1929 Rhenish general election

General elections were held in the Rhenish Republic on 10 November 1929.
The Christian People's Party (CVP) again emerged as the largest party. Despite suffering the transition of some its 1924 voting base to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and German Conservative Party (DKP), these losses were largely offset by the movement of voters away from the German Centre Party, and the CVP successfully maintained its seat count. The right-wing DKP gained the most, nearly doubling their vote share and winning 14 more seats, largely at the expense of the liberal Democratic Party of Germany (DPD). The SPD also made marginal gains, winning two more seats, while the Rhenish nationalist United Rhenish Movement made similar advances, reflecting a small increase in support for Rhenish separatism. The Centre Party lost more than half their votes and seats, a result that prompted a merge with the CVP in 1930.
The growth of the German nationalist right came in the wake of the May 1925 coup in France, which put in place a right-wing military regime. The ultranationalist sentiments of the French government prompted fears of a loss of autonomy or even outright annexation of the Rhineland, heightened by the annexation without referendum of the neighboring Saar Territory. Although the regime did not end Rhenish parliamentary democracy, it did establish the position of State President, appointed by the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission and invested with the power to dissolve parliament. The anti-French position of the DKP provided a political voice for these sentiments, combined with an increasing radicalization of middle class voters amidst economic downturn partially caused by harsher reparations imposed by France.
Adenauer's incumbent minority government was rendered even more untenable by the result, which saw a net loss of 2 seats for the coalition. Still, the threat of an SPD-DPD coalition was dashed by the DPD's poor result, leaving another Adenauer government as the only viable option. Governing with the DKP was considered off limits, while the SPD was considered an undesirable partner. As with the previous election Adenauer turned to the Democratic Party, this time achieving agreeable terms. Adenauer remained State Chancellor, under his first majority government.
== Parties and leaders==
Party	Party 	Ideology 	Leader
 	Christian People's Party (CVP) 	Christian democracy 	Konrad Adenauer
 	Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Social democracy 	Otto Wels
 	German Conservative Party (DKP) 	Right-wing populism, national conservatism	Max Wallraf
 	Democratic Party of Germany (DPD) 	Liberalism 	Bernhard Falk
 	United Rhenish Movement (VRB) 	Rhenish nationalism 	Hans Adam Dorten
 	German Centre Party (Zentrum) 	Political Catholicism, social conservatism	Rudolf Amelunxen
==Results==
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Party 	Party 	Votes 	% 	Swing	Seats	Change
 	Christian People's Party 	980,935 	41.28	0.35 	63 	0
 	Social Democratic Party of Germany	611,048 	25.72	1.40 	39 	2
 	German Conservative Party 	476,873 	20.07	9.51 	30 	14
 	Democratic Party of Germany 	153,048 	6.44 	9.23 	9 	14
 	United Rhenish Movement 	99,057 	4.17 	1.49 	6 	2
 	German Centre Party 	55,097 	2.32 	2.82 	3 	4
Valid votes 	Valid votes 	2,376,058	99.16	– 	– 	–
Invalid/blank votes 	Invalid/blank votes 	20,130 	0.84 	– 	– 	–
Total 	Total 	2,396,188	100 	– 	150 	–
Registered voters/turnout	Registered voters/turnout 	3,266,333	73.36	1.59 	– 	–
Category:General elections in the Rhenish Republic