Gerhard Schröder was re-elected as chancellor by the parliament in a coalition with the Greens , who had increased their vote share marginally . Many commentators faulted Stoiber 's reaction to the floods in eastern Germany , in the run-up to the election , as a contributory factor in his party 's poor electoral result and defeat . In addition , Schröder distinguished himself from his opponent by taking an active stance against the upcoming United States-led Iraq War . His extensive campaigning on this stance was widely seen as swinging the election to the SPD in the weeks running up to the election
floods
2002 European floods
Edmund Stoiber