The state parliament in Mainz elected Gordon Schnieder (CDU) as the new Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate. The 48-year-old received 63 yes votes, as reported by Tagesschau. This ends the CDU’s 35-year opposition period in the state.
The new coalition of CDU and SPD together holds 71 of the 105 seats. Schnieder missed the coalition’s vote count by eight in the secret ballot – a common phenomenon in government formations, as previously seen in Baden-Württemberg with Cem Özdemir (Greens).
The state parliament had convened on May 18, the Constitution Day of Rhineland-Palatinate. Age President Christian Baldauf (CDU) opened the session at 11 a.m. Subsequently, the members unanimously elected Matthias Lammert (CDU) as the new president of the state parliament.
The government bench initially remained empty until Schnieder took office after his election. The change of power in Rhineland-Palatinate is thus complete – the CDU returns to the state chancellery after 35 years.
