Politics of Saarland

The politics of Saarland takes place within a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, where the Federal Government of Germany exercises sovereign rights with certain powers reserved to the states of Germany including Saarland. The state has a multi-party system where the two main parties are the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) on the left and the Christian Democratic Union on the right.

Every five years, all Germans residing in the State over the age of 18 elect the members of the Saarland Landtag. This regional parliament or legislature then elects the Minister-President and confirms the cabinet members.

History pre-1957

League of Nations

The "Territory of the Saar Basin" was governed by the League of Nations under the Treaty of Versailles from 1920 until 1935. The Chairmen of the Commission of Government were:

1920 - 1926: Victor Rault (France)
1926 - 1927 George Washington Stevens (Canada)
1927 - 1932 Sir Ernest Colville Collins Wilton (UK)
1932 - 1935 Sir Geoffrey George Knox (UK)

Nazi Germany

Saarland voted to rejoin Germany in 1935. The German-appointed Reichskommissar were:

1935 - 1944: Josef Bürckel (NSDAP)
1944 - 1945: Willi Stöhr (NSDAP)

Saar protectorate

From 1947 to 1956, Saarland was controlled by France as a protectorate. Elections were held but pro-German parties were banned.

Minister-Presidents in this time were:

1945 - 1946: Hans Neureuther, Leader of the Government under French administration
1946 - 1947: Erwin Müller, Chairman of the Administrative Commission
1947 - 1955: Johannes Hoffmann, CVP
1955 - 1956: Heinrich Welsch (ind)
1956 - 1957: Dr. Hubert Ney, (CDU)

List of Ministers President

Saarland joined the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957. Since then, its Minister-Presidents have been:

1957 - 1959: Egon Reinert, CDU
1959 - 1979: Dr. Franz Josef Röder, CDU
1979 (26 June - 5 July): Werner Klumpp, FDP, interim
1979 - 1985: Werner Zeyer, CDU
1985 - 1998: Oskar Lafontaine, SPD
1998 - 1999: Reinhard Klimmt, SPD
1999 - 2011: Peter Müller, CDU
2011 - 2018: Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, CDU
2018 – 2022: Tobias Hans, CDU
2022-present: Anke Rehlinger, SPD

Landtag of Saarland

Party Strength in Landtag

A darkened box under a party in any given year denotes that the party had either not yet been founded, or the party had become defunct, by the date of that election.

Prior to joining Germany

Since joining the Federal Republic of Germany