Hamburg has conducted its parliamentary election, and the citizens have made their choices regarding the future makeup of the city's governing body. However, as the excitement of election day fades, there remains a structured process to finalize the results and form a new government.

Timeline for Final Results

On the evening of the election, preliminary results will be released, but these figures will only reflect an estimated distribution of seats based on the initial counting of valid second votes from party lists. It is worth noting that this preliminary result may not provide a complete picture.

The comprehensive tally of all votes will commence the following day, and the election authority plans to announce these provisional results on the same evening. This announcement will clarify which candidates will secure seats in the new parliament.

The final and official results will be confirmed after a thorough review by the election committee, scheduled for March 19.

Inauguration of the New Parliament

Typically, a newly elected parliament must convene within four weeks of the election. In this instance, the inaugural session is set to take place in the week following the spring break, specifically on March 26. However, the election of a new mayor and the formation of a new senate will only occur once the parties reach an agreement on a coalition. Until then, the current senate will continue to operate in a caretaker capacity.

Coalition Negotiation Steps

Following the election, Peter Tschentscher, the victorious candidate from the SPD, indicated a commitment to engage in serious coalition discussions starting Monday. The continuation of the existing red-green coalition appears to be the most likely scenario, supported by both Tschentscher and the leading candidate from the Greens, Katharina Fegebank. Tschentscher has expressed intentions to first negotiate with the Greens and later with the CDU. He also mentioned the possibility of exploring alternative coalition options should negotiations falter.

Impact of Federal Coalition Dynamics

Furthermore, if federal coalition discussions emerge between the Union and the SPD, it is plausible that members from Hamburg's SPD may participate in those negotiations. This could influence local political dynamics significantly.

In 2021, during the last coalition discussions, key SPD members from Hamburg, including Tschentscher, took part in various working groups that contributed to the formation of the federal coalition.

As the political landscape evolves in Hamburg, all eyes will be on the outcome of these negotiations and the finalization of the electoral results, shaping the city's governance for the upcoming term.