Frank-Walter Steinmeier

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Steinmeier and Condoleezza Rice in Berlin

Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier (born 5 January 1956 in Detmold, Germany) has served as the Foreign Minister of Germany since 22 November 2005 in the Grand Coalition of Angela Merkel. In the first half of 2007 he is also President of the European Council. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

[edit] Background and education

Following his Abitur, he served his military service from 1974 until 1976. He then studied law and political science at the Justus-Liebig-Universität of Gießen. In 1982 he passed his first and 1986 his second state exam in law. He worked as scientific assistant to the professor of public law and political science at the Gießen university, until he obtained his doctorate of law in 1991.

Steinmeier is married and has one daughter.

[edit] Political career

Steinmeier became an adviser in 1991 for law of communication media and media guidelines in the state Chancellery of Lower Saxony in Hanover. In 1993, he became director of the personal office for the then Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Gerhard Schröder. In 1996, he became the Undersecretary of State and Director of the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony.

Steinmeier was appointed in November 1998 as Undersecretary of State in the Office of the Chancellor following Schröder's election victory. He replaced Bodo Hombach as the head of the Office of the Chancellor in 1999. Because of his effective management beyond the spotlight of politics, he was nick-named Die Graue Effizienz (The Grey Efficiency) - alluding to Friedrich von Holstein, Die Graue Eminenz (The Grey Eminence) of the German government around 1900.

On 22 November 2005 he became the new Foreign Minister of Germany in the coalition cabinet formed by Angela Merkel. Unlike many of his predecessors, Steinmeier does not hold the position of Vice-Chancellor, which is given Franz Müntefering. Steinmeier is the first SPD Foreign Minister since Willy Brandt (1966-1969).

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Preceded by Matti Vanhanen	President of the European Council First-Half 2007	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Joschka Fischer	Foreign Minister of Germany 2005–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Bodo Hombach	Chief of the Chancellery 1998–2005	Succeeded by Thomas de Maizière