The capital is a centre of state politics.
Saarland’s Landtag works in Saarbrücken. The State Chancellery is also based there and supports the head of government. The city is therefore a central location for the political institutions of the entire federal state.
Saarland names the federal state; Saarbrücken names its capital. Both begin with Saar but refer to different levels. A capital is also a city with its own municipal administration.
The other three answers
The other three town names are not the required state capital.
Neunkirchen
Neunkirchen names a town and also a county in Saarland. It is nevertheless incorrect when the question asks for the state capital.
Homburg
Homburg is a town in Saarland. Being a town in the correct federal state does not make it that state’s capital.
Völklingen
Völklingen is also in Saarland. It does not, however, match the required pair of Saarland and Saarbrücken.
City government and state government remain distinct.
The city’s mayor heads the municipal administration. The head of the state government is called Minister President. Working in the same city does not make those offices identical.
The capital question requires neither a current officeholder’s name nor a population figure. The pairing of state and capital is sufficient.
City and state institutions · State capital Saarbrücken ↗Saarland → Saarbrücken.
Say the state and capital together as a pair.
Three words for this question
- die Landeshauptstadtstate capital
- The capital of a German federal state.
- die StaatskanzleiState Chancellery
- The authority supporting the head of the state government.
- das Rathaustown hall
- Seat of municipal administration; not another word for the Landtag.