Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany

Updated on Nov 15, 2023

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A Federal Minister for Special Affairs (Bundesminister für besondere Aufgaben) is a federal minister without portfolio of Germany.

Currently, the title is commonly given to the head of the Chancellery to provide him with a vote in cabinet meetings. Historically, appointees have been important political aides or politicians waiting for a portfolio or representatives of certain parties, groups or regions. For instance, several East German politicians were appointed after German reunification in 1990.

List of Federal Ministers for Special Affairs

Robert Tillmanns (CDU), 1953-1955

Hermann Schäfer (FDP/FVP), 1953-1956

Waldemar Kraft (BHE), 1953-1956

Franz Josef Strauß (CSU), 1953-1955

Heinrich Krone (CDU), 1961-1966

Ludger Westrick (CDU), 1964-1966, also Head of the Chancellery

Horst Ehmke (SPD), 1969-1972, also Head of the Chancellery

Egon Bahr (SPD), 1972-1974

Werner Maihofer (FDP), 1972-1974

Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), 1984-1989, also Head of the Chancellery

Rudolf Seiters (CDU), 1989-1991, also Head of the Chancellery

Hans Klein (CSU), 1989-1990, also government spokesman

Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German head of state

Lothar de Maizière (CDU), 1990, last East German Prime minister

Günther Krause (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German minister of the Interior

Rainer Ortleb (FDP), 1990-1991, last East German FDP chairman

Hansjoachim Walther (DSU), 1990-1991, last DSU chairman

Friedrich Bohl (CDU), 1991-1998, also Head of the Chancellery

Bodo Hombach (SPD), 1998-1999, also Head of the Chancellery

Thomas de Maizière (CDU), 2005-2009, also Head of the Chancellery

Ronald Pofalla (CDU), 2009-2013, also Head of the Chancellery

Peter Altmaier (CDU), since 2013, also Head of the Chancellery

References

Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany Wikipedia

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