Matthias Berger
{{Short description|German politician (born 1968)}}
{{Officeholder infobox
| office = Member of the Landtag of Saxony
for Leipzig Land 3
| term_start = 1 September 2024
| term_end =
| office1 = Mayor of Grimma
| term_start1 = 2001
| term_end1 =
| party = Free Voters (since 2023)
| otherparty = Independent (until 2023)
CDU (2001)
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|2 January 1968}}
| occupation = Lawyer, politician
| image = 2024-12-18 Sächsischer Landtag – 4. Sitzung der 8. Wahlperiode by Sandro Halank–004.jpg
}}
Matthias Berger (born 2 January 1968) is a German politician who is a member of the Landtag of Saxony. On 1 December 2023 Berger was selected as the top candidate for the Free Voters of Saxony for the 2024 Saxony state election in which he was elected.{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-24 |author=dpa, wma |date=2023-12-01 |title=Sachsen: Matthias Berger wird neuer Spitzenkandidat der Freien Wähler |url=https://www.lvz.de/lokales/leipzig-lk/grimma/sachsen-matthias-berger-wird-neuer-spitzenkandidat-der-freien-waehler-D6J22MN5XJDGZNNGCY5CPIRBKM.html |website=lvz.de}}
Political career
As an independent politician, Berger was first elected mayor of Grimma on 10 June 2001: he received 57.6 percent of the vote as an independent candidate with the nomination from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). A year later, Berger became known nationwide with his fight against the effects of the "flood of the century" on his city. On 8 June 2008, Berger received 98.2 percent of the vote in the mayoral election. On 7 June 2015, he was confirmed in office with almost 90 percent of the vote and on 12 June 2022 with 85.9 percent.{{cite web|access-date=2022-08-24 |date=2022-06-13 |language=de |title=Matthias Berger ist neuer Oberbürgermeister in Grimma |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/politik/kommunalwahlen/buergermeisterwahl/grimma-ergebnis-100.html |website=mdr.de}}
Together with {{Ill|Antje Hermenau|de}}, Berger has been involved in the "Citizens' Movement for Saxony" since autumn 2018, a self-described political "collective movement of the centre". On 1 December 2023, Berger was nominated as the top candidate of the State Association of Free Voters Saxony for the 2024 Saxony state election on 1 September 2024. In the election he was directly elected in the constituency of Leipzig-Land III.{{Cite news |last=Achterberg |first=Beatrice |date=2024-09-02 |title=Landtagswahlen 2024: Koalitionsmöglichkeiten in Sachsen und Thüringen |url=https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/erklaert/landtagswahlen-koalitionsmoeglichkeiten-in-sachsen-und-thueringen-ld.1846398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902144720/https://www.nzz.ch/international/landtagswahlen-koalitionsmoeglichkeiten-in-sachsen-und-thueringen-ld.1846398 |archive-date=2 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de-CH |issn=0376-6829}}{{Cite web |date=1 September 2024 |title=Germany: Thuringia and Saxony elections propel far-right AfD |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-thuringia-and-saxony-elections-propel-far-right-afd/a-70106147 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902144719/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-thuringia-and-saxony-elections-propel-far-right-afd/a-70106147 |archive-date=2 September 2024 |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=Deutsche Welle}} He stood for election as Minister-President of Saxony and proposed a technocratic government.{{cite news |date=13 December 2024 |title=Berger bewirbt sich um Amt des Regierungschefs |url=https://www.diesachsen.de/politik/berger-bewirbt-sich-um-amt-des-ministerpraesidenten-2974871 |work=DieSachsen |language=de}}
Legal career
Matthias Berger is a lawyer in a law firm in Grimma; due to his elected office as mayor, his legal practice is suspended.
Personal life
Berger is married and has two children.
References
External links
- [http://www.l-iz.de/Melder/Melder/2014/03/Grimma-OBM-Berger-wirft-Landratsamt-Behinderung-vor-54084.html Grimma: OBM Berger wirft Landratsamt Behinderung beim Hochwasserschutz vor.] Leipziger Internet Zeitung, March 3, 2014.
- Bernhard Honnigfort: [https://www.fr.de/panorama/schwerer-neuanfang-nach-hochwasser-11080853.html Grimma – Schwerer Neuanfang nach dem Hochwasser.] Frankfurter Rundschau. 5. June 2013.
- Jens Falkowski: [http://www.mediendienst-ost.de/grimma-nach-der-flut/ Grimma nach der Flut.] Mediendienst Ost, June 2013.
- Roland Herold: [http://www.lvz.de/Specials/Themenspecials/Jahrhundertflut/Nordsachsen/Grimma-die-Flut-und-der-Held-Wie-aus-dem-Oberbuergermeister-unser-Matthias-wurde Grimma, die Flut und der Held: Wie aus dem Oberbürgermeister „unser Matthias" wurde.] Leipziger Volkszeitung, 8. August 2012.
- Marcus Jauer: [http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/grimma-nach-der-flut-eine-stadt-schlaegt-die-schlammschlacht-1.647953 Grimma nach der Flut – Eine Stadt schlägt die Schlammschlacht.] Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19. August 2002.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Berger, Matthias}}
Category:21st-century German politicians
Category:Independent politicians in Germany
Category:Mayors of places in Saxony