Thomas Oppermann
Encyclopedia
Thomas Oppermann is a German
politician with the Social Democratic Party
(SPD). From 1998-2003, he was the Minister for Science and Culture in the German state of Lower Saxony
. He has been the speaker of the SPD faction in the Bundestag
since November 2007.
diploma from the Goetheschule in Einbeck
. Afterwards, he studied Germanics and English studies
at Eberhard Karls University in 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 Georg August University in Göttingen
, finishing in 1986. From then until 1990, he was an administrative court
judge in Hannover and later in Braunschweig
. From 1988 to 1989, he was the judge at the administrative court in the city of Hann. Münden
. Oppermann has three daughters and one son.
from 1990-2005. He was speaker for political law there from 1990-1998. From 2003 to 2005, he was the economic speaker of the state SPD faction. From 2001-2005, he was also a member of the county council
in Göttingen. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Bundestag
(German parliament). 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 service (Geheimdienst-Untersuchungsausschuss). He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Hertie School of Governance
.
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 with the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD). From 1998-2003, he was the Minister for Science and Culture in the German state of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. He has been the speaker of the SPD faction in the Bundestag
Bundestag
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 November 2007.
Life and career
Oppermann received his abiturAbitur
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...
diploma from the Goetheschule in Einbeck
Einbeck
Einbeck is a town in the district Northeim, in southern Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the German Timber-Frame Road.-Economy:Einbeck is famous for its 600 year old beer brewery, home of Einbecker Bier, the origin for the term Bock beer...
. Afterwards, he studied Germanics and English studies
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. From 1976 to 1978, he worked at Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP)
Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP)
The Action Reconciliation Service for Peace is a German peace organization founded to confront the legacy of Nazism.The Action Reconciliation Service for Peace was founded in 1958 by the synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany, driven by the efforts of Lothar Kreyssig...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After his return to Germany, he went to law school at Georg August University in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, finishing in 1986. From then until 1990, he was an administrative court
Administrative court
Greece, as a civil law country has administrative courts. The establishment of those courts can be found in article 94 of the Constitution of the Hellenic Republic 1975, as revised in 2001. The administrative courts are composed from districts Courts of First Instance, district Courts of Appeal and...
judge in Hannover and later in Braunschweig
Braunschweig
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 1988 to 1989, he was the judge at the administrative court in the city of Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden is the German official name of a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is located in the district of Göttingen at the confluence of the Fulda and Werra rivers, which join to form the river Weser. It has 28,000 inhabitants...
. Oppermann has three daughters and one son.
Party Membership
Oppermann has been a member of the (SPD) since 1980 and president of the regional SPD in Göttingen since 1989.Political career
Oppermann was a member of the Lower Saxon LandtagLower Saxon Landtag
The Lower Saxon Landtag or the Parliament of Lower Saxony is the state diet of the German state of Lower Saxony. It convenes in Hanover and currently consists of 152 members of five Parties...
from 1990-2005. He was speaker for political law there from 1990-1998. From 2003 to 2005, he was the economic speaker of the state SPD faction. From 2001-2005, he was also a member of the county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
in Göttingen. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Bundestag
Bundestag
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...
(German parliament). 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 service (Geheimdienst-Untersuchungsausschuss). He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Hertie School of Governance
Hertie School of Governance
The Hertie School of Governance is a private university in Berlin, in the historic Quartier 110 of Friedrichstraße. The school is regarded as one of the leading policy institutes in Europe...
.
External links
- Thomas Opperman official website Retrieved 12 March 2010