Thomas Oppermann

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Thomas Oppermann

| image = Hart aber fair - 2020-02-10-4300.jpg

| office = Vice President of the Bundestag
(on proposal of the SPD-faction)

| term_start = 24 October 2017

| term_end = 25 October 2020

| predecessor = Edelgard Bulmahn

| successor = Dagmar Ziegler

| office1 = Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the Bundestag

| term_start1 = 16 December 2013

| term_end1 = 27 September 2017

| 1blankname1 = {{nowrap|Chief Whip}}

| 1namedata1 = Christine Lambrecht

| predecessor1 = Frank-Walter Steinmeier

| successor1 = Andrea Nahles

| office2 = Chief Whip of the Social Democratic Party in the Bundestag

| term_start2 = 21 November 2007

| term_end2 = 16 December 2013

| leader2 = Peter Struck
Frank-Walter Steinmeier

| predecessor2 = Olaf Scholz

| successor2 = Christine Lambrecht

| office3 = Member of the Bundestag
for Göttingen

| term_start3 = 18 September 2005

| term_end3 = 25 October 2020

| predecessor3 = Inge Wettig-Danielmeier

| successor3 = vacant Oppermanns seat was a overhang seat, meaning it will not be filled.

|birth_name=Thomas Ludwig Albert Oppermann

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1954|4|27}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/abgeordnete18/biografien/O/oppermann_thomas/258820 |title=Deutscher Bundestag – Oppermann, Thomas |date=22 September 2013}}

| birth_place = Freckenhorst, West Germany

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|10|25|1954|4|27|df=y}}

| death_place = Göttingen, Germany

| party = Social Democratic Party

| alma_mater = University of Tübingen
University of Göttingen

| caption = Oppermann in 2020

}}

Thomas Ludwig Albert Oppermann{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/politik-dieser-junge-wollte-minister-werden_id_3552081.html|title=Politik: Dieser Junge wollte Minister werden ...|author=FOCUS Online|date=18 January 2014|work=FOCUS Online|access-date=13 July 2014|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905075309/https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/politik-dieser-junge-wollte-minister-werden_id_3552081.html|url-status=dead}} (27 April 1954{{spnd}}25 October 2020) was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). From October 2017 until his death he served as Vice President of the Bundestag. In his earlier career, he served as First Secretary (2007–2013) and later as chairman (2013–2017) of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag.

Oppermann belonged to the right wing of the SPD, known as Seeheimer Kreis.Daniel Friedrich Sturm (20 July 2012), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article108348039/Der-heimliche-General-der-Sozialdemokratie.html Der heimliche General der Sozialdemokratie] Die Welt.

Life and career

Oppermann was born in Freckenhorst on 27 April 1954.{{cite news |last=Fried |first=Nico |date=26 October 2020 |title=Der Pragmatiker |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/thomas-oppermann-nachruf-1.5093726 |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |location=Munich |language=de |access-date=26 October 2020}}{{cite web | title=Thomas Oppermann | website=SPD-Bundestagsfraktion | date=28 September 2017 | url=https://www.spdfraktion.de/thomas-oppermann | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020}} He received his abitur from the Goetheschule in Einbeck.{{cite web | title=Thomas Oppermann | website=Alumni Göttingen | date=14 December 2015 | url=https://www.alumni-goettingen.de/projekte/alumni/thomas-oppermann/ | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020 | archive-date=29 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029184625/https://www.alumni-goettingen.de/projekte/alumni/thomas-oppermann/ | url-status=dead }} Afterwards, he studied German studies and English studies at the University of Tübingen. From 1976 to 1978, he worked at Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) in the United States. After his return to Germany, he went to law school at University of Göttingen, finishing in 1986.

From 1986 until 1990, Oppermann served as an administrative court judge in Hanover and later in Braunschweig. During 1988 to 1989, he was seconded to serve as the chief legal affairs officer for the city of Hann. Münden. Oppermann had three daughters and one son.[http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/abgeordnete/bio/O/opperth0.html Oppermann biography] Official website of the German Bundestag. Retrieved 12 March 2010 {{in lang|de}}

Political career

= Role in regional politics=

Oppermann has been a member of the (SPD) since 1980 and president of the regional SPD in Göttingen since 1989. He was a member of the Lower Saxon Landtag from 1990 to 2005.[http://www.abgeordnetenwatch.de/thomas_oppermann-650-5574.html Thomas Oppermann listing] Watch group website. Retrieved 12 March 2010 {{in lang|de}} He was speaker for legal affairs there from 1990 to 1998.{{cite web | title=Experienced parliamentarian from Göttingen: Thomas Oppermann | website=German Bundestag | date=24 October 2017 | url=https://www.bundestag.de/en/parliament/presidium/oppermann-531020 | access-date=26 October 2020 | archive-date=29 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029230550/https://www.bundestag.de/en/parliament/presidium/oppermann-531020 | url-status=dead }}

Between 1998 and 2003, Oppermann served as State Minister for Science and Culture in the cabinets of Minister-Presidents Gerhard Schröder, Gerhard Glogowski and Sigmar Gabriel.{{cite web | title=Thomas Oppermann | website=Deutscher Bundestag | url=https://www.bundestag.de/abgeordnete/biografien/O/oppermann_thomas-522472 | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020}} In 1999, after Glogowski's resignation, Oppermann lost an internal party vote against Gabriel on becoming the next Minister-President.[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/glogowski-ruecktritt-sigmar-gabriel-soll-neuer-ministerpraesident-werden-a-54239.html Sigmar Gabriel soll neuer Ministerpräsident werden] Spiegel Online, 27 November 1999.

From 2003 to 2005, Oppermann was the economic speaker of the state SPD parliamentary group.{{cite web | title=Thomas Oppermann | website=European Leadership Network | url=https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/thomas-oppermann/ | access-date=26 October 2020}}

= National politics =

From the 2005 federal election until his death in 2020, Oppermann served as a member of the Bundestag (German parliament). Within his parliamentary group, he was part of the Seeheim Circle.{{cite web | title=Der SPD-Politiker Thomas Oppermann ist tot | website=BR24 | date=26 October 2020 | url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/meldung/der-spd-politiker-thomas-oppermann-ist-tot,30032eb54 | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020}} From March 2006 to November 2007, he was speaker of the working group and leader of the SPD delegation on the committee to investigate the secret services (Geheimdienst-Untersuchungsausschuss).

Oppermann was elected as the First Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group in November 2007, succeeding Olaf Scholz; he was subsequently re-elected in 2011 and 2013. In this capacity, he also joined the parliament's Council of Elders, which – among other duties – determines daily legislative agenda items and assigning committee chairpersons based on party representation. He also became a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Panel (PKGr), which provides parliamentary oversight of Germany's intelligence services BND, BfV and MAD.

Between 2006 and 2013, Oppermann was the Deputy Chairman of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group.{{cite web | title=Celebrating 50 Years of German-Israeli Relations, a senior delegation of the SPD Parliamentary Group visited Israel. | website=FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG | date=18 June 2015 | url=http://www.fes.org.il/events/thomas-oppermann-head-of-spd-faction-in-germany-visited-israel-with-political-delegation | access-date=26 October 2020}} From 2009, he served on the parliamentary body in charge of appointing judges to the Highest Courts of Justice, namely the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG), the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH), the Federal Labour Court (BAG), and the Federal Social Court (BSG).

Ahead of the 2009 elections, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier included Oppermann, then relatively unknown face to the German public, in his shadow cabinet of 10 women and eight men for the Social Democrats’ campaign to unseat incumbent Angela Merkel as chancellor.Veit Medick (31 July 2009), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/spd-presents-shadow-cabinet-no-stars-for-team-steinmeier-a-639456.html SPD Presents Shadow Cabinet: No Stars for 'Team Steinmeier'] Spiegel Online. During the campaign, Oppermann served as shadow minister for interior affairs and therefore as the counterpart of incumbent Wolfgang Schäuble.

=Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group, 2013–2017=

In the negotiations to form a so-called Grand Coalition following the 2013 federal elections, Oppermann led the SPD delegation in the internal and legal affairs working group; his co-chair was Hans-Peter Friedrich of the CSU. When Frank-Walter Steinmeier resigned as Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group to serve once again as foreign minister in Angela Merkel's second Grand Coalition, Oppermann was elected as his successor on 16 December 2013.{{cite news |last=Krauß |first=Bärbel |date=16 December 2013 |title=Das Gespann der Konkurrenten |url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.kauder-und-oppermann-das-gespann-der-konkurrenten.959429bb-22b1-42ff-b2f0-cd4635ed89e1.html |work=Stuttgarter Zeitung |location=Stuttgart |language=de |access-date=26 October 2020}}

Oppermann also served on the Committee on the Election of Judges (Wahlausschuss), which is in charge of appointing judges to the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.{{cite web | title=Wahlausschuss | website=Deutscher Bundestag | url=https://www.bundestag.de/richterwahl | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020}}

In late 2015, the SPD's board under the leadership of Sigmar Gabriel mandated Oppermann and Manuela Schwesig with the task of drafting an electoral program for the 2017 federal elections.[http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/vorab/oppermann-und-schwesig-sollen-spd-wahlprogramm-entwerfen-a-1061486.html Oppermann und Schwesig sollen SPD-Wahlprogramm entwerfen] Der Spiegel, 6 November 2015. In the Social Democrats’ campaign to unseat incumbent Angela Merkel as chancellor, Oppermann focused on defence policy, thereby being a counterweight to incumbent Ursula von der Leyen.Daniel Friedrich Sturm (5 July 2017), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article166296648/Die-SPD-Allzweckwaffe-fordert-von-der-Leyen-heraus.html Die SPD-Allzweckwaffe fordert von der Leyen heraus] Die Welt.

=Vice-President of the German Bundestag, 2017–2020=

File:2019-04-11 Thomas Oppermann SPD MdB by Olaf Kosinsky-8088.jpg

After the Social Democrats experienced their worst result in German post-war history, the new chairman Martin Schulz nominated Andrea Nahles to replace Oppermann as leader of the party's group in the German Parliament.Emma Anderson (25 September 2017), [http://www.politico.eu/article/martin-schulz-picks-andrea-nahles-to-lead-spd-in-german-parliament-elections-2017/ Schulz picks Nahles to lead SPD in German parliament] Politico Europe. He also served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From 2019, he was a member of the German delegation to the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly.[https://www.bundestag.de/dfv Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524182420/https://www.bundestag.de/dfv |date=24 May 2019 }} Deutscher Bundestag.

In August 2020, Oppermann announced that he would not stand in the 2021 federal elections but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.[https://www.goettinger-tageblatt.de/Die-Region/Goettingen/Bundestagswahl-2021-Thomas-Oppermann-SPD-tritt-nicht-wieder-an Bundestagswahl 2021: Thomas Oppermann (SPD) tritt nicht wieder an] Göttinger Tageblatt, 28 August 2020.

Political positions

File:Angela Merkel, Volker Kauder, Thomas Oppermann (Tobias Koch).jpg and Volker Kauder at the Bundestag, 2014]]

In 2011, Oppermann publicly spoke out in favor of holding a national referendum over fundamental principles of the European Union on the day of the 2013 German federal election.Christoph Hickmann, Peter Müller, René Pfister and Christoph Schwennicke (14 November 2011), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/a-german-referendum-on-europe-merkel-eyes-constitution-revamp-to-boost-eu-powers-a-797584.html A German Referendum on Europe? Merkel Eyes Constitution Revamp to Boost EU Powers] Der Spiegel.

In 2013, Oppermann criticized the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel as news emerged of its intentions to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, saying that the conservatives wanted to "totally upgrade" the country's military capabilities.[http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-backing-billion-euro-defense-deal-with-saudi-arabia-a-950759.html Arms Exports: Berlin Backs Large Defense Deal with Saudi Arabia] Spiegel Online, 3 February 2014.

Faced with 800,000 migrants arriving in Germany in 2015, Oppermann said his party would never accept a "CSU proposal to create 'transit zones' near the border, where asylum seekers with no chance of staying could be quickly sent back home".{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/merkel-faces-domestic-revolt-over-refugee-welcome-201805212.html|title=Merkel faces domestic revolt over refugee welcome|date=15 October 2015|work=Yahoo News}}

Other activities

=Corporate boards=

EnBW, Member of the Advisory Board (2005–2006)[https://www.enbw.com/media/downloadcenter-konzern/broschueren/zahlen-daten-fakten-2004.pdf 2005 Annual Report] EnBW.[https://www.enbw.com/media/downloadcenter-konzern/jahresabschluss-der-enbw-ag/jahresabschluss-der-enbw-ag-2006.pdf 2006 Annual Report] EnBW.

=Non-profits=

German Football Association (DFB), Chairman of the Ethic Commission (since 2019)[https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/dfb-bundestag-spd-politiker-oppermann-neuer-chef-der-dfb.1939.de.html?drn:news_id=1053663 SPD-Politiker Oppermann neuer Chef der DFB-Ethikkommission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927161321/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/dfb-bundestag-spd-politiker-oppermann-neuer-chef-der-dfb.1939.de.html%3Fdrn:news_id%3D1053663 |date=27 September 2019 }} Deutschlandfunk, 27 September 2019.
Hertie School of Governance, Member of the Board of Trustees
Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Member[https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ Members] Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).
Friends of the Center for Palliative Care of the University of Göttingen, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|title=Thomas Oppermann - Nebentätigkeiten|url=https://www.abgeordnetenwatch.de/profile/thomas-oppermann/nebentaetigkeiten|access-date=26 October 2020|website=abgeordnetenwatch.de|date=8 November 2019 |language=de}}
Berlin Institute for Advanced Study, Member of the Board of Trustees (until April 2015){{cite web|title=Oppermann, Thomas|url=https://www.bundestag.de/webarchiv/abgeordnete/biografien18/O/oppermann_thomas-258820|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Deutscher Bundestag|language=de}}
Göttingen International Handel Festival, Member of the Supervisory Board{{cite web|title=Aufsichtsrat der Internationale Händel Festspiele Göttingen GmbH|url=https://ratsinfo.goettingen.de/bi/au020.asp?AULFDNR=43|access-date=26 October 2020|website=ratsinfo.goettingen.de|language=de|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029205336/https://ratsinfo.goettingen.de/bi/au020.asp?AULFDNR=43|url-status=dead}}
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|date=30 September 2020|title=Board of Trustees|url=https://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/93545/kuratorium|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114091701/https://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/93545/kuratorium|url-status=dead}}
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Board of Trustees|url=https://www.ds.mpg.de/board-of-trustees|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization}}
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|date=19 October 2020|title=Board of Trustees|url=https://www.mps.mpg.de/institute/board-of-trustees|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research}}
Volkswagen Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees{{cite web|date=10 February 2015|title=Kuratorium|url=https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/stiftung/organisation-und-gremien/kuratorium|access-date=26 October 2020|website=VolkswagenStiftung|language=de}}
ZDF, Member of the Television Board{{cn|date=September 2023}}
Das Progressive Zentrum, Member of the Circle of Friends[http://www.progressives-zentrum.org/dpz.php/cat/91/aid/541/title/Circle_of_Friends Circle of Friends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213113218/http://www.progressives-zentrum.org/dpz.php/cat/91/aid/541/title/Circle_of_Friends |date=13 February 2015 }} Das Progressive Zentrum.
Fraunhofer Society, Member of the Senate (2006–2008){{cite web|date=6 November 2006|title=Oppermann in Senat der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft gewählt › SPD-Landesgruppen Niedersachsen/Bremen|url=https://www.spd-landesgruppe-niedersachsen.de/2006/11/06/oppermann-in-senat-der-fraunhofer-gesellschaft-gewaehlt/|access-date=26 October 2020|website=SPD-Landesgruppen Niedersachsen/Bremen|language=de}}

Controversy

When a former member of parliament Sebastian Edathy in December 2014 appeared before a Bundestag inquiry into his purchase of child pornography, he was asked about whether a tip-off from party colleagues gave him time to destroy evidence ahead of a police raid on his home and office. Edathy said senior SPD members, particularly Oppermann, breached legal privilege by discussing the case with colleagues and staff.Derek Scally (18 December 2014), [http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/ex-sdp-politician-testifies-on-his-use-of-child-pornography-1.2043260 Ex-SDP politician testifies on his use of child pornography] The Irish Times. During a closed-door hearing of the Committee on Internal Affairs earlier that year, Oppermann had denied that he or any of his fellow high-ranking SPD officials "indirectly or directly informed or even warned Sebastian Edathy of the investigation or our knowledge of it."[http://www.dw.com/en/oppermann-defends-actions-in-bundestag-hearing-over-edathy-affair/a-17443223 Oppermann defends actions in Bundestag hearing over Edathy affair] Deutsche Welle, 19 February 2014.

Death

Oppermann collapsed while waiting for a TV appearance and was transported to a hospital in Göttingen, where he died on 25 October 2020, at the age of 66.{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/en/thomas-oppermann-leading-german-politician-dies-at-66/a-55395388 |title=Thomas Oppermann: Leading German politician dies at 66 |website=DW |date=26 October 2020 }}{{cite web | title=SPD-Politiker Thomas Oppermann stirbt mit 66 Jahren | website=Startseite - ZDFmediathek | date=26 October 2020 | url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/337f431c-ee8a-496f-a4ec-a256da068b12 | language=de | access-date=26 October 2020}}