Karl Laschet
Karl Laschet | |
---|---|
Laschet's official portrait, 2019. | |
Chancellor of Germany | |
Assumed office September 22, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Marcus Lucke |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office June 7, 2010 – September 22, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Joachim Welf |
Succeeded by | Christian Letz |
Member of the Reichstag for Oldenburg III | |
Assumed office April 5, 2005 | |
Preceded by | Hans Merkel |
Leader of the Center Party | |
Assumed office June 7, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Joachim Welf |
Personal details | |
Born |
Munich, Bavaria, Germany | February 18, 1970
Political party | Center Party |
Spouse(s) | Alice Volker (m. 1990) |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Leipzig University |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Germany |
Branch/service | German Air Force |
Years of service | 1988–present |
Rank | Staff Captain |
Unit | Air Force Reserve |
Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
Karl Walter Laschet (born February 18, 1970) is a German politician and former educator currently serving as the Chancellor of Germany since 2013. A lifelong member of the Zentrum, Laschet also serves as a member of the Reichstag, representing Oldenburg's 3rd electoral district since 2005. He previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in the German parliament from 2010 to 2013. As Chancellor, Laschet is also the leader of the Center Party.
Born and raised in Munich, Bavaria, Laschet would attend and graduate from Leipzig University with a bachelor's degree in education. Following his graduation, Laschet would become a secondary school teacher in the city of Oldenburg, teaching German history and government at the prestigious Innestadt Academy, a private Avignon Catholic secondary school. He was also commissioned as a reserve officer in the German Air Force and was trained as a transport pilot, assigned to the 5th (Reserve) Transport Squadron. Having a strong interest in politics, Laschet would run for office in 2005, being elected to the Reichstag as a member of the Center Party. As a member of the Reichstag, Laschet became known for support laws to "defend Germany's Christian culture and heritage," including restrictions on abortion, and to have a more patriotic education program in German schools. On foreign policy, he advocated for Germany to take a larger role in leading European politics and is a supporter of Transamericanism, strengthening Germany's alliance with the Conference of American States, while at the same time maintaining German sovereignty and freedom of action. He has been critical of the European Community and opposed further projects for European integration. In particular, during his time in the Reichstag he worked to increase relations between the German Center Party and the member parties of the American Conservative Coalition.
Because of his role in pushing for conservative policies and frequently giving speeches in Germany and abroad, including on German foreign policy, he rose to prominence in the late 2000s as a potential future leader in the Center Party. Laschet was elected leader of the party in 2010, and would in turn become Leader of the Opposition while the Reichstag was led by the Left Coalition, consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the German Democratic Party (DDP). As Opposition Leader he became known in Germany for his frequent speeches criticizing the SPD and DDP for their socially liberal policies, and along with British MP Clive Spencer, is seen as part of the early wave of right-wing populist leaders the rose to fame across Europe from the mid-2010s. Laschet took a break from politics in 2011 when he was deployed on active duty with the German Air Force in the Middle East, as part of the German contingent in the ISAF during the Syrian Civil War. As of 2023 he holds the rank of Stabshauptmann ("Staff captain").
In 2013 Laschet led the Center Party in a historic victory to win a majority of seats for the first time since the 1990s and became the Chancellor of Germany. As Chancellor he has increased Germany's participation in the Eurocorps and the ISAF in Syria, brought Germany into closer alignment with the Anglo-America and the United Kingdom, while being critical of the United Commonwealth and China. On domestic policy he worked to pass much of the legislation that he had sponsored while a member of the Reichstag in earlier years, along with new laws on immigration restrictions. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, he initially supported lockdowns and mask mandates in the first few months before reversing his stance and opposing them, along with the majority of the Center Party. During the 2022 Damascus offensive he took part in organizing the evacuation of German and other European nationals from Syria as the Syrian opposition took control of the country. Among his more controversial decisions was to approve sales of German weaponry, including the Leopard 2 main battle tank, to Hashemite Arabia. He also revived the Cold War era "Weimar Triangle" discussion format involving Germany and the leaders of France and Poland, with prime ministers Aleksy Kowalczyk and Oscar de Saint-Just, in 2019.
Early life, education, and career
Educational career
Political career
Chancellor
Political positions
Personal life
See also
- Altverse II
- Living people
- 1970 births
- Leipzig University alumni
- Chancellors of Germany
- Members of the Reichstag 2005–2009
- Members of the Reichstag 2009–2013
- Members of the Reichstag 2013–2017
- Members of the Reichstag 2017–2021
- Leaders of the Center Party (Germany)
- Leaders of the Opposition (Germany)
- Members of the Reichstag for the Center Party
- People from Munich
- German Air Force officers
- German military personnel of the Syrian Civil War
- 21st-century German politicians
- Center Party (Germany) politicians
- German Avignonese Catholics