German president biography outlines

Steinmeier is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD , holds a doctorate in law and was formerly a career civil servant. From to he served as Chief of Staff of the Chancellery.

Ursula von der leyen children ages

Following the federal election , Steinmeier became foreign minister in the first grand coalition government of Angela Merkel , and from he additionally held the office of vice chancellor. In , he briefly served as acting chairman of his party. He was the SPD's candidate for chancellor in the federal election , but his party lost the election and he left the federal cabinet to become leader of the opposition.

Following the federal election , he again became Minister for Foreign Affairs in Merkel's second grand coalition.

Germany prime minister

He left the cabinet on 27 January Steinmeier belongs to the right wing of the SPD, known as reformists and moderates. Steinmeier was born in in Detmold. Following his Abitur , Steinmeier did his military service from to , then studied law and political science at the Justus Liebig University Giessen , where Brigitte Zypries was a fellow student.

Steinmeier worked as a scientific assistant to the professor of public law and political science at Giessen University until he obtained his doctorate of law in His dissertation explored the state's role in preventing homelessness. Steinmeier is married and has one daughter. Steinmeier enjoys jazz , and is an avid football fan. Steinmeier became an adviser in for Law of Communication media and media guidelines in the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony in Hanover.