Daniel Günther

Daniel Günther (born 24 July 1973) is a German politician of Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). Since 28 June 2017 he serves as the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein.[1] From 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019 he served as President of the Bundesrat,[2] being succeeded by Dietmar Woidke.[3]

Daniel Günther
Daniel Günther in 2017
Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein
Assumed office
28 June 2017
DeputyRobert Habeck
Monika Heinold
Heiner Garg
Preceded byTorsten Albig
President of the Bundesrat
In office
1 November 2018 – 31 October 2019
DeputyMichael Müller
Preceded byMichael Müller
Succeeded byDietmar Woidke
Leader of the Opposition in
Schleswig-Holstein
In office
5 October 2014 – 28 June 2017
Minister PresidentTorsten Albig
Preceded byJohannes Callsen
Succeeded byRalf Stegner
Member of the
Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein
for Eckernförde
Assumed office
27 September 2009
Preceded byJost de Jager
Personal details
Born (1973-07-24) 24 July 1973
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany
Nationality Germany
Political party
CDU
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)
Websitehttps://www.daniel-guenther-cdu.de/

Early life and education

Günther studied politics and psychology at University of Kiel.

Career

Career in state politics

Günther has been a member of Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein.[4] since the 2009 state elections. In parliament, he was a member of the Committee on Education (2009–2014) and the Finance Committee (2009–2012). From 2014 until 2017, he served as chairman of the CDU parliamentary group. In this capacity, he was also a member of the Council of Elders.

When Ingbert Liebing resigned in late 2016 from his role as leading candidate for the 2017 state elections after consistently bad polling results,[5] Günther took over.

Since 28 June 2017 Günther has been serving as the 14th Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein. As one of the state's representatives at the Bundesrat, he also serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Role in national politics

Günther was a CDU delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2017 and 2022.[6] In the – failed – negotiations to form a coalition government with the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green Party following the 2017 national elections, he was part of the 19-member delegation of the CDU. In the ensuing negotiations with the Social Democrats, he led the working group on transport and infrastructure, this time alongside Thomas Strobl and Sören Bartol.

Together with Bernd Althusmann, Monika Grütters, Michael Kretschmer and Armin Laschet, Günther co-chaired the CDU’s national convention in Berlin in February 2018.[7] Daniel Günther is his party's lead candidate for the upcoming 2022 Schleswig-Holstein State Election.[8]

Other activities
  • Deutsches Museum, Member of the Board of Trustees[9]
  • Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Ex-Officio chairman of the board of Trustees (since 2017)[10]
  • State Agency for Civic Education, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2012)
  • Stadtwerke Eckernförde, Member of the Supervisory Board (1998–2005)

Political positions

Ahead of the Christian Democrats’ leadership election in 2018, Günther publicly endorsed Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to succeed Merkel as the party's chair.[11] For the 2021 leadership election, he later endorsed Armin Laschet.[12] and supported him as the Christian Democrats' joint candidate to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel in the 2021 national elections.[13]

Personal life

Günther is married to a pediatrician. The couple have two daughters.[14]

References
  1. (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Will states' complicated coalitions shape German election outcome? | News | DW | 28 June 2017". DW.COM. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  2. "Tief Bernd Besonders im Westen Hochwasser und Schäden".
  3. "The President and Presidium". Bundesrat. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  4. Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein. Daniel Günther
  5. CDU-Landeschef Liebing verzichtet auf Kandidatur Die Welt, 28 October 2016.
  6. 17th Federal Convention, 13 February 2022, List of Members Bundestag.
  7. Protokoll: 30. Parteitag der CDU Deutschlands, 26. Februar 2018, Berlin Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
  8. NDR (20 April 2022), "Hoch hinaus": CDU-Spitzenkandidat Daniel Günther im Gespräch (in German), retrieved 26 April 2022
  9. Board of TrusteesDeutsches Museum.
  10. Board of Trustees Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.
  11. Maria Stöhr (6 December 2018), Kampf um die Merkel-Nachfolge: Wer wählt wen? Der Spiegel.
  12. Claudia Henzler (Februar 26, 2020), Kandidaten für den CDU-Parteivorsitz: Südwest-CDU für Merz als Parteichef Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  13. Stefan Böhnke (April 12, 2021), Günther zur Kanzlerkandidatur: Laschet der "richtige Kandidat" Norddeutscher Rundfunk.
  14. Daniel Günther zum zweiten Mal Vater. Lübecker Nachrichten, 14. Oktober 2018, S. 7.
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