Temple of democracy

At the Bundestag elections on 3 October 1976, Schmidt – the SPD’s top candidate – has already been Chancellor for two-and-a-half years. Schmidt succeeded Willy Brandt, who resigned due to a spying scandal. Schmidt's challenger is Helmut Kohl, the premier of Rhineland-Palatinate. The CDU/CSU hopes to regain power after spending two terms in opposition. While the SPD only manages second place, with 42.6 % of the vote, it is enough to continue the existing social-liberal coalition with the FDP led by Hans-Dietrich Genscher. The coalition has been in power since 1969. Thanks to a result of 59.7 %, Schmidt again wins his constituency seat in Bergedorf. He votes locally at the Langenhorn primary school in Neubergerweg.