Robert Habeck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Habeck
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Habeck in 2024
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| Vice Chancellor of Germany | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 8 December 2021 |
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| Chancellor | Olaf Scholz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Olaf Scholz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 8 December 2021 |
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| Chancellor | Olaf Scholz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Peter Altmaier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of Alliance 90/The Greens | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 January 2018 – 29 January 2022 Serving with Annalena Baerbock
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Cem Özdemir | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Omid Nouripour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 June 2012 – 6 February 2018 |
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| Minister-President | Torsten Albig Daniel Günther |
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| Preceded by | Heiner Garg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Monika Heinold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Energy Transition, Agriculture, the Environment, Nature and Digitization of Schleswig-Holstein | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 June 2012 – 31 August 2018 |
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| Minister-President | Torsten Albig Daniel Günther |
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| Preceded by | Juliane Rumpf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jan Philipp Albrecht | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of Alliance 90/The Greens in the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 October 2009 – 12 June 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Karl-Martin Hentschel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Eka von Kalben | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 2 September 1969 Lübeck, West Germany |
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| Political party | Alliance 90/The Greens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Andrea Paluch
(m. 1996) |
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| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | Hermann Habeck, Hildegard (Granzow) Habeck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Flensburg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Freiburg Roskilde University University of Hamburg (MA, Dr. phil.) |
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| Occupation |
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Robert Habeck was born on 2 September 1969. He is a German politician and a writer. He belongs to the Alliance 90/The Greens political party.
Since 2021, Robert Habeck has been the Vice Chancellor of Germany. He is also the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. He serves in the government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He is also a Member of the German Bundestag for the area of Flensburg – Schleswig. From 2018 to 2022, he was a co-leader of his party, Alliance 90/The Greens, alongside Annalena Baerbock.
In 2009, Habeck was elected to the state parliament of Schleswig-Holstein. He became the leader of his party's group there. From 2012 to 2018, he was the deputy minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein. He also served as a minister for energy, agriculture, environment, and nature. In 2018, he became the federal chairman of his party. He then left his role as a state minister. In the 2021 federal elections, he won his local area seat.
Robert Habeck's Early Life and Education
Robert Habeck finished high school in 1989. After that, he completed his alternative civilian service in 1991. He then started studying for a master's degree. He studied philosophy, German, and philology at the University of Freiburg.
He also studied at Roskilde University in Denmark. In 1996, he earned his master's degree from the University of Hamburg. He continued his studies and received a doctorate in philosophy in 2000. His doctorate focused on how nature is shown in books.
Robert Habeck as a Writer
From 1999, Robert Habeck and his wife, Andrea Paluch, worked as writers. They wrote children's books and translated English poems.
Together, they also published six novels. Some of these books include Hauke Haien's Death (2001) and The Day I Met My Dead Man (2005). Robert Habeck can speak Danish very well.
Robert Habeck's Work in Schleswig-Holstein
In 2009, Robert Habeck was elected to the state parliament in Schleswig-Holstein. This is like a state-level parliament. In 2011, he was chosen as the main candidate for his party in the 2012 state election. From 2009 to 2012, he led the Alliance 90/The Greens group in Schleswig-Holstein.
From 2012 to 2018, Habeck served as the Deputy Minister-President. He was also the State Minister for Energy, Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Areas. He held these roles in two different state governments. The Green Party became the third largest group in the state parliament after the 2017 state elections.
Robert Habeck in the Bundestag
On 27 January 2018, Robert Habeck was chosen as the co-leader of the Green Party. He shared this role with Annalena Baerbock.
In 2021, Robert Habeck was elected to the Bundestag. This is the national parliament of Germany. He won his seat in the Flensburg – Schleswig area.
Robert Habeck as Vice Chancellor
After the 2021 elections, the Green Party joined with other parties to form a new government. This group is called the "traffic light coalition." In December 2021, Chancellor Olaf Scholz named Robert Habeck as Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. He also became the Vice Chancellor. This made him a very important politician in Germany.
In March 2023, Habeck took part in a special meeting. It was the first time the German and Japanese governments met together in Tokyo.
Robert Habeck and Energy Policy
In April 2022, Robert Habeck shared new plans to speed up Germany's use of renewable energy. This was important because Germany wanted to rely less on fossil fuels from Russia. His plan aimed for green energy to provide 80% of Germany's power by 2030. This was a big increase from about 40% in 2022.
Habeck does not support nuclear energy. In 2022, he opposed efforts to call nuclear power a "green" energy source in Europe. However, due to the energy crisis, he announced plans to keep two of Germany's last three nuclear power stations ready for use. This was to make sure there was enough electricity during the winter.
In September 2022, Habeck introduced a €200 billion plan. This plan was to help German businesses and families with high energy costs. In October 2022, he said that the United States and other friendly gas suppliers were charging "astronomical prices." He asked for more help for Europe's energy needs.
Habeck supports the European Green Deal. This plan aims to make Europe climate-neutral. In July 2023, he said that Germany's move to green energy would be challenging for people. He also called for Germany to stop using coal by 2030. In early 2024, some German farmers protested his green policies.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Habeck's ministry decided against keeping Germany's remaining nuclear plants open longer. He argued that the costs were too high. He also said that Germany needed to get more gas for the winter. In March 2022, he met with the leader of Qatar. Germany and Qatar agreed on a long-term energy partnership. Habeck said Germany plans to stop importing natural gas from Russia by mid-2024.
The last three nuclear power plants in Germany were closed on 15 April 2023.
Robert Habeck and Foreign Investments
Under Robert Habeck's leadership, his ministry stopped some foreign companies from buying German businesses. For example, in April 2022, they stopped a Chinese company from buying a German medical device maker. This was to protect public safety. In November 2022, he blocked another Chinese company from buying a German factory. He said Germany needed to protect important industries from possible security risks.
Habeck also supports the free trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries. He believes it is a good chance for both regions.
Robert Habeck and Domestic Policies
Robert Habeck has often said that refugees should be moved out of camps on the Greek islands.
In November 2020, Habeck presented a plan to deal with individuals who might pose a security risk. This plan included hiring more staff for local authorities. This would allow for closer monitoring and better enforcement of arrest warrants. The plan also suggested banning certain extremist groups.
In October 2023, Habeck called for more immigration to Germany. He said that not enough skilled workers was Germany's "most urgent problem." Germany has made it easier for skilled workers from outside the EU to get work visas. In July 2024, Habeck suggested tax breaks for skilled foreign workers.
In September 2024, when the Volkswagen car company faced possible job cuts, Habeck said the government would consider how to help. He believes the government should support the move to electric cars.
Robert Habeck and the 2023 Gaza War
On 2 November 2023, Robert Habeck posted a video about protests in Germany related to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. He stated that burning the flag of Israel or praising Hamas is a crime in Germany. He also said that non-Germans doing this could lose their right to stay in the country. His video was watched over 42 million times in two weeks.
On 11 January 2024, while visiting Sderot near the Gaza strip, Habeck called the lawsuit against Israel for genocide "one of the biggest absurdities." He explained that genocide means "the deliberate will to wipe out ethnic groups or religious communities." However, in May 2024, he said that Israel's actions in Rafah were "incompatible with international law."
Robert Habeck and Defense Spending
In March 2024, Robert Habeck said that Germany cannot always rely on the United States for military support. He stated that Germany needs to increase its own military production. He believes that the defense and arms industries need to be strengthened again for national defense.
Robert Habeck's Personal Life
Robert Habeck is married and has four children. He is a vegetarian.
Images for kids
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Habeck with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 16 February 2024
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Habeck with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 21 November 2024
