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Klaus Hänsch
Hänsch EC President Portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 1994
President of the European Parliament
In office
19 July 1994 – 14 January 1997
Preceded by Egon Klepsch
Succeeded by José María Gil-Robles
Personal details
Born (1938-12-15) 15 December 1938 (age 86)
Sprottau, Germany (modern Szprotawa, Poland)
Political party SPD, PES

Klaus Hänsch was born on 15 December 1938 in Szprotawa. He is a German politician who played a big part in European politics. He was a member of the European Parliament for many years.

Understanding the European Parliament

The European Parliament is like the parliament or congress for the whole European Union. It is where elected members from different countries in Europe work together. They make important decisions and laws that affect everyone in the European Union.

What is a Member of the European Parliament?

A Member of the European Parliament, or MEP, is a person chosen by voters to represent their country. They work in the European Parliament to speak for the people who elected them. Klaus Hänsch was an MEP for Germany. He served from 17 July 1979 until 13 July 2009. That's a long time!

The Role of Political Parties in Europe

Just like in many countries, there are different political parties in Europe. Klaus Hänsch belonged to the Social Democratic Party of Germany, often called the SPD. This party is one of the main political groups in Germany.

He also sat with the Party of European Socialists (PES) group. This is a group of political parties from different European countries that share similar ideas. They work together in the European Parliament.

Klaus Hänsch's Leadership Role

Klaus Hänsch held important leadership positions during his time in the European Parliament. He was a vice-chairman of the PES group starting in 1989. This means he was one of the leaders of this big group of politicians.

Becoming President of the European Parliament

One of his most important roles was being the President of the European Parliament. He held this high position from 1994 to 1997. The President of the European Parliament is a very important job. They lead the meetings and represent the Parliament to the rest of the world. It's like being the speaker of a national parliament.

What the President Does

As President, Klaus Hänsch helped guide the work of the Parliament. He made sure debates ran smoothly and that decisions were made fairly. He also met with leaders from other countries and organizations. This helped to strengthen the European Union's relationships around the world.

His Legacy in European Politics

Klaus Hänsch spent many years working for European cooperation. His long service as an MEP and his time as President show his dedication. He helped shape the laws and policies that affect millions of people in Europe. His work contributed to making the European Union stronger.

See also

In Spanish: Klaus Hänsch para niños

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