Page "Johannes Rau" Paragraph 6

In 1977, Rau became Chairman of the North Rhine-Westphalia SPD, and in 1978 Minister President of the state, were he remained until 1998, with four successful elections for the SPD, which became strongest party in the Landtag each time and gained an absolute majority three times, in 1980, 1985, 1990 and finally 1995.

From 1995 onwards, Rau led an SPD-Greens coalition in NRW.