Hubertus Heil
Encyclopedia
Hubertus Heil is a German
politician
. In 2005 he became general secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD). In September 2009, after immense losses for the SPD during the German federal election, Heil announced his resignation from this position for November. Andrea Nahles
succeeded him as general secretary in November 2009.
After receiving his Abitur
in 1992 Heil first served his Zivildienst
, then began studying sociology
and political science
at the University of Potsdam
and the FernUniversität Hagen
in 1995. From 1995 to 1997 Heil was executive director of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Arbeitnehmerfragen, a leftist study group inside the SPD
, representing the workers' wing of the party, although he was reputed to belong to the undogmatical reform socialist wing during his Juso
time.
from 1991 to 1995. Today he is deputy cairman of the SPD in Braunschweig.
In November 2005 the then designated party leader Matthias Platzeck
proposed the relatively unknown Heil as candidate for the new secretary general, after Franz Müntefering
had resigned as SPD chairman and the elected general secretary Andrea Nahles
had abandoned. Heil was elected new general secretary of the SPD, but he received only 61,2% of the votes, about 20% less than his predecessor Klaus Uwe Benneter
.
He has described himself as an anti-communist
.
since 1998. He was a member of the executive board of the SPD's parliamentary group from 2002 to 2004. In 2005 Heil was for the third time directly elected into the Bundestag by winning in his electoral district Gifhorn
-Peine
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. In 2005 he became general secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD). In September 2009, after immense losses for the SPD during the German federal election, Heil announced his resignation from this position for November. Andrea Nahles
Andrea Nahles
Andrea Maria Nahles is a German politician, a Bundestag representative for the Social Democratic Party of Germany and former SPD Youth leader...
succeeded him as general secretary in November 2009.
After receiving his Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1992 Heil first served his Zivildienst
Zivildienst
Zivildienst is the civilian branch of the national service systems in Austria and Switzerland. In Germany as well Zivildienst was the alternative service to military service until suspension of conscription in 2011...
, then began studying sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Potsdam
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a German university, situated across four campuses in Potsdam, Brandenburg, including the New Palace of Sanssouci and the Park Babelsberg.- Profile :...
and the FernUniversität Hagen
FernUniversität Hagen
The University of Hagen, is the largest and the only state-run distance teaching university in Germany. The Headquarters are located in Hagen, Germany....
in 1995. From 1995 to 1997 Heil was executive director of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Arbeitnehmerfragen, a leftist study group inside the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, representing the workers' wing of the party, although he was reputed to belong to the undogmatical reform socialist wing during his Juso
Young Socialists in the SPD
Young Socialists in the SPD is the youth organization of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .The Jusos see themselves as a socialist and feminist association within the SPD. Generally more left-wing in their approach to current events than their mother party, Jusos tend to criticize leading...
time.
Party career
Hubertus Heil joined the SPD in 1988. At first he was engaged at the Jusos and he was their chairman in the district of BraunschweigBraunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
from 1991 to 1995. Today he is deputy cairman of the SPD in Braunschweig.
In November 2005 the then designated party leader Matthias Platzeck
Matthias Platzeck
Matthias Platzeck is a German politician. He has been Minister-President of Brandenburg since 2002 and party chairman of the SPD from November 2005 to April 2006.-Private life:...
proposed the relatively unknown Heil as candidate for the new secretary general, after Franz Müntefering
Franz Müntefering
Franz Müntefering is a German politician and industrial manager. He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 18 October 2008 to 13 November 2009, a position he already held from 2004 to 2005...
had resigned as SPD chairman and the elected general secretary Andrea Nahles
Andrea Nahles
Andrea Maria Nahles is a German politician, a Bundestag representative for the Social Democratic Party of Germany and former SPD Youth leader...
had abandoned. Heil was elected new general secretary of the SPD, but he received only 61,2% of the votes, about 20% less than his predecessor Klaus Uwe Benneter
Klaus Uwe Benneter
Klaus Uwe Benneter is a German politician and member of the SPD. He is widowed and has one son.- Education and early life :...
.
He has described himself as an anti-communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
.
Parliamentary career
Heil has been a member of the BundestagBundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
since 1998. He was a member of the executive board of the SPD's parliamentary group from 2002 to 2004. In 2005 Heil was for the third time directly elected into the Bundestag by winning in his electoral district Gifhorn
Gifhorn
Gifhorn is a town and capital of the district Gifhorn in the east of Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 42,000 and is mainly influenced by the small distance to the industrial and commercially important cities nearby, Brunswick and Wolfsburg...
-Peine
Peine
Peine is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, capital of the district Peine. It is situated on the river Fuhse and the Mittellandkanal, approx. 25 km west of Braunschweig, and 40 km east of Hanover.- History :...
.