The 2017 Saarland state election was held on 26 March 2017 to elect the members of the Landtag of Saarland.^[2][3] The incumbent grand coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Minister-President Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was returned with an increased majority.^[4][5]

Quick Facts All 51 seats in the Landtag of Saarland 26 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

2017 Saarland state election

← 2012 26 March 2017 2022 →
All 51 seats in the Landtag of Saarland 26 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	533,783 (69.7%) 8.1%
First party Second party   Leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer Anke Rehlinger Party CDU SPD Leader since 28 May 2011[1] 18 June 2016 Last election 19 seats, 35.2% 17 seats, 30.6% Seats won 24 17 Seat change 5 0 Popular vote 217,263 158,057 Percentage 40.7% 29.6% Swing 5.5% 1.0%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Oskar Lafontaine Rudolf Müller Party Left AfD Leader since 9 August 2008 16 September 2016 Last election 9 seats, 16.1% Did not exist Seats won 7 3 Seat change 2 3 Popular vote 68,566 32,971 Percentage 12.8% 6.2% Swing 3.3% New party
Government before election Second Kramp-Karrenbauer cabinet CDU–SPD Government after election Third Kramp-Karrenbauer cabinet CDU–SPD

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Even though the Saarland is the second smallest state by population and does not represent Germany as a whole demographically, the election proved to be of pivotal importance to the following state elections and in particular the federal election later that year. Then-SPD leader Martin Schulz led the party to new heights in early 2017 and polls showed the SPD capturing the Minister-President's office in this first election of the year, but the upset CDU victory marked the beginning of a decline in the polls both nationally and in other state elections. This decline culminated in heavy losses for the SPD in Schleswig-Holstein, in North Rhine-Westphalia and, ultimately, in the 2017 German federal election.

The 2012 state election was called after the collapse of the Jamaica coalition of the CDU, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and The Greens. The election saw the collapse of the FDP, a downswing for The Left and Greens, gains for the SPD, and the entry of the Pirates. Afterwards, the CDU and SPD formed a grand coalition.^[6]

The table below lists parties represented in the previous Landtag of Saarland.

Observers were surprised by the CDU's strong performance, as opinion polls predicted a close contest between the CDU and SPD.^[7] After the election, several commentators described the results as a boost for the September 2017 electoral prospects of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the CDU,^[8][9][10] and as a setback for SPD leader Martin Schulz.^[11]

As both the CDU and SPD refused to coalition with AfD, the CDU and SPD coalition reached an agreement to continue governing together after the election.^[12]