The 2003 Lower Saxony state election was held on 2 February 2003 to elect the members of the 15th Landtag of Lower Saxony. The incumbent Social Democratic Party (SPD) majority government led by Minister-President Sigmar Gabriel was defeated. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came up one seat short of a majority, and formed a coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP). CDU leader Christian Wulff was subsequently elected minister-president.

Quick Facts All 183 seats in the Landtag of Lower Saxony 92 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

2003 Lower Saxony state election

← 1998 2 February 2003 2008 →
All 183 seats in the Landtag of Lower Saxony 92 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	3,984,009 (67.0%) 6.8%
First party Second party   Leader Christian Wulff Sigmar Gabriel Party CDU SPD Last election 62 seats, 35.9% 83 seats, 47.9% Seats won 91 63 Seat change 29 20 Popular vote 1,925,055 1,330,156 Percentage 48.3% 33.4% Swing 12.4% 14.5%   Third party Fourth party   Party FDP Greens Last election 0 seats, 4.9% 12 seats, 7.0% Seats won 15 14 Seat change 15 2 Popular vote 323,107 304,532 Percentage 8.1% 7.6% Swing 3.2% 0.6%
Results for the single-member constituencies
Minister-President before election Sigmar Gabriel SPD Elected Minister-President Christian Wulff CDU

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The election in Lower Saxony had larger significance than just in the state itself.^[1] Defeat for the Social Democrats in the election would mean they lost their slim majority in the upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat.^[1] It was thought this might cause the collapse of Gerhard Schröder's national coalition government between the Social Democrats and the Green Party.^[1]

The economy was seen as the most important issue in the election, with the Social Democrats suffering as a result.^[2]

Opinion polls in December 2002 showed the Christian Democrats in the lead with 43% as against 34% for the Social Democrats.^[3]

The table below lists parties represented in the 14th Landtag of Lower Saxony.