(Bundesrepublik Deutschland / Federal Republic of Germany)

NEW GOVERNMENT SINCE 09 JANUARY 2001 The government is formed by the SPD and Grünen. Germany is a member of the European Union.

 

	Gerhard Schröder - Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Born : on April 7, 1944 in Mossenberg, Rural District of Detmold Education/Profession : 1950 Started school in Wülfer-Bexten. 1951-1958. Elementary and middle school in Talle. 1958 Middle school leaving certificate. 1958-1961. Commercial apprenticeship in Lemgo. 1962 Moved to Göttingen. 1962-1964 Worked in a hardware store and went to a night school in Göttingen. 1964 Junior secondary school leaving certificate. 1964 Enrolment at Siegerland Adult Education Secondary School,Weidenau. 1965 Transfer to Westphalia Adult Education Secondary School, Bielefeld. 1966 'Abitur' (general certificate of education qualifying for university entry). 1966-1971 Studied law at the University of Göttingen. 1969-1970 'Juso' Chairman in Göttingen. 1971 First State Examination in Law. 1972-1976. Post-graduate legal training at Hanover Regional Court. 1976 Second State Examination in Law. / 1978-1990 Worked as a self-employed lawyer in Hanover. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1963 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany. 1977 Member of the SPD Executive for the District of Hanover. 1978-1980 National Chairman of the Young Socialists in the SPD ('Jusos'). Seit 1979 Member of the SPD Party Council. 1983-1993 Chairman of the SPD Executive for the District of Hanover. As of 1986 Member of the SPD Party Executive. As of 1989 Member of the SPD Presidium. 21 June 1990 Elected Premier of the State of Lower Saxony. 1994-29.9.1998 SPD Chairman for the State of Lower Saxony. 17 April 1998 Officially nominated as candidate for the office of Chancellor at the SPD National Party Conference in Leipzig. 27 September 1998 With Gerhard Schröder as its leading candidate the SPD received 40.9% of the vote in the general election for the 14th German Bundestag and the largest number of seats (298). 27 October 1998. Elected Chancellor by the German Bundestag. 12 April 1999 Elected National Chairman of the SPD.
	Joseph (Joschka) Fischer - Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Born : on April 12, 1948 in Gerabronn, Baden-Württemberg Party : Bündnis90/Die Grünen (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen - Alliance 90 / The Greens) Political experience : Since 1982 Member of the Greens. 1983 - 29.03.1985 Member of the German Bundestag. 12.12.1985 - 09.02.1987 State Minister for the Environment and Energy, State of Hesse. Deputy Member of the Bundesrat (Federal Council). 08.04.1987 - 04.04.1991. Chairman of the Greens Group in the Hessian State Assembly. 21.04.1987 - 04.04.1991 Member of the Hessian State Assembly. April 1991 - 06.10.1994 Hessian Minister for the Environment, Energy and Federal Affairs ; Deputy to the Hessian State Premier. 19.10.1994 - 25.10.1998 Parliamentary Spokesman for Alliance '90/Greens in the German Bundestag. Since 27.10.1998 Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
	Otto Schily - Federal Minister of the Interior Born : on July 20, 1932 in Bochum Education/Profession : Studied Law in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. / Lawyer Since 1983. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : Member of the German Bundestag (with interruptions). Since 1989 Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). 1990 - 1994 Member of the Committee on Economic Affairs and the Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. October 1993 to end of 1994 Chairman of the "Treuhand" Investigation Committee. 1994 - 1998 Deputy Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group Member of the Mediation Committee ; Member of the Committee for the Election of Judges ; Member of the Committee for the Election of Federal Constitutional Court Judges to Be Appointed by the Bundestag ; Substitute Member of the Internal Affairs Committee and the Legal Affairs Committee ; Substitute Member of the Joint Committee. Since October 1998 Federal Minister of the Interior.
	Prof. Dr.Herta Däubler-Gmelin - Federal Minister of Justice Born : on August 12, 1943 in Pressburg Education/Profession : Studied Law and Political Economy in Tübingen and Berlin, doctorate in Law. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Social Democratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1965 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). 1971&endash;1972 Chairwoman, SPD District Organisation, Tübingen. 1971&endash;1976 State Chairwoman, Association of Social Democrat Women in the State of Baden-Württemberg. 1972 Member of the German Bundestag ; member of the SPD State Executive in Baden-Württemberg. 1979 Elected to the SPD National Executive. 1980&endash;1983 Chairwoman, Bundestag Legal Affairs Committee. 1983 Deputy Chairwoman, SPD Parliamentary Group ; Chairwoman, Working Group on Equality for Women, SPD Parliamentary Group. 1984 Elected to the SPD Party Presidium. 1988 Elected Deputy Party Chairwoman, SPD. 1991 &endash; 1993 Served a further term as Deputy Chairwoman of the SPD Parliamentary Group. 1991 Re-elected SPD Deputy Chairwoman. 1993 + 1995 Re-elected SPD Deputy Chairwoman. 1994 Elected Chairwoman of the Legal Policy Working Group, and Legal Adviser to the SPD Parliamentary Group. 1997 Elected to the SPD Party Presidium and the Party Executive. Since October 1998 Federal Minister of Justice.
	Hans Eichel - Federal Minister of Finance Born : on December 24, 1941 in Kassel. Education/Profession : Studied German, Philosophy, Political Science and History in Marburg and Berlin. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : Since 1964 Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). 1969 - 1972 National Deputy Chairman of the Jusos (Young Socialists). Since 1989 Chairman of the Hesse State SPD. Since 1991 Member of the SPD National Executive. 1970 - 1975 Chairman of the SPD Group in Kassel City Council. 1975 - 1991 Mayor of Kassel. 1991 - 1999 Premier of the State of Hesse. Since 12.04.1999 Federal Minister of Finance.
	Werner Müller - Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Born : on June 1, 1946 in Essen Education/Profession : 1965 Graduated from secondary school with a university entrance qualification ('Abitur') in Meppen/Ems. Studied Economics at the University of Mannheim, Philosophy and Linguistics at the Universities of Duisburg and Bremen. 1970 Degree in Economics at the University of Mannheim. 1978 Doctoral degree in Linguistics at the University of Bremen. 1970-1972 Taught Economics Mathematics and Statistics at Ludwigshafen Polytechnic.1970-1973. Taught Economics Mathematics at the University of Mannheim. Taught Linguistics at the Universities of Regensburg and Mannheim. 1973 - 1980 Headed market research department at RWE. 1980 - 1992 With VEBA, as of 1990 as general representative. 1992 -1997 With 'Veba Kraftwerke Ruhr AG' power company as executive board member responsible for energy procurement, energy sales, district heating, waste management / waste incineration. since 1991 Adviser to Lower Saxony State Premier Gerhard Schröder. As of November 1997 Independent industrial consultant. Party : (no party affiliation) Political experience : Such as 27 October 1998 Federal Minister of Economics and Technology.
	Renate Künast - Federal Minister of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture Born : on December 15, 1955 in Recklinghausen Education/Profession : 1966 University entrance qualification (via adult education course). Studied for a degree in Social Work at Düsseldorf Polytechnic. 1977-1979 Employed as a social worker at a youth correctional facility in Berlin-Tegel. Enrolled as a student of law (qualified as a lawyer in 1985). Became involved in the anti-nuclear-power movement Party : (Alliance 90/The Greens) Political experience : Since 1979 Member of West Berlin Alternative List. Alliance 90/The Greens Group Chairwoman during the Red-Green Coalition in Berlin. Member of the Berlin Senate, Legal Policy Spokeswoman, Alliance 90/The Greens Group Chairwoman. Since 24 June 2000 Alliance 90/The Greens National Chairwoman
	Walter Riester - Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Born : on September 27, 1943 in Kaufbeuren Education/Profession : 1949-1957 Primary school. 1957 - 1960 Tiler trade apprenticeship, journeyman's certificate 1957 Joined construction industry labour union (IG Bau-Steine-Erden). 1960-1968 Employment as a tiler. 1969 Master tradesman's certificate in tiling. 1969-1970 Labour Academy, Frankfurt, studies in Management, Economics, Social Welfare Policy, Labour Law. 1977-1978 Secretary, IG Metall Administrative Office, Geislingen. 1980 - 1988 Secretary, IG Metall District Headquarters, Stuttgart. 1988 - 1993 District Manager, IG Metall, Stuttgart. 1993 - 1998 2nd Chairman, IG Metall, Germany. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : Since 1966 Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Since October 1998 Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.
	Rudolf Scharping - Federal Minister of Defence Born : on December 2, 1947 in Niederelbert (Westerwald), Education/Profession : 1966 "Abitur" (university entrance qualification) at Lahnstein Gymnasium. 1966 - 1974 Studied Political Science, Law, and Sociology at Bonn University. 1974 "Magister" (Master's Degree) Assistant to members of the German Bundestag Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1966 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). 1969 - 1974 Chairman of Rhineland-Palatinate Young Socialists in the SPD. 1974 - 1976. Federal Deputy Chairman of the Young Socialists 1975 - 1994 Member of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Assembly. 1976 / 1977 Secretary of the Rhineland-Palatinate SPD, member of the Public Services and Transport Workers Union (ÖTV) and the Workers' Welfare Association, worked for the German Red Cross. 1979 - 1985 Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD Group in the Rhineland-Palatinate State Assembly.1985 - 1991 Chairman of the SPD Group in the Rhineland-Palatinate State Assembly. 1985 - 1993 Chairman of Rhineland-Palatinate SPD. 1988 Member of the SPD Executive. 1991 - 1994 Premier of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. 1993 - 1995 SPD National Chairman. Since 1994 Member of the German Bundestag. 1994-1998 Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag. Since 1995 President of the Party of European Socialists. Since 1995 SPD National Deputy Chairman. Since October 1998 Federal Minister of Defence.
	Christine Bergmann - Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Born : on September 7, 1939 in Dresden Education/Profession : 1957 "Abitur" (university entrance qualification), studied Pharmacy in Leipzig. 1963 Degree (State Examination), then worked as a pharmacist. 1967 &endash; 1977 Freelance work, followed by full-time employment in pharmaceutical information at the Berlin Pharmaceutical Institute. From 1978 Department head. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1989 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) ; elected Deputy State Chairperson of the SPD in Berlin. 1990 &endash; 1991 President of the Berlin Assembly of City Councillors. 1991 Junior Mayor and Senator of Berlin. Since 1995 Member of the SPD Executive and Presidium. Since 1998 Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
	Ulla Schmidt - Federal Minister of Health Born : on June 13, 1949 (maiden name Radermacher) Education/Profession : 1968 Leaving certificate from Einhard Academic-Stream Secondary School, Aachen. 1968&endash;1970 Studied Psychology at the Technical University of Aachen. 1972 &endash; 1974 Studied and graduated from Aachen Teachers' College with a degree qualifying her to go on training for elementary and middle school teachers. 1974 - 1976 Teacher training in Aachen for elementary and middle school, teaching qualification 1976 - 1985 Teacher at a school for children with learning disabilities in Stolberg.1980-1984 Studied and graduated from the Distance University of Hagen taking a degree qualifying her to teach in special education relating to the rehabilitation of children with learning disabilities and children with behavioural disturbances. 1985 - 1990 Teacher at a school for remedial education in the District of Aachen, worked in the field of social integration. 1980 - 1990 Member of local personnel council, district personnel council, and central personnel council for teachers at special education schools at the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1983 Joined the SPD. Chairwoman of Local Party Organisation, Richterich. Member of Subdistrict Party Executive, Aachen. Member of SPD Party Council. Member of Aachen City Council. Housing Policy Spokeswoman for the SPD Group, Aachen. 1990 Member of the German Bundestag. Since 1991 Member of the Executive Directorate of the SPD Group in the Bundestag. Deputy Member of the Committee on Labour and Social Affairs. Deputy Member of the Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Full Member of the Mediation Committee. SPD Representative on the ZDF Television Council. Since march 2000 SPD Deputy Chairwoman for Aachen City Subdistrict. Member of ÖTV, AWO, the Child Protection Federation, and ASB. Since january 2001 Federal Minister for Health
	Kurt Bodewig - Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing Born : on April 26, 1955 in Rheinberg Education/Profession : 1972-1975 Training as a commercial clerk in the real estate and housing sector. 1975-76 Technical secondary school for commercial issues in Grevenbroich - 1976 secondary school leaving certificate qualifying for admission to polytechnical studies. 1976 - 1981 Technical secondary school for commercial issues in Grevenbroich - 1976 secondary school leaving certificate qualifying for admission to polytechnical studies. 1981 - 1986 Head of the Office of Civilian Service at the Lower Rhine District Association of Workers' Welfare (AWO). 1986 - 2000 Head of Directorate for Social Policy / Public Service at the German Trade Union Federation, State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1973 Joined the SPD. 1982 - 1988 'Juso' (Young Socialists) Chairman for the Lower Rhine District. Since 1984 Member of the SPD District Executive (with two-year interruption) Member of the Party Council. Since 1995 SPD Chairman for the District of Neuss. Since 1998 Member of the German Bundestag, there : Labour and Social Affairs Committee, Health Committee, Internal Affairs. Committee, Commission of Inquiry on Demographic Change. March - november 2000 Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing. Since 20. november 2000 Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing.
	Jürgen Trittin - Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Born : on July 25, 1954 in Bremen Education/Profession : 1973 "Abitur" (university entrance qualification), university, degree in Social Economy, journalist. Party : Bündnis90/Die Grünen (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen - Alliance 90 / The Greens) Political experience : 1982 - 1984 Secretary of the Alternative-Greens-Initiative List (AGIL) Group in the Göttingen City Council. 1984 - 1985 Press Spokesman, Greens Group, Lower Saxony State Assembly. 1985 - 1990 Member of Lower Saxony State Assembly. 1990 - 1994 Lower Saxony Minister for Federal and European Affairs, Head of the Lower Saxony State Mission to the Federal Government in Bonn 1994 - 1995 Member of the Lower Saxony State Assembly, Deputy Chairman of the Alliance 90/The Greens Group in the State Assembly. 1994 - 1998 Spokesman of the Greens National Executive. Since 1998 Member of the German Bundestag. Since October 1998 Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
	Edelgard Bulmahn - Federal Minister of Education and Research Born : on March 4, 1951 in Minden, Westphalia Education/Profession : 1965 - 1972 Secondary school in Petershagen.1972 - 1973 Stay at Bror Chail Kibbutz in Israel, from 1973 studied Political Science and English at the University of Hanover; training and credits as a school teacher. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1969 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), initially in various functions as a Young Socialist . 1981 - 1986 District Councillor in Hanover-Linden. Since 1987 Member of the German Bundestag. 1990 - 1994 SPD Parliamentary Group Spokeswoman on Research and Technology Policy. Since 1991 Member of the SPD Parliamentary Group Executive. Since 1993 Member of the SPD Executive. 1995 - 1996 Chairwoman of the Committee on Education, Science, Research, Technology and Technology Impact Assessment. 1995 Chairwoman of the Science Forum for Social Democracy. 1996 SPD Parliamentary Group Spokeswoman on Education and Research. Since October 1998 Federal Minister of Education and Research.
	Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul - Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Born : on November 21, 1942 in Frankfurt/Main Education/Profession : 1961 - 1965 Studied English and History at Frankfurt University. 1965 - 1974 Taught at Friedrich Ebert School, Rüsselsheim. Party : SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands / Socialdemocratic Party of Germany) Political experience : 1965 Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). 1968 City Councillor in Rüsselsheim. 1972 Member of the Gross-Gerau District Council. 1974 - 1977 Federal Chairwoman of the Young Socialists. 1977 - 1979 Chairwoman, European Coordination Bureau for International Youth Associations. 1979 - 1987 Member of the European Parliament; European development policy, international agreements (Lomé). 1984 Member of the SPD National Executive 1986. Member of the SPD Presidium. 1987. Member of the German Bundestag and SPD Parliamentary. Spokeswoman on European Policy. 1988 SPD District Chairwoman for South Hesse. 1993 SPD Deputy Chairwoman. Since October 1998 Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.