Jürgen Rüttgers

Jürgen Rüttgers ( born June 26, 1951 in Cologne ) is a German politician ( CDU). He was on 22 June 2005 to 14 July 2010 Minister President of North Rhine -Westphalia. From 17 November 1994 to 27 October 1998, Rüttgers Federal Minister for Education, Science, Research and Technology in the fifth Kohl government.

• 3.1 Sponsorship Affair
• 3.2 donations scandal

Life and career

Education and work

Jürgen Rüttgers was born the son of an electric master. Rüttgers visited the Richeza Elementary School Brauweiler. In his youth he was a member of the German scouts St. George. In 1961 he moved to the Apostle School in Cologne - Lindenthal. After graduation in 1969 Rüttgers began studying law and history, which he finished in 1975 with the first in 1978 with the second legal state examination. He is a member of the fraternity K.D.St.V. Rappoltstein (Strasbourg ) in Cologne CV. In 1979 he was at the University of Cologne after the submission of a working party on the prohibition of political activity in operation for Dr. iur. doctorate. From 1978 to 1980 he was employed as a secretary at the Association of Towns and Municipalities of North Rhine -Westphalia. From 1980 to 1987 he was Deputy Mayor of the City Pulheim for urban development, finance and environmental protection. Rüttgers is Chairman of the Board of the Foundation further seen in the trusteeship of africa action / Germany (formerly ghana action). This foundation was founded in 2002 by him. It has the main objective, help for eye diseases and disabled people in Africa as well as the training of local professionals for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to promote the needy. In March 2011 Rüttgers began to work as an of counsel 's Dusseldorf office of the law firm Beiten Burkhardt. Since the summer semester 2011 he is a lecturer at the University of Bonn, since 2013 honorary professor at the Maastricht School of Management. Since July 2011, Rüttgers board member of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Political career

Since 1970 Rüttgers is a member of the CDU. From 1975 to 1980 he was a member of the Council of Pulheim. From 1980 to 1986 he was state chairman of the Junge Union in Rhineland. From 1981 to 2010 he was a full member of the regional board of the CDU North Rhine -Westphalia. In 1985 he was elected Chairman of the CDU district association Erftkreis, today Rhine -Erft chosen in 1993 as the Deputy Chairman of the CDU North Rhine -Westphalia. From 1987 to 2000 Rüttgers was a member of the German Bundestag. Here he became chairman of the Enquete Commission on " Technology Assessment and Evaluation ". After that, he was Parliamentary Secretary from 1989 and from 1991 to 1994 First Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group, its " friendly Fine Art" many opponents to have deceived. After the 1998 election he was elected Deputy Chairman of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group. In this role he was to succeed Rupert Scholz responsible for the policies domestic and legal policy. Rüttgers was last (14th legislature 1998) collected over the national list North Rhine-Westphalia to the German Bundestag. In its publication "Dinosaurs of Democracy" (1993 ) he developed concrete proposals for self- circumcision of the parties in favor of a civic self-organization and control. Following the resignation Norbert Blüm as state chairman elected him the CDU North Rhine- Westphalia in 1999 to his successor. From April 2000 to November 2010, he was also one of the four federal deputy chairmen of the CDU.

From 2000 to 2012 Rüttgers was a member of the Landtag of North Rhine -Westphalia from 2000 to 2005 and served as Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group. In 2000, he moved about the country's list of his party in the state legislature, in the state elections in 2005 and 2010, he was his constituency Rhine -Erft I ( Bedburg, Bergheim, Sindelsdorf and Pulheim ) gain directly. In 2012, he no longer went to for his constituency.

Minister for Education, Science, Research and Technology (1994-1998)

After the parliamentary election in 1994 convened Chancellor Helmut Kohl on 17 November 1994 Jürgen Rüttgers as a Federal Minister for Education, Science, Research and Technology, a member of the federal government and thus in the Cabinet Kohl V. Rüttgers education and research policy proposals had before the election submitted. So he propagated the idea of ​​establishing a " German Academy of Science and Technology ".

This from the merger of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science and the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology newly created Office should present the innovative spirit of the then Federal Government and was advertising referred to as " future ministry ." Rüttgers designated time education policy as the best social welfare in the 21st century. During his tenure covers inter alia the student loan reform of 1995. 's Masterpiece - federal financial aid was introduced, increased allowances and requirements records, set the maximum rate of federal financial aid to 1,050 DM. In 1997, he tried to reform the Higher Education Act, which provided for a stronger evaluation of research and teaching, respecs the standard period of study, the introduction of Bachelor 's and Master's degrees and teaching ability of professors tests together with the provinces. The SPD - dominated Bundesrat rejected this student loan reform in 1998 from however. Regardless of this rejection came the " Fourth Act to amend the Higher Education Act " then on 20 August 1998 in force ( Federal Law Gazette 1998, pp. 2190 ff.) By the year 1998, the education and research budget rose to 14.95 billion DM in biotechnology, communications technology and environmental research have been particularly encouraged. Rüttgers brought the IuKDG (Information and Telecommunications Services Act ) on the road, which contains provisions on data protection, for secure payments on the Internet and the protection of minors. He positioned himself as a committed proponent of biotechnology; his ministry represented approximately DM 900 million annually for the research area. After losing 1998 election, he resigned from the government on 26 October 1998.

CDU state chairman and opposition leader in North Rhine -Westphalia (1999-2005)

After the end of the bourgeois- liberal coalition Rüttgers was elected on 22 October 1998 Deputy leader of the Union in the Bundestag. In April 2000, he was elected as part of the renewal and rejuvenation of the party leadership to deputy CDU chairman. In North Rhine -Westphalia Rüttgers sparked after a crucial vote against Helmut Linssen on 29 January 1999, no longer antretenden as a candidate Norbert Blum from the CDU state chairman. In the state elections in 2000 Rüttgers stood as the top candidate of the CDU for the office of Prime Minister of North Rhine -Westphalia, but could not achieve a majority. His campaign stressed nor the previously become known in the CDU funding scandal. In North Rhine- Westphalia is Rüttgers committed for a values-based approach to biotechnology and genetic engineering, and grappled with issues of labor and social policy. As a state party chief it was confirmed with 83.5 % of the vote in April 2003.

Prime Minister of North Rhine -Westphalia (2005-2010)

After the CDU had emerged victorious from the state election on 22 May 2005 with the FDP worked out a coalition agreement, Jürgen Rüttgers was elected on 22 June 2005 as Prime Minister of North Rhine -Westphalia. Thus, the 39 - year reign of the SPD was completed in the largest German state. As prime minister, called for Rüttgers, the CDU should be better focused on workers' interests. Rüttgers was then referred to as " worker leaders" in the CDU. His foray received much approval, party internally but have been criticized. His re-election as Vice-Chairman of the Federal Congress in Dresden fell 57.7 % from conceivable therefore bad. His proposal of a phased extension of unemployment benefits, especially for older unemployed, but prevailed in the Grand Coalition and was decided in November 2007.

Rüttgers gave the so-called " coal compromise" that governs a socially acceptable reduction of subsidized coal mining in Germany until 2018. In 2009 Rüttgers successfully fought for the Opel workforce and against the possible closure of the Opel plant in Bochum. Given the financial crisis called Rüttgers a return to the social market economy.

At the state election in North Rhine -Westphalia in 2010 Rüttgers came again as the top candidate for the CDU. After his CDU / FDP government lost its majority in parliament, succeeded in the period between the election and the inaugural meeting of the new Landtag any party to lead successful coalition negotiations, so that initially no new government was elected. According to Article 62, Section 2 (" The Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister shall in any case with the convening of a new parliament [ ... ]") and Article 62, paragraph 3 (" In the case of [ the ] termination of the mandate the members of the provincial government continue their office until the assumption of office of the successor. " ) of the State Constitution led Rüttgers with convening of the new state parliament on 9 June 2010 and until the election of Hannelore Kraft (SPD ) as prime minister on 14 July 2010, the business of government continues.

On 18 June 2010 Rüttgers announced after a meeting of CDU Land Executive Committee in Dusseldorf that he would not run for North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister and also did not want to be CDU parliamentary leader. On 24 June 2010, he announced his withdrawal from political office.

Private

Rüttgers is Roman Catholic, married since 1982 and has three sons. The family lives in Pulheim.

Public policy positions and controversies

Before the state election in 2000 Rüttgers sparked controversy by the ascribed campaign slogan of " children instead of Indians " that should illustrate a preference for the CDU for the development of adolescent children instead of immigrating foreigners. Foreign IT workers in particular from India should be invited by the regime established by the Red-Green Federal Government Green Card to Germany. Background was an interview (from the Associated Press, published in the WAZ of 8 March 2000 ), in which he said: "Instead of Indians to the computer, our children have to the computer ." This then was the headline " CDU politician: children instead of Indians to the computer ." the reduced to the slogan " children instead of Indians " was then taken over by the Republicans in the state elections of 2000.

Under the principle of 2006 congress of the CDU expressed Rüttgers that you can not automatically create jobs by lower the taxes. Rüttgers demanded by the CDU, to say goodbye to " neo-liberal delusions ", including from the belief that more tax breaks for companies automatically led to more jobs. Because of these statements Rüttgers was criticized by party members, but also supported, for example, by Heiner Geissler. In his published on 13 September 2007 polemic " The market economy must remain socially " renewed Rüttgers his theses and among other things criticized the immigration policies of the grand coalition.

Rüttgers designated at two campaign events in August and September 2009, before the 2009 federal election Romanian workers as lazy and unreliable. Following the publication of the corresponding speech excerpts to Rüttgers apologized.

Monitoring of the SPD opposition leader Hannelore Kraft in September 2009 led to renewed allegations. Only it was claimed that the CDU NRW let monitor power from a professional company via video. Then it was announced that this surveillance was coordinated out of the State.

Sponsorship affair

On February 20, 2010 reported Spiegel Online that the party headquarters of the NRW CDU had so-called " partner packages " offered in promotional mailings companies, associations and other potientellen sponsors for their party congress in March 2010 to purchase, with which these except the rental of exhibition space also could arrange confidential discussions with members of the state government. To comprised about a 20,000 - euro partners package a stand up to 15 square meters in the hall, the congress hall for 14,000 euros, then - for an extra charge of 6000 Euros - a visit of the Prime Minister, including " private conversation " in this state, including photo opportunity. Moreover, it was a place at the table Rüttgers be purchased at dinner. Fees for information stands ( at party ) were also in the other parties (except the Left Party ) usual - but in much lower height and without the offer of individual interviews. Due to the significant amounts involved and the costs promised confidential interviews it was suspected that an attempt was made in this way to circumvent the provisions of the Law on Political Parties ( Party Law ), to the CDU covert - to allow flow to party donations - illegal. The Parteienrechtler Martin Morlok expressed the opinion: "The sale of call times would be a violation of the law on political parties. You can ... the seen as prohibited donation. "

Prime Minister Rüttgers distanced himself on 21 February 2010 by the advertising letters from his party headquarters and stated that he had known nothing of the years of aggressive advertising by sponsors. He had therefore " instructed to stop this immediately. " Its Secretary-General Hendrik Wuest He added: ". In the past there has been in this context no -one meetings "

2004 Der Spiegel reported on an invitation to the company presentation on the " first Future Congress "of the CDU NRW that year in Bonn. The sponsorship package for 14,000 euros at the time was a " Road Show" included in the Rüttgers would visit as a top candidate of the CDU NRW the state of the company sponsors. On the "2nd Future Congress " of the CDU NRW in 2006 in Dusseldorf were also " partner packages are offered. " Jürgen Rüttgers thanked the, responsible for this particular type of advertising Cologne advertising agency with the following words: " In discussions with speakers, sponsors and participants, I got a very positive response to this unique in North Rhine -Westphalia Congress".

Hendrik Wuest took over responsibility for the sales letters and resigned from his post. Rüttgers claimed to have had no knowledge of such letters, but admitted that the affair damages the CDU incurred during the election campaign. He beat Andreas Krautscheid ago as the new Secretary General.

Donations scandal

The " voters for the change " initiative collected 2005 money for posters and newspaper ads in favor of the then opposition candidate Rüttgers during the NRW state election campaign. According NRW CDU General Secretary Andreas Krautscheid his party was on at a very early stage in the election campaign plans, establishment and operation of the initiative, which occurred outside as partisan. The NRW - CDU had completed at the turn of 2004/2005 with the Frankfurt communications agency team one worth 40,000 euros contract, which ran over a period of half a year. Team should build for the voter initiative, organize and supervise their work.

Since the ballot initiative did not act autonomously, the revenues of approximately 31,000 euros would have to be declared as income of the NRW - CDU, did not show up in the annual report 2005, the NRW - CDU on but, although the initiative sent her all the documents and the invoice documents to the party headquarters. The Bundestag Administration issued against the CDU for violating the law on political parties a notice of a penalty in the amount of 62,000 euros.

Honors and Awards

Publications

• What does the digitization of the world means political. In: Hubert Burda, Döpfner, Bodo Hombach, Jürgen Rüttgers (ed.): 2020 - Thoughts on the future of the Internet. Plain text, Essen 2010, ISBN 978-3-8375-0376-0.
• Jürgen Rüttgers (eds): Berlin is not Weimar: The Future of the People's parties. Plain text, Essen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8375-0290-9.
• Jürgen Rüttgers (ed.): Who pays the bill? Ways out of the crisis. Plain text, Essen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8375-0196-4.
• Volker Kronenberg: Jürgen Rüttgers: A Political Biography. Olzog, Munich 2009, ISBN 978-3-7892-8203-4.
• The market economy must remain socially: a polemic. Kiepenheuer & Petrovich, Cologne 2007, ISBN 978-3-462-03931-3.
• What is important now. Bastion Luebbe, Bergisch Gladbach 2005, ISBN 3-404-60557-8.
• Turning point, turn times. The Year 2000 project: the knowledge society. Siedler Verlag, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-88680-678-2.
• Dinosaurs of democracy: Ways out of the crisis and party politics. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1993, ISBN 3-455-08474-5.
• Jürgen Rüttgers, Eduard Oswald (ed.): Protecting the unborn life: The Union in the debate in the German Bundestag on 25 June 1992 the CDU / CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Bonn 1992..
• Europe ways to space: Programs - Protests - forecasts. Umschau Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1989, ISBN 3- 524-69084 -X.
• Jürgen Rüttgers (eds.): 40 Years Young Rhineland Union: Story of a political youth association. Koenig, Bergisch Gladbach, 1986, ISBN 3-923248-07-5.
• Siegfried Honert, Jürgen Rüttgers: National Water Law North Rhine -Westphalia comment. German community Verlag, Cologne 1981, ISBN 3-555-30191-8 ( Municipal fonts for North Rhine -Westphalia. Vol. 42). 6th Edition: Siegfried Honert, Jürgen Rüttgers, Joachim sands, German community Verlag, Cologne 1996, ISBN 3-555-30377-5.
• Siegfried Honert, Jürgen Rüttgers: ABC of wastewater discharge: adoption of the Waste Water Charges Act in brief taking into account the state law implementing legislation for management and business. German community Verlag, Cologne 1983, ISBN 3-555-00409-3.
• The ban on party political activities in operation. Thesis. Cologne 1979.