• In office since 1982

  • Born April 3, 1930, Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate

  • Married, two children

  • 1947 Joined the Christian Democratic Party (CDU)

  • 1950 Abitur (university entrance qualification)

  • 1950-1958 Studied law, social and political science and history at the universities of Frankfurt/Main and Heidelberg

  • 1953-1973 Member of the CDU regional committee, Palatinate

  • 1954-1961 Vice-Chairman of the Junge Union party in Rhineland-Palatinate

  • 1955-1966 Member of the CDU state executive committee, Rhineland-Palatinate

  • 1958 Doctorate in history

  • 1959-1969 Employed in the chemical industry, Ludwigshafen

  • 1959-1967 Member of the Landtag (state parliament), Rhineland-Palatinate

  • 1960-1967 Chairman of the CDU group in the City Council, Ludwigshafen

  • 1961-1963 Vice-Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Landtag, Rhineland-Palatinate

  • 1963-1969 Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Landtag, Rhineland-Palatinate

  • Since 1964 Member of the CDU national executive committee

  • 1966-1973 Chairman of the CDU state executive committee, Rhineland-Palatinate

  • 1969-1973 Vice-Chairman of the CDU national executive committee

  • 1969-1976 Prime Minister of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate

  • Since 1973 Chairman of the CDU national executive committee

  • Since 1976 Member of the German Bundestag

  • 1976 - 1982 Chairman of the parliamentary groups of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) in the German Bundestag

  • 1982-Federal Chancellor ( reelected 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994)

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