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Winfried Kretschmann
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Kretschmann in 2018
Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg
Assumed office
12 May 2011
Deputy
  • Nils Schmid
  • Thomas Strobl
Preceded by Stefan Mappus
President of the Bundesrat
In office
1 November 2012 – 31 October 2013
First Vice President Horst Seehofer
Preceded by Horst Seehofer
Succeeded by Stephan Weil
Personal details
Born (1948-05-17) 17 May 1948 (age 77)
Spaichingen, Württemberg-Hohenzollern, French occupation zone, Allied-occupied Germany (now Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Political party Alliance 90/The Greens
(1979–)
Other political
affiliations		 Communist League of West Germany
(1973–1975)
Spouses
Gerlinde Kretschmann, née Kienle
​
(m. 1975)​
Alma mater University of Hohenheim
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Teacher
Website www.winfried-kretschmann.de
Military service
Allegiance  Germany
Branch/service Bundeswehr
Years of service 1968–1970

Winfried Kretschmann (born 17 May 1948) is a German politician. He has been the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg since 2011. He is a member of the Alliance '90/Greens party.

From 2012 to 2013, he was the President of the Bundesrat. The Bundesrat is like a second parliament in Germany, representing the different states. He was the first person from the Green Party to hold these important positions. Kretschmann sees himself as a "green conservative," meaning he cares about the environment but also has some traditional political views.

Kretschmann has been a member of the state parliament, called the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg, since 1980. He represents the area of Nürtingen. He was a top candidate for his party in the state elections of 2006 and 2011. He also led his party's group in the parliament.

After the 2011 state election, Kretschmann was chosen as Minister-President on 12 May 2011. He took over from Stefan Mappus. This made him the first Green Party Minister-President in any German state. Kretschmann is very popular. In the 2016 election, many people wanted him to be Minister-President again. He was re-elected in May 2016, leading a new group of parties.

On 12 October 2012, he was elected President of the German Bundesrat. He held this role from 1 November 2012 to 31 October 2013. This was a big deal because it was only the second time since 1953 that the President was not from the two main parties (CDU/CSU or SPD).

Early Life and Education

Kretschmann was born in Spaichingen, a town in Baden-Württemberg. His parents came from a Catholic region called Ermland after World War II. He grew up in a countryside area called the Swabian Alb.

He went to a Catholic boarding school in Sigmaringen. After school, he served in the Bundeswehr, which is Germany's army. Then, he studied to become a teacher at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. He studied biology, chemistry, and later ethics. He finished his studies in 1977.

Political Journey

Starting in Politics

From 1973 to 1975, Kretschmann was part of a group called the Communist League of West Germany. He later said this was a "political mistake." Today, he focuses more on environmental issues and is known as one of the more traditional members of the Green Party.

After teaching for three years in Sigmaringen, Kretschmann decided to go into politics. He was one of the people who helped start the Green Party in Baden-Württemberg in 1979.

In 1980, Kretschmann was first elected to the Landtag, the state parliament. He led his party's group in the parliament from 1983 to 1985. In 1985, he moved to Hessen to work in the environment ministry for two years.

Kretschmann returned to Baden-Württemberg in 1988 and was re-elected to the Landtag. He lost his seat in 1992 but came back in 1996 after teaching again for four years. He kept his seat in the 2001 and 2006 elections. In 2002, he was again chosen to lead his party's group in the parliament.

Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg

In the 2011 state elections, the Green Party gained a lot of support. This happened after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, which made people worry about nuclear power. A group of Greens and Social Democrats won the election. Kretschmann was then elected as the new Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg.

He promised to close nuclear power plants, improve the public school system, and set speed limits on highways. Kretschmann also gained support because his party was against "Stuttgart 21," a large building project in the state capital. His election ended 58 years of rule by the Christian Democratic Union party in Baden-Württemberg.

As Minister-President, Kretschmann is part of groups that help Germany work with other countries. He is in the German-French Friendship Group and the German-Russian Friendship Group.

In 2013, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was looking to form a new government, Kretschmann was part of the Green Party's team that talked with her.

In the 2016 state elections, Kretschmann led the Green Party to a historic win, getting 30% of the votes. This was the first time the Green Party was the strongest single party in a German state election. In May 2016, Kretschmann was confirmed as the leader of a new government made up of Greens and Christian Democrats.

In July 2020, Kretschmann's government in Baden-Württemberg banned full-face coverings like burqas and niqabs for all school children. This rule applies to both primary and secondary schools. Kretschmann said that full-face veiling does not fit in a free society.

After the Green Party's success in the 2021 state elections, Kretschmann was elected for a third time as Minister-President on May 12, 2021.

Political Ideas

Kretschmann is part of the more central and practical side of the Green Party. He is seen as having ideas that support business and a free economy. He calls himself a green conservative. His business-friendly approach has sometimes caused disagreements with his own party.

For example, after the 2013 federal elections, he wanted the Green Party to work with the SPD. However, he criticized his party's election promises, especially their plans to raise taxes. He warned that such moves could harm businesses.

In 2012, when the state of Bavaria wanted to change how money is shared between richer and poorer states in Germany, Kretschmann decided that Baden-Württemberg would not join the lawsuit. Instead, he wanted the states to talk and find a solution together.

Kretschmann has often spoken about policies to fight climate change. In May 2015, he joined other leaders from different states and regions to sign the Under2 MOU. This agreement aims to reduce climate change. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Kretschmann and California Governor Jerry Brown encouraged more leaders to make stronger promises to cut down on pollution.

Other Activities

Kretschmann is involved in several other groups:

  • Central Committee of German Catholics, Member
  • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg, Member of the Council
  • Academy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Member of the Board of Trustees
  • Deutsches Museum, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Trustees

Honours

Personal Life

Kretschmann is a Catholic. He is married to Gerlinde and they have three children. He lives in Sigmaringen.

See also

  • Cabinet Kretschmann
  • Green conservatism
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