Wolfgang Schmidt (politician)
{{Short description|German politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Wolfgang Schmidt in Berlin on 7 June 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Schmidt in 2024
| office = Head of the Chancellery
Minister for Special Affairs
| chancellor = Olaf Scholz
| term_start = 8 December 2021
| term_end =
| predecessor = Helge Braun
| successor =
| office2 = State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance
| alongside2 = Werner Gatzer, Rolf Bösinger, Jörg Kukies
| chancellor2 = Angela Merkel
| minister2 = Olaf Scholz
| term_start2 = 14 March 2018
| term_end2 = 8 December 2021
| predecessor2 = {{unbulleted list|Thomas Steffen|Johannes Geismann}}
| successor2 = {{unbulleted list|Steffen Saebisch|Werner Gatzer|Luise Hölscher}}
| office3 = Counselor of State of the State Chancellery of Hamburg
Representative for Federal Affairs
| 1blankname3 = {{nowrap|First Mayor}}
| 1namedata3 = Olaf Scholz
| term_start3 = 7 March 2011
| term_end3 = 28 March 2018
| predecessor3 = Position established
| successor3 = Annette Tabbara
| party = Social Democratic Party {{small|(1989–)}}
| birth_name = Wolfgang Schmidt
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|9|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hamburg, West Germany
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|University of Hamburg|University of the Basque Country}}
| residence =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children = 2
| occupation = {{hlist|Spindoctor|Lawyer|Political Staffer|Civil Servant}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/bundesregierung/bundeskanzleramt/bundeskabinett/1974220-1974220|Official Government website}}
| signature =
}}
Wolfgang Schmidt ({{IPA|de|ˈvɔlfɡaŋ ˈʃmɪt}}; born {{Birth date|1970|9|23|df=yes}}) is a German politician and jurist who has been serving as Federal Minister for Special Affairs, Head of the Chancellery and Commissioner for the Federal Intelligence Services since 2021. He was previously State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance under Minister Olaf Scholz in the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2018 to 2021.{{cite web |title=Wolfgang Schmidt |url=https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/EN/Standardartikel/Ministry/Minister_and_State_Secretaries/Wolfgang-Schmidt.html |website=Federal Ministry of Finance |access-date=7 December 2021}}
Schmidt has been a close associate of Scholz since 2002 and is considered his spin doctor.{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/das-sind-die-spd-kabinettsmitglieder-zwei-ueberraschungen-ein-spin-doktor-und-ein-publikumsliebling/27865468.html|title=Das sind die SPD-Kabinettsmitglieder: Zwei Überraschungen, ein Spin-Doktor und ein Publikumsliebling|work=Der Tagesspiegel|date=6 December 2021|access-date=9 December 2021|language=de}}
Early life and education
Schmidt was born 23 September 1970, in Hamburg. He studied law at the University of Hamburg as well as the University of Deusto in Bilbao/Spain from 1991, graduating with his first state examination by 1997. Thereafter, he worked as Research associate at the University of Hamburg until 2000. Schmidt then served a two-year legal clerkship term at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court until 2002, when he completed his second state examination.{{cite web |title=Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium der Finanzen Finanzpolitische und volkswirtschaftliche Grundsatzfragen, internationale Finanz- und Währungspolitik sowie Leitungsabteilung |url=https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Ministerium/Leitung/Staatssekretaere/Wolfgang-Schmidt/Wolfgang-Schmidt_lebenslauf.html |website=Federal Ministry of Finance |access-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207083343/https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Ministerium/Leitung/Staatssekretaere/Wolfgang-Schmidt/Wolfgang-Schmidt_lebenslauf.html |archive-date=7 December 2021 |language=de}}
Career
From 2002 until 2005, Schmidt worked as advisor and later as chief of staff to Olaf Scholz in his capacity as the SPD's secretary general.{{cite news |title=Wolfgang Schmidt will Scholz den Rücken freihalten |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/politik-inland/wolfgang-schmidt-spd-wird-kanzleramts-minister-in-der-ampel-regierung-78459314.bild.html|access-date=9 December 2021 |agency=Axel Springer SE |publisher=Bild |date=6 December 2021 |language=de}} He followed Scholz as chief of staff when the latter was appointed as whip of the SPD parliamentary group.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
In the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Schmidt again served as Scholz's chief of staff at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
From 2010 to 2011, Schmidt served as director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) representative office in Germany.
Political career
Schmidt joined the youth organization of the Social Democratic Party, called the Jusos, in 1989 due to his interest in the third world.{{cite news |last1=Iken |first1=Matthias |title=Neuer Kanzleramtschef: Wer ist Wolfgang Schmidt? |url=https://www.waz.de/politik/wolfgang-schmidt-kanzleramtschef-olaf-scholz-vertrauter-id233922583.html |access-date=9 December 2021 |agency=Funke Mediengruppe |publisher=WAZ |date=6 December 2021 |language=de}}
On 6 December 2021, Schmidt was nominated as Federal Minister for Special Affairs and Head of the Chancellery in Scholz's cabinet,{{cite news |title=Hamburger Wolfgang Schmidt wird neuer Kanzleramtschef |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Hamburger-Wolfgang-Schmidt-wird-neuer-Kanzleramtschef,wolfgangschmidt100.html |access-date=7 December 2021 |agency=ARD |publisher=Norddeutscher Rundfunk |date=7 December 2021 |language=de}}{{cite news |last1=Müller-Neuhof |first1=Jost |title=Neuer Chef des Bundeskanzleramts |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/neuer-chef-des-bundeskanzleramts-was-wird-aus-dem-strafverfahren-gegen-wolfgang-schmidt/27866950.html |access-date=7 December 2021 |publisher=Der Tagesspiegel |date=6 December 2021 |language=de}}{{cite news |last1=Kynast |first1=Andreas |title=Schmidt: "Olaf Scholz will die Besten haben" |url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/wolfgang-schmidt-spd-scholz-100.html |access-date=7 December 2021 |agency=ZDF |publisher=heute |date=5 December 2021 |language=de}}{{cite news |last1=Neuhaus |first1=Christina |title=Schmidt heißt der Vertraute von Scholz |url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Wolfgang-Schmidt-heisst-der-Vertraute-von-Olaf-Scholz-article22979603.html |access-date=7 December 2021 |agency=RTL Group |publisher=n-tv |date=6 December 2021 |language=de}} and was inaugurated by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 8 December.{{cite news |title=Neue Bundesregierung vereidigt -Das ist das Ampel-Kabinett |url=https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/bundesregierung-scholz-spd-gruene-fdp-100.html |access-date=8 December 2021 |agency=ZDF |publisher=heute |date=8 December 2021 |language=de}}{{cite news |title=Das Kabinett Scholz ist im Amt |url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-12/neue-bundesregierung-olaf-scholz-bundeskanzler-minister |access-date=8 December 2021 |publisher=Die Zeit |date=8 December 2021 |language=de}}{{cite news |last1=von Bullion |first1=Constanze |last2=Gierke |first2=Sebastian |last3=Preuß |first3=Roland |last4=Stroh |first4=Kassian |title=Merkel übergibt Amtsgeschäfte an Scholz |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/scholz-bundeskanzler-merkel-live-1.5481609 |access-date=8 December 2021 |publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=8 December 2021 |language=de}}
Since taking office, Schmidt has been described in news medias as "Olaf Scholz’s shadow foreign minister."Hans von der Burchard (17 February 2023), [https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-olaf-scholz-wolfgang-schmidt-foreign-minister/ Meet Olaf Scholz’s shadow foreign minister] Politico Europe. Early in his tenure, he became a key architect of the policies outlines in Scholz's Zeitenwende speech. In February 2023, he appeared in parliament for the first time, explaining and defending the government's policies in a 90-minute question-and-answer session.
In October 2023, Schmidt participated in the first joint cabinet retreat of the German and French governments in Hamburg, chaired by Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron.Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke (9 October 2023), [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-france-hold-unprecedented-cabinet-retreat-oil-creaky-eu-motor-2023-10-09/ Germany, France hold unprecedented cabinet retreat to oil creaky EU motor] Reuters.[https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/deutsch-franzoesisches-kabinett-2023-2228354 Erste deutsch-französische Kabinettsklausur: Zukunftsfragen und Weltpolitik diskutiert] Cabinet of Germany, press release of 10 October 2023.
In August 2024, Schmidt announced his intention to run for a parliamentary seat in the 2025 national elections.Eckart Lohse (1 August 2024), [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/kanzleramtschef-wolfgang-schmidt-will-in-den-bundestag-19893059.html Kanzleramtschef Schmidt will in den Bundestag] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Other activities
=International organizations=
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2018–2021)[https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/board-governors/index.html Board of Governors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029173748/https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/board-governors/index.html |date=29 October 2017 }} Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
- Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group, Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2018–2021)[https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/74f5b30623436ec21c47216433e5a2aa-0330032021/original/MIGAGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group.
- World Bank, Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2018–2021)[https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/45fc8267f59fdf50a364f6538c2817e7-0330032021/original/BankGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] World Bank.
=Corporate boards=
- KfW, ex-officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors (2018–2021)
- German Investment Corporation (DEG), ex-officio Member of the supervisory board (2018–2021)[https://www.deginvest.de/Internationale-Finanzierung/DEG/%C3%9Cber-uns/Wer-wir-sind/Aufsichtsrat/ Supervisory Board] German Investment Corporation (DEG).
=Non-profit organizations=
- Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG), Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2021)[https://www.bbug.de/de/ueber-uns/der-verein.php Board of Trustees] Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG).
- Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Member of the advisory board on Economic Policy (since 2020)[https://www.spd.de/service/pressemitteilungen/detail/news/einsetzung-eines-wirtschaftspolitischen-beirats/23/03/2020/ Einsetzung eines Wirtschaftspolitischen Beirats] Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, press release of 23 March 2020.
- German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Member of the council (since 2018)
- Institute for European Politics (IEP), Member of the Board of Trustees[https://iep-berlin.de/en/about/curators/ Board of Trustees] Institute for European Politics (IEP).
Personal life
References
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External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Chiefs of Staff of the German Chancellery}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Wolfgang}}
Category:Politicians from Hamburg
Category:21st-century German lawyers
Category:21st-century German civil servants
Category:21st-century German politicians
Category:Heads of the German Chancellery
Category:Federal government ministers of Germany
Category:Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit