Uta Nickel
{{Short description|East German finance minister and economist (born 1941)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
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| office = Minister of Finance and Prize
| primeminister = Hans Modrow
| predecessor = Ernst Höfner
| successor = Walter Siegert (acting)
| term_start = 18 November 1989
| term_end = 12 April 1990
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|7|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Leipzig, Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| party = Socialist Unity Party
| alma_mater =
| spouse =
}}
Uta Nickel (born 19 July 1941) is a German economist and one of the former finance ministers of East Germany.
Early life and education
Nickel was born in Leipzig on 19 July 1941.{{cite web|title=Democratic Republic of Germany/Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR)|url=http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Germany_(East).htm|work=Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership|access-date=12 September 2012}}{{cite web|title=Nickel, Uta|url=https://www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/de/recherche/kataloge-datenbanken/biographische-datenbanken/uta-nickel|publisher=Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung|access-date=1 June 2022|language=de}} She studied economics.
Career
Nickel joined the ruling party of East Germany, Socialist Unity, in 1960. She served as the councillor of finance of Leipzig in the period between 1963 and 1976. She was state secretary for finances and prices from 1988 to 1989. She was appointed minister of finance and prices on 18 November 1989, replacing Ernst Höfner in the post.{{cite news|author=Mike Leary|title=Shops Lure A Million To The West|access-date=12 September 2012
|url=http://articles.philly.com/1989-11-19/news/26139312_1_east-germans-black-market-leipzig|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419104458/http://articles.philly.com/1989-11-19/news/26139312_1_east-germans-black-market-leipzig|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2015|newspaper=The Inquirer|date=19 November 1989
|location=East Berlin}} She was part of the reform-minded cabinet formed by Hans Modrow.{{cite news|title=East Germany Approves "Reform-minded" Cabinet|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19891119&id=v1ceAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tMcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1419,3244962|access-date=12 September 2012|newspaper=TimesDaily|date=19 November 1989|agency=Associated Press|location=West Berlin}}
She resigned from the office in January 1990 following the allegations that she was involved in illegal payments.{{cite news
|title=East German Minister Quits|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19900123&id=3MZUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jZADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5171,2053928
|access-date=12 September 2012|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=23 January 1990|location=East Berlin}} Upon these accusations, she was investigated by the prosecutor general for financial breach of trust. Nickel denied any wrongdoing.{{cite news
|author=William Tuohy|title=East German Leader Offers Cabinet Posts to Opposition Groups|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=12 September 2012|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-23-mn-612-story.html|date=23 January 1990|location=East Berlin}} Nickel's term officially ended on 12 April 1990 when Walter Siegert was appointed as acting finance minister.{{cite web|title=Ministerien. Ministerium der Finanzen|url=https://deutsche-einheit-1990.de/ministerien/ministerium-fuer-finanzen/staatssekretaere/|publisher=Deutsche Einheit|access-date=1 June 2022|language=de}}
After retiring from politics Nickel worked as a consultant for two property development companies based in Cologne.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Finance Ministers of Germany|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nickel, Uta}}
Category:20th-century German women politicians
Category:Female finance ministers
Category:Finance ministers of East Germany
Category:German women economists
Category:Women government ministers of East Germany