German federal election, 2009 27 September 2009 (2009-09-27) All 598 seats (plus 24 overhangs) in the Bundestag 312 seats were needed for a majority Turnout 44,005,575 (70.8%) 6.9 pp First party Second party Third party Leader Angela Merkel Frank-Walter Steinmeier Guido Westerwelle Party CDU/CSU SPD FDP Leader since 10 April 2000 18 October 2008 4 May 2001 Leader's seat Nordvorpommern-Rügen Brandenburg an der Havel North Rhine-Westphalia Last election 226 seats, 35.2% 222 seats, 34.2% 61 seats, 9.8% Seats won 239 146 93 Seat change 13 76 32 Popular vote 14,658,515 9,990,488 6,316,080 Percentage 33.8% 23.0% 14.6% Swing 1.4 pp 11.2 pp 4.8 pp Fourth party Fifth party Leader Oskar Lafontaine[1] Jürgen Trittin[2] Party Left Green Leader since 16 June 2007 16 November 2008 Leader's seat Saarland Lower Saxony Last election 54 seats, 8.7% 51 seats, 8.1% Seats won 76 68 Seat change 22 17 Popular vote 5,155,933 4,643,272 Percentage 11.9% 10.7% Swing 3.2 pp 2.6 pp Chancellor before election Angela Merkel CDU/CSU Elected Chancellor Angela Merkel CDU/CSU