Armin Laschet

Armin Laschet ( born February 18, 1961 in Aachen ) is a German politician ( CDU). He was from 2005 to 2010 in the cabinet Rüttgers Minister for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of North Rhine -Westphalia. June 30, 2012 Laschet was elected as the new Chairman of the CDU North Rhine -Westphalia. Since December 18, 2013, he is also a CDU parliamentary group chairman opposition leader in the parliament of North Rhine -Westphalia.

Background and education

Laschet grew up in a conservative catholic middle class family in Burtscheid district of Aachen. As a high school student, he was very active in the parish and youth of St. Michael in Aachen. After his graduation in 1980, he studied law and political science in Munich and Bonn, and laid in the year 1987, the first legal state exam. In Munich, he became a member of K.D.St.V. Aenania Munich in the CV. From 1986 to 1988 he trained as a journalist, and from 1986 to 1991 as Bonn correspondent for Bavarian radio station ( Charivari group) and the Bavarian television ( Report München ) operates. Parallel to this, he served from 1987 to 1994 as a research consultant for the President of the German Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth in Bonn. In 1991 he became editor of the church newspaper Aachen and worked between 1995 and 1999 as publishing director of the Einhard -Verlag. Laschet is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

CDU politician since 1979

With 18 years was Laschet CDU member. In 1989 he moved as the youngest councilor for the CDU in the Aachen City Council and was active there for 15 years for local politics in Aachen. He was regional chairman of the CDU -Aachen 2001. In 2008 he was elected to the CDU Federal Board. 2010 Laschet ran for the office of Chairman of the CDU Regional Association of North Rhine -Westphalia, which had become vacant by the retirement of the previous incumbent Jürgen Rüttgers after the state elections of 2010. He was defeated in a survey of members of his rival candidates Röttgen.

Röttgen announced after the state elections on 13 May 2012 no longer to run in June as chairman of the CDU Regional Association of North Rhine -Westphalia. Thus began a succession debate. When CDU special party June 30, 2012 Laschet was elected as the new Chairman of the CDU North Rhine -Westphalia.

Laschet left open in May, if he at the next state election ( in 2017 ) takes up as CDU top candidate. First of all it was to get a good result for the CDU in the Bundestag election in 2013 in NRW.

CDU delegate since 1994

In 1994 he won the direct mandate for the electoral district of Aachen City in elections to the German Bundestag, where he remained until 1998. He was elected MEP 1999. There he was involved mainly in the foreign and security policy, international cooperation and budgetary policy. On 24 June 2005 Laschet was appointed State Minister for the newly tailored Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of North Rhine -Westphalia ( generation minister) in the Cabinet Rüttgers. His term ended with the takeover of government responsibility by the Red-Green minority government under Hannelore force on 14 July 2010. During the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 9, 2010, he was first elected to the state parliament of North Rhine -Westphalia.

In the preferred NRW state election 13 May 2012 Laschet took over the national list ( 5th place) again in the state legislature.

On December 18, 2013 Laschet was elected with 64 votes as the new Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in North Rhine -Westphalia and thus the leader of the opposition in the parliament.

Public offices

He is a member of the Board of the German Society for the United Nations.

Political positions

Religion dialogue

As Minister for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration ( MGFFI ) he campaigned for the generation of dialogue and dialogue with Muslims. In 2008, he said, Christians should bring more to hearing when they see their faith violated by about jokes. As chairman of the CDU NRW Laschet promoted the candidacy of Turkish Cemile Giousouf in the general election of 2013.

Sarrazin debate

In 2010 he criticized the statements of German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the former Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin and his book Germany abolishes itself. Angela Merkel had " not helpful " called the book, and later admitted to have not read it. Laschet it is "not for help when sentenced a book and at the same time says you have not read it " designated.

Energy policy

In September 2012, Laschet and Christian Lindner ( state chairman of the FDP) co-authored an article with the title "Down with the energy - planned economy " The article was published as a guest post in the Rheinische Post.

Equality of homosexuals

Laschet regarded as an opponent of equality of gay marriage with the conventional marriage.

Foreign Policy

For civil war in Syria said Laschet, the foreign policy of Guido Westerwelle was wrong. "It is absurd that in Syria the same people are supported, but we are fighting in Mali. There are financed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia terrorist groups al - Nusra and al -Qaida, to introduce the Sharia courts and fight the religious diversity of Syria, "he said in an interview with the world.

The Egypt - policy Westerwelle criticized Laschet sharp. As a result of the revolution in Egypt called Westerwelle the release of former President Mohammed Mursi. Laschet then declared that there just have suffered Mursi particularly minorities and Christians.

Transport policy

Laschet ruled out the required by Horst Seehofer car toll and said: "The drivers are already the cash cow of the nation. You pay in mineral and vehicle tax more than the state for infrastructure uses. "

Private

Armin Laschet is married to Susanne Laschet and father of three children. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Adalbert Foundation and the General Assembly of the Central Committee of German Catholics ( ZdK ). He is akin to the Berlin poet HEL Toussaint (Herbert Laschet Toussaint ).

Publications

• The climber Republic. Immigration as an opportunity. Kiepenheuer & Petrovich, Cologne 2009, ISBN 978-3-462-04105-7.