Carsten Linnemann
Carsten Linnemann | |
|---|---|
 Linnemann in 2025 | |
| General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union | |
| Assumed office 12 July 2023 Acting: 12 July 2023 – 6 May 2024 | |
| Deputy | Christina Stumpp |
| Leader | Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Mario Czaja |
| Deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic Union | |
| In office 20 January 2022 – 6 May 2024 | |
| Leader | Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Jens Spahn |
| Succeeded by | Karl-Josef Laumann |
| Member of the Bundestag for Paderborn | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Gerhard Wächter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carsten Christoffer Linnemann 10 August 1977 Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany (current-day Germany) |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union |
Carsten Christoffer Linnemann (born 10 August 1977) is a German economist and politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who has been a member of the Bundestag since the 2009 election,[1] representing the constituency of Paderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia.
From 2022, Linnemann was one of five deputy chairs of the CDU, under the leadership of chairman Friedrich Merz.[2] In 2024 he became CDU general secretary after having assumed the position in an acting capacity the year prior; in 2025 he held on to the secretariat rather than becoming a member of the new goverrnment.[3] From 2013 until 2021, Linnemann had been the chairman of the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT), the pro-business wing in the CDU/CSU.[4][5]
Professional career
[edit]Between 2006 and 2007, Linnemann was an assistant to Norbert Walter, chief economist of Deutsche Bank. He subsequently worked as economist with IKB Deutsche Industriebank from 2007 to 2009, where he focused on small and medium enterprises.
Political career
[edit]Since 2009, Linnemann has been serving on the Committee on Labor and Social Affairs, where he is his parliamentary group's rapporteur on welfare payments (Arbeitslosengeld II).
In the negotiations to form a Grand Coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDU together with the Bavarian CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) following the 2013 federal elections, Linnemann was part of the CDU/CSU delegation in the working group on labor policy, led by Ursula von der Leyen and Andrea Nahles. In similar talks following the 2017 federal elections, he was again part of the working group on social affairs, this time led Nahles, Karl-Josef Laumann and Barbara Stamm. However, he later abstained in the party leadership's vote on endorsing the renewed grand coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel.[6]
From 2018 to 2021, Linnemann served as deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group under the leadership of successive chairmen Volker Kauder and Ralph Brinkhaus. In this capacity, he oversaw the group's initiatives on economic policy, small and medium businesses, tourism and energy.
Since 2022, Linnemann has been leading a working group – alongside Serap Güler and Mario Voigt – in charge of drafting the CDU’s new party platform.[7]
Other activities
[edit]- Competence Center for Sustainable Energy Technology, University of Paderborn, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2011)
- Institute for Lightweight Design with Hybrid Systems (ILH), University of Paderborn, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2011)
- Ludwig Erhard Foundation, Member
- SC Paderborn 07, Deputy Chairman of the Business Advisory Council
Political positions
[edit]On 17 July 2015, Linnemann voted against the government's proposal to negotiate a third bailout for Greece.[8] In June 2017, he voted against Germany's introduction of same-sex marriage.[9]
In 2019, Linnemann drew sharp criticism for saying that children who speak little German should not immediately be allowed to enter elementary school.[10]
Ahead of the 2021 national elections, Linnemann endorsed Armin Laschet as the Christian Democrats' joint candidate to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel.[11]
Linnemann is a critic of – in his words "dangerous" – plans to ban far-right AfD.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Deutscher Bundestag: Carsten Linnemann, CDU". Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ Lorenz Hemicker (2 January 2022), Unmut gegenüber Frauen Union? Widmann-Mauz scheitert bei CDU-Präsidiumswahl Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
- ^ "CDU-Generalsekretär Linnemann verzichtet auf Kabinettsposten". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ Those uppity Social Democrats The Economist, 23 November 2013.
- ^ Hermann-Josef Mammes (11 December 2021), Nachfolgerin von Carsten Linnemann: CDU-Abgeordnete Gitta Connemann neue MIT-Bundesvorsitzende Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.
- ^ Andreas Rinke (12 February 2018), Factbox: Who could wield the knife? Scenarios for a Merkel exit Reuters.
- ^ Sabine am Orde (8 February 2022), CDU-Kommission wird breit geführt Die Tageszeitung.
- ^ Paul Carrel (17 July 2015), German lawmakers back Greek bailout despite rebellion; Tsipras sacks dissenters Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Reuters.
- ^ Diese Unionsabgeordneten stimmten für die Ehe für alle Die Welt, 30 June 2017.
- ^ Lawmaker criticized for proposal on kids with poor German Associated Press, 6 August 2019.
- ^ Timo Frasch and Eckart Lohse (12 April 2021), CDU unterstützt Laschet: Von Euphorie keine Spur Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
- ^ "Ban on Germany's far-right AfD could backfire, top conservative warns". Yahoo News. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in German)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1977 births
- Living people
- German economists
- German Roman Catholics
- Members of the Bundestag for North Rhine-Westphalia
- Members of the Bundestag 2021–2025
- Members of the Bundestag 2017–2021
- Members of the Bundestag 2013–2017
- Members of the Bundestag 2009–2013
- Members of the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany
- Members of the Bundestag 2025–2029