Olpe – Märkischer Kreis I 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 148. It is located in southern North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the Olpe district and the southern part of the Märkischer Kreis district.
Olpe – Märkischer Kreis I was created for the 1980 federal election. Since 2021, it has been represented by Florian Müller of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Geography Olpe – Märkischer Kreis I is located in southern North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the entirety of the Olpe district and the municipalities of Halver, Herscheid, Kierspe, Lüdenscheid, Meinerzhagen, and Schalksmühle from the Märkischer Kreis district.
History Olpe – Märkischer Kreis I was created in 1980, then known as Olpe – Siegen-Wittgenstein II. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1980 through 1998 elections, it was constituency 121 in the numbering system. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 150. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 149. From the 2025 election, it has been number 148.
Originally, the constituency comprised the Olpe district and the municipalities of Freudenberg, Hilchenbach, and Kreuztal from the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.
Election Name Borders 1980 121 Olpe – Siegen-Wittgenstein II Olpe district Siegen-Wittgenstein district (only Freudenberg, Hilchenbach, and Kreuztal municipalities) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 150 Olpe – Märkischer Kreis I Olpe district Märkischer Kreis district (only Halver, Herscheid, Kierspe, Lüdenscheid, Meinerzhagen, and Schalksmühle municipalities) 2005 2009 2013 149 2017 2021 2025 148
Members The constituency has been held by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since its creation. It was first represented by Willi Weiskirch from 1980 to 1987, followed by Joachim Grünewald from 1987 to 1994. Hartmut Schauerte became representative in 1994 and served until 2009. Matthias Heider was elected in 2009, and re-elected in 2013 and 2017. He was succeeded by Florian Müller in 2021, and re-elected in 2025.
Election Member Party % 1980 Willi Weiskirch CDU 54.8 1983 61.1 1987 Joachim Grünewald CDU 57.0 1990 56.2 1994 Hartmut Schauerte CDU 52.1 1998 49.9 2002 48.2 2005 50.8 2009 Matthias Heider CDU 47.4 2013 51.7 2017 47.9 2021 Florian Müller CDU 37.1 2025 42.1
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
Notes
References