Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of the SPD-FDP coalition wanted to be re-elected.

The CDU/CSU tried to make their candidate the elected Chancellor, CSU leader Franz Josef Strauß.

Strauß, immensely popular in Bavaria, found it difficult to appeal to people in other parts of Germany.

One important reason for Strauss's unpopularity compared to Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, was his tendency to talk sharply and militantly about his political opponents.

[1][2][3] The coalition between the SPD and the FDP returned to government, with Helmut Schmidt as Chancellor.