West Berlin state election, 1958

The election to the Berlin House of Representatives in 1958 took place on December 7, 1958 and took place during an acute political crisis in Berlin. Khrushchev's ultimatum was made just ten days before the election date, and the threat from Soviet forces in the east was felt very strongly.

The top candidate of the SPD was the new mayor, Willy Brandt, the successor of the deceased former SPD mayor, Otto Suhr. Brandt himself had an immense personal popularity, which was primarily due to his resolute behaviour towards the Soviet occupying power.

The SPD recorded a vote increase of 8.0 percent points and a final score of 52.6%, the absolute majority of the votes cast. Their coalition partners, the CDU under Franz Amrehn also achieved a considerable increase in votes of 7.3 percentage points and a score of 37.7% of the vote.

The only opposition party in West Berlin, the FDP collapsed from 12.8% to 3.8% leaving just the SPD and CDU represented in parliament. Due to the critical situation the city was facing, Brandt opted to continue the coalition with the CDU. The continuing of this grand coalition meant that for the five years until the next election a parliamentary opposition did not exist in West Berlin.

Summary of the results of the 7 December 1958 election to Berlin's Abgeordnetenhaus

 
Parties Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Social Democratic Party of Germany 850,127 52.6% +8.0% 78 +14
Christian Democratic Union 609,097 37.7% +7.3% 55 +11
Free Democratic Party 61,119 3.8% -9.0% 0 -19
German Party 53,912 3.3% -1.6% 0
Socialist Unity Party 31,572 1.9% -0.8% 0
Free People's Party 10,681 0.7% +0.7% 0
Total 1,632,540 100% 133 +6
Source
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