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The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.
The state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate in spring 2026 will be an initial test for the federal government to gauge the mood in the country. At the same time, both elections are characterised by state-specific issues and a similar starting position. This is because in both states, the long-standing heads of government, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) and Malu Dreyer (SPD), are no longer standing for election. The elections promise to be exciting, as the incumbent's advantage is likely to be less significant and, according to current polls, a change of government appears possible.
These topics will be addressed on 12 February from 12:00 to 13:00 in an online discussion as part of the DVPW series ‘Politics in Conversation’, which is aimed primarily at journalists and interested experts. Among other things, the following questions will be discussed: What can be expected from the state elections, which issues will dominate, which coalition options are emerging, and what implications could this have for the federal government or the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?
The following renowned experts will participate in the discussion:
Prof. Dr Marc Debus, Professor of Political Science, Comparative Government, University of Mannheim.
Prof. Dr. Manuela Glaab, Professor of Political Science with a focus on the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University, Landau in der Pfalz.
Prof. Dr. Uwe Jun, Professor of Political Science, specialising in the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, University of Trier.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Kropp, Professor of Political Science, Centre for the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany, Free University of Berlin.
The discussion will be moderated by DVPW board member Prof. Dr. Georg Wenzelburger, Professor of Political Science with a focus on comparative European studies at Saarland University. His research focuses, for example, on how political content is developed at different political levels, which issues political actors and political parties address, and how they compete with each other. He is also interested in how certain events and emotions influence citizens' voting decisions. Professor Georg Wenzelburger is available to the media as an expert for enquiries relating to the state elections and this event.
Registration for the event is possible until 10 February 2026 via the following portal: https://meine.dvpw.de/. Registration on the portal is easy and free of charge, even for non-members. Journalists can also register for the event by emailing the DVPW office (buero@dvpw.de).
Political Science in Conversation on 12 February 2026
12:00-13:00, online
‘Elections in the Southwest – between state issues and a stress test for the federal government?’
Political science analyses of the state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate
https://www.dvpw.de/veranstaltungen/politikwissenschaft-im-gespraech
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Georg Wenzelburger
Politikwissenschaft mit Schwerpunkt komparative Europaforschung
Tel.: +49 681 302-71222
E-Mail: georg.wenzelburger(at)uni-saarland.de
https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/wenzelburger.html
