Aug 2006 | 1,000 | 33 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Infratest dimap | 18–22 Aug 2006 | 1,000 | 32 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Forsa | 7–17 Aug 2006 | 1,001 | 32 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| Emnid | 31 Jul–3 Aug 2006 | 1,000 | 32 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| Infratest dimap | 31 Jul–2 Aug 2006 | 1,000 | 35 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 13 | – | 6 | 12 |
| Forsa | 10–20 Jul 2006 | 1,002 | 30 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 16 | – | 6 | 9 |
| Emnid | 26–29 Jun 2006 | 1,005 | 34 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| Forsa | 12–22 Jun 2006 | 1,002 | 33 | 24 | 15 | 8 | 14 | – | 6 | 9 |
| Emnid | 29 May–1 Jun 2006 | 1,006 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| Forsa | 2–11 May 2006 | 1,001 | 32 | 26 | 15 | 6 | 14 | – | 7 | 6 |
| Emnid | 2–4 May 2006 | 1,008 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| Forsa | 3–12 Apr 2006 | 1,001 | 32 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 16 | – | 8 | 8 |
| Emnid | 27–29 Mar 2006 | 750 | 34 | 26 | 15 | 7 | 12 | – | 6 | 8 |
| Forsa | 6–16 Mar 2006 | 1,001 | 33 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Emnid | 27 Feb–1 Mar 2006 | 1,000 | 37 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| Forsa | 13–16 Feb 2006 | 1,003 | 36 | 25 | 13 | 6 | 14 | – | 6 | 11 |
| Emnid | 6–8 Feb 2006 | 1,000 | 35 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
| Forsa | 16–19 Jan 2006 | 1,000 | 34 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 15 | – | 5 | 11 |
| Forsa | 12–15 Dec 2005 | 1,001 | 35 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 14 | – | 6 | 14 |
| Forsa | 7–10 Nov 2005 | 1,002 | 39 | 19 | 16 | 8 | 13 | – | 5 | 20 |
| Forsa | 10–13 Oct 2005 | 1,002 | 34 | 20 | 17 | 5 | 15 | – | 6 | 14 |
| Forsa | 5–8 Sep 2005 | ~1,000 | 31 | 28 | 16 | 6 | 13 | – | 6 | 3 |
| Emnid | 4 Sep 2005 | ? | 32 | 25 | 18 | 6 | 15 | – | 4 | 7 |
| Infratest dimap | 11–15 Aug 2005 | 1,000 | 29 | 27 | 18 | 7 | 15 | – | 4 | 2 |
| Forsa | 8–11 Aug 2005 | 1,000 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 20 | – | 7 | 3 |
| Emnid | 31 Jul 2005 | ? | 26 | 29 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Forsa | 16 Jul 2005 | ? | 28 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 6 | Tie |
| Emnid | 2 Jul 2005 | ? | 27 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Forsa | 6–9 Jun 2005 | 1,001 | 30 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 16 | – | 8 | 5 |
| Infratest dimap | 6–7 Jun 2005 | 1,000 | 26 | 30 | 17 | 9 | 13 | – | 5 | 4 |
| Emnid | 4 Jun 2005 | ? | 31 | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | – | 5 | 1 |
| Forsa | 9–12 May 2005 | 1,005 | 32 | 27 | 12 | 6 | 16 | – | 7 | 5 |
| Emnid | 30 Apr 2005 | ? | 28 | 29 | 14 | 6 | 18 | – | 5 | 1 |
| Forsa | 11–14 Apr 2005 | 1,000 | 29 | 29 | 12 | 7 | 15 | – | 8 | Tie |
| Emnid | 4 Apr 2005 | 754 | 29 | 29 | 13 | 8 | 16 | – | 5 | Tie |
| Forsa | 7–10 Mar 2005 | 1,003 | 29 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 15 | – | 8 | 1 |
| Emnid | 6 Mar 2005 | ? | 29 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 18 | – | 5 | 3 |
| Forsa | 7–10 Feb 2005 | 1,004 | 29 | 27 | 14 | 7 | 15 | – | 8 | 2 |
| Emnid | 30 Jan 2005 | ? | 31 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 17 | – | 5 | 4 |
| Forsa | 18 Jan 2005 | ? | 29 | 26 | 15 | 7 | 16 | – | 7 | 3 |
| Emnid | 9 Jan 2005 | 750 | 30 | 27 | 13 | 8 | 17 | – | 5 | 3 |
| Forsa | 13–16 Dec 2004 | 1,003 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 7 | 15 | – | 7 | Tie |
| Emnid | 5 Dec 2004 | ? | 27 | 29 | 13 | 7 | 18 | – | 6 | 2 |
| Forsa | 20 Nov 2004 | ? | 28 | 26 | 15 | 7 | 17 | – | 7 | 2 |
| Emnid | 31 Oct 2004 | ? | 27 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 19 | – | 6 | 1 |
| Forsa | 11–14 Oct 2004 | 1,000 | 26 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 17 | – | 8 | 1 |
| Emnid | 2 Oct 2004 | ? | 24 | 27 | 15 | 7 | 21 | – | 6 | 3 |
| Forsa | 6–9 Sep 2004 | 1,004 | 22 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 18 | – | 9 | 6 |
| Forsa | 9–12 Aug 2004 | 1,004 | 17 | 30 | 17 | 8 | 18 | – | 10 | 12 |
| Emnid | July 2004 | 750 | 22 | 31 | 14 | 6 | 21 | – | 6 | 9 |
| Forsa | 12–15 Jul 2004 | 1,003 | 18 | 29 | 15 | 8 | 21 | – | 9 | 8 |
| Emnid | 4 Jul 2004 | ? | 22 | 32 | 15 | 6 | 18 | – | 7 | 10 |
| Forsa | 14–17 Jun 2004 | 1,000 | 20 | 30 | 16 | 5 | 19 | – | 10 | 10 |
| Emnid | 30 May 2004 | 750 | 24 | 36 | 13 | 6 | 15 | – | 6 | 12 |
| Forsa | 7–13 May 2004 | 1,005 | 24 | 33 | 14 | 5 | 16 | – | 8 | 9 |
| Emnid | 2 May 2004 | ? | 22 | 36 | 12 | 6 | 17 | – | 7 | 14 |
| Forsa | 13 Apr 2004 | ? | 21 | 35 | 14 | 5 | 16 | – | 9 | 14 |
| Emnid | 4 Apr 2004 | 757 | 21 | 34 | 13 | 6 | 19 | – | 7 | 13 |
| Forsa | 8–11 Mar 2004 | 1,007 | 20 | 34 | 14 | 5 | 18 | – | 9 | 14 |
| Emnid | 23–25 Feb 2004 | 750 | 22 | 35 | 11 | 7 | 19 | – | 6 | 13 |
| Forsa | 9–12 Feb 2004 | 1,005 | 21 | 33 | 14 | 9 | 16 | – | 7 | 12 |
| Forsa | 31 Jan 2004 | ? | 23 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 18 | – | 5 | 11 |
| Forsa | 12–15 Dec 2003 | 1,000 | 20 | 34 | 15 | 7 | 17 | – | 7 | 14 |
| Emnid | 28 Dec 2003 | 759 | 24 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 17 | – | 5 | 12 |
| Forsa | 5–11 Dec 2003 | 1,008 | 21 | 33 | 15 | 7 | 17 | – | 7 | 12 |
| Infratest dimap | 1–3 Dec 2003 | 1,000 | 25 | 33 | 15 | 7 | 16 | – | 4 | 8 |
| Emnid | 30 Nov 2003 | ? | 25 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 17 | – | 6 | 7 |
| Forsa | 7–13 Nov 2003 | 1,007 | 25 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 15 | – | 6 | 8 |
| Emnid | 2 Nov 2003 | 752 | 24 | 33 | 11 | 7 | 18 | – | 7 | 9 |
| Forsa | 20 Oct 2003 | ? | 28 | 31 | 12 | 6 | 16 | – | 7 | 3 |
| Emnid | 28 Sep 2003 | ? | 26 | 33 | 11 | 6 | 18 | – | 6 | 7 |
| Forsa | 2–10 Sep 2003 | 1,001 | 31 | 33 | 10 | 6 | 15 | – | 5 | 2 |
| Emnid | 31 Aug 2003 | ? | 29 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 18 | – | 6 | 1 |
| Infratest dimap | 22–26 Aug 2003 | 1,000 | 29 | 30 | 15 | 8 | 13 | – | 5 | 1 |
| Forsa | 7–13 Aug 2003 | 1,004 | 31 | 29 | 11 | 7 | 16 | – | 6 | 2 |
| Emnid | 3 Aug 2003 | ? | 28 | 31 | 11 | 7 | 18 | – | 5 | 3 |
| Forsa | 19 Jul 2003 | ? | 30 | 30 | 12 | 8 | 16 | – | 4 | Tie |
| Emnid | 29 Jun 2003 | ? | 28 | 31 | 11 | 7 | 19 | – | 4 | 3 |
| Forsa | 3–11 Jun 2003 | 1,031 | 30 | 28 | 13 | 8 | 17 | – | 4 | 2 |
| Emnid | 1 Jun 2003 | ? | 31 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 18 | – | 5 | 2 |
| Forsa | 8–15 May 2003 | 1,002 | 31 | 27 | 12 | 8 | 17 | – | 5 | 4 |
| Emnid | 27 Apr 2003 | ? | 32 | 28 | 9 | 8 | 19 | – | 4 | 4 |
| Forsa | 4–10 Apr 2003 | 1,001 | 28 | 32 | 9 | 8 | 19 | – | 4 | 4 |
| Emnid | 30 Mar 2003 | ? | 32 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 19 | – | 3 | 3 |
| Forsa | 15 Feb 2003 | ? | 25 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 17 | – | 6 | 7 |
| Emnid | 2 Feb 2003 | 751 | 28 | 33 | 10 | 6 | 19 | – | 5 | 5 |
| Emnid | 29 Dec 2002 | 750 | 29 | 32 | 10 | 8 | 18 | – | 4 | 3 |
| Emnid | 1 Dec 2002 | 750 | 26 | 35 | 10 | 6 | 18 | – | 5 | 9 |
| Forsa | 18–21 Nov 2002 | 1,001 | 31 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 16 | – | 5 | 3 |
| Emnid | 7–10 Oct 2002 | 753 | 39 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 14 | – | 4 | 12 |
| Emnid | September 2002 | 753 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 12 | – | 3 | 12 |
| Forsa | 5–8 Aug 2002 | 1,007 | 36 | 25 | 13 | 10 | 11 | – | 5 | 11 |
| Emnid | 8–10 Jul 2002 | 750 | 31 | 27 | 16 | 9 | 13 | – | 4 | 4 |
| Forsa | 13 Jul 2002 | ? | 34 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 10 | – | 5 | 10 |
| Emnid | 12–18 Jun 2002 | 750 | 32 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 12 | – | 4 | 4 |
| Forsa | 16 May 2002 | ? | 30 | 26 | 19 | 9 | 11 | – | 5 | 4 |
| Forsa | 28 Apr 2002 | ? | 32 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 10 | – | 4 | 6 |
| Infratest dimap | 15–18 Apr 2002 | 1,000 | 30 | 27 | 20 | 9 | 10 | – | 4 | 3 |
| Forsa | 31 Mar 2002 | ? | 32 | 24 | 20 | 8 | 10 | – | 6 | 8 |
| Forsa | 3 Mar 2002 | ? | 30 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 10 | – | 6 | 7 |
| Forsa | 27 Jan 2002 | ? | 29 | 26 | 23 | 6 | 11 | – | 5 | 3 |
| Forsa | 9 Dec 2001 | ? | 31 | 25 | 23 | 7 | 9 | – | 5 | 6 |
| 2001 state election | 21 Oct 2001 | – | 29.7 | 23.8 | 22.6 | 9.9 | 9.1 | – | 4.9 | 5.9 |

## Election result

Summary of the 17 September 2006 election results for the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– |
| | Social Democratic Party (SPD) | 424,054 | 30.79 | +1.1 | 53 | +9 |
| | Christian Democratic Union (CDU) | 294,026 | 21.35 | -2.5 | 37 | +2 |
| | Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) | 185,185 | 13.44 | -9.2 | 23 | -10 |
| | Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) | 180,865 | 13.13 | +4.0 | 23 | +9 |
| | Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 104,584 | 7.59 | -2.3 | 13 | -2 |
| | The Grays – Gray Panthers (Graue) | 52,884 | 3.84 | +2.4 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Labour and Social Justice – The Electoral Alternative (WASG) | 40,504 | 2.94 | New | 0 | New |
| | National Democratic Party (NPD) | 35,229 | 2.56 | +1.7 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 60,024 | 4.36 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Total | Total | 1,377,355 | 100.00 | – | 149 | – |
Popular Vote
SPD
30.79%
CDU
21.35%
PDS
13.44%
B'90/GRÜNE
13.13%
FDP
7.59%
Other
13.70% :
Abgeordnetenhaus seats
SPD
35.57%
CDU
24.83%
PDS
15.44%
B'90/GRÜNE
15.44%
FDP
8.72% :