Traunstein is an electoral constituency (German: Wahlkreis) represented in the Bundestag. It elects one member via first-past-the-post voting. Under the current constituency numbering system, it is designated as constituency 224. It is located in southern Bavaria, comprising the districts of Berchtesgadener Land and Traunstein.
Traunstein was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2025, it has been represented by Siegfried Walch of the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Geography Traunstein is located in southern Bavaria. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the districts of Berchtesgadener Land and Traunstein.
History Traunstein was created in 1949. In the 1949 election, it was Bavaria constituency 11 in the numbering system. In the 1953 through 1961 elections, it was number 206. In the 1965 through 1998 elections, it was number 211. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was number 226. In the 2009 through 2021 elections, it was number 225. From the 2025 election, it has been number 224.
Originally, the constituency comprised the independent cities of Traunstein and Bad Reichenhall and the districts of Landkreis Traunstein, Berchtesgaden, and Laufen. From 1976 through 1994, it comprised the districts of Traunstein and Berchtesgadener Land. In the 1998 and 2002 elections, it also contained the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Kirchweidach from the Altötting district. It acquired its current borders in the 2005 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Traunstein Traunstein city Bad Reichenhall city Landkreis Traunstein district Berchtesgaden district Laufen district 1953 206 1957 1961 1965 211 1969 1972 1976 Traunstein district Berchtesgadener Land district 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 Traunstein district Berchtesgadener Land district Altötting district (only Kirchweidach Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) 2002 226 2005 Traunstein district Berchtesgadener Land district 2009 225 2013 2017 2021 2025 224
Members The constituency has been held by the Christian Social Union (CSU) during all but one Bundestag term since its creation. It was first represented by Sepp Parzinger of the Bavaria Party (BP) from 1949 to 1953. Wolfgang Klausner of the CSU won it in 1953 and served until 1961. Heinz Brenck was then representative from 1961 to 1969. Matthias Engelsberger served from 1969 to 1990. Peter Ramsauer was elected in 1990, and re-elected in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. Siegfried Walch retained the seat for the CSU in 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Sepp Parzinger BP 33.6 1953 Wolfgang Klausner CSU 44.1 1957 55.8 1961 Heinz Brenck CSU 55.8 1965 60.5 1969 Matthias Engelsberger CSU 59.2 1972 63.6 1976 68.4 1980 66.7 1983 68.6 1987 63.3 1990 Peter Ramsauer CSU 57.4 1994 61.1 1998 60.1 2002 69.0 2005 63.9 2009 54.6 2013 62.6 2017 50.3 2021 36.6 2025 Siegfried Walch CSU 46.9
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References