Franz Müntefering

Franz Müntefering , born the January 16th 1940 with Neheim-Hüsten, is a German politician member of the social democrat Parti (SPD).

He was president of the SPD of 2004 to 2005, and vice-chancellor and federal minister for Work and the social Affairs in the Cabinet Merkel of 2005 to 2007.

Biography

Müntefering, employee industrial of formation, enters to the Bundestag in 1975. For the fifteen following years, there remains simple member of Parliament. Its governmental career starts relatively late: in 1992, at the fifty four years age, he becomes social Affair and Health, Minister for Labor in the Government of the Land of Rhineland-of-North-Westphalia. In 1995, it appears on the ground of great policy like managing director SPD, a station between spokesperson and administrative director. He can be profiled as reliable worker and deep expert of the state of the party.

Of 1998 with 1999, he is Minister for Transport, Construction and Housing in the Federal government directed by Gerhard Schröder. Not having too much success, it returns within the Party with the title of general secretary and widened competences, and becomes an important support of the Schröder chancellor. It becomes in 2002 president of the parliamentary group of the SPD to the Bundestag , and in 2004 federal president of the party.

In April 2005, it begins a great debate public while qualifying some short-term investors of grasshoppers .

It is indicated by its party, in October 2005, to become Minister for Labor and social Affairs in the government of great coalition directed by Angela Merkel; it succeeds Wolfgang Clement (SPD), Minister for the Economy and Work, and Ulla Schmidt (SPD), federal minister for Health and the Social security, since 2002. In addition to her wallet, Franz Müntefering is also selected to be Vice-chancelier.

The October 31st 2005, following the setting in minority of its candidate at the position of secretary general of the social democrat Left, it announces that it will not stand as candidate to his own succession to the head of the party in November.

It enters function the November 22nd. There remains a very influential character within the SPD and is the first social democrat interlocutor of Angela Merkel within the cabinet.

He announces the November 13rd 2007 his next resignation of his governmental mandates for personal reasons. He resigns on November 21st and is replaced with Work and the social Affairs by Olaf Scholz and with the vice-chancellery by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, federal minister for the Foreign affairs.

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