Ernst Albrecht
Encyclopedia
Ernst Carl Julius Albrecht (born June 29, 1930 in Leuchtenburg
) is a German
politician of the Christian Democratic Union and a former high-ranking civil servant of the European Commission
. He served as Premier
of the state
of Lower Saxony
from 1976 to 1990.
The son of a doctor, Albrecht studied law and economics, and worked for several years for the predecessor organizations of the European Union
, living in Brussels
with his family. He became a cabinet chief at the Commission of the European Economic Community
in 1958 and a Director-General of the European Commission in 1969. He entered politics in his native Germany when he was elected to the Lower Saxony state legislature in 1970, and moved to Hanover with his family the following year. From 1971 to 1976, he was CEO of Bahlsen
.
When Alfred Kubel
resigned from the office of Premier in 1976, Albrecht was surprisingly elected his successor. Since he received three more votes than his party had representatives in the Legislative Assembly, some members of the governing parties SPD
and FDP must have secretely voted for him.
Albrecht is known for the decision to make the County of Lüchow-Dannenberg
the state's "nuclear district"; only a radioactive waste dump at Gorleben
was realized, however. During his tenure Albrecht was embroiled in an unusually large number of political scandals; most famously, the Celle Hole
. In 1980, Albrecht started a campaign for being elected Chancellor
, but did not prevail against fellow conservative Franz-Josef Strauß. Albrecht lost the 1990 state elections to Gerhard Schröder
, who later became Chancellor.
He is the father of politician Ursula von der Leyen
and Hans-Holger Albrecht
, President & CEO of the Swedish-based European broadcasting group Modern Times Group MTG AB. His brother is George Alexander Albrecht
, a conductor.
Schwanewede
Schwanewede is a municipality in the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 14 km west of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, and 22 km northwest of Bremen.It belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen...
) is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician of the Christian Democratic Union and a former high-ranking civil servant of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. He served as Premier
Prime Minister of Lower Saxony
The Minister-President of Lower Saxony , also referred to as Premier or Prime Minister, is the head of government of the German state of Lower Saxony. The position was created in 1946, when the states of Brunswick, Oldenburg, Schaumburg-Lippe and the State of Hanover were merged to form the state...
of the state
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
from 1976 to 1990.
The son of a doctor, Albrecht studied law and economics, and worked for several years for the predecessor organizations of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, living in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
with his family. He became a cabinet chief at the Commission of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1958 and a Director-General of the European Commission in 1969. He entered politics in his native Germany when he was elected to the Lower Saxony state legislature in 1970, and moved to Hanover with his family the following year. From 1971 to 1976, he was CEO of Bahlsen
Bahlsen
Bahlsen is a German food company based in Hanover. It was founded in July 1889 by Hermann Bahlsen as the Hannoversche Keksfabrik H. Bahlsen. The family of founder Hermann Bahlsen, led by his grandson Werner Bahlsen, continues to control the company...
.
When Alfred Kubel
Alfred Kubel
Alfred Kubel was a German politician; in his later career, he was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.In 1928, after attending Middle School, Kubel became an industrial clerk...
resigned from the office of Premier in 1976, Albrecht was surprisingly elected his successor. Since he received three more votes than his party had representatives in the Legislative Assembly, some members of the governing parties SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and FDP must have secretely voted for him.
Albrecht is known for the decision to make the County of Lüchow-Dannenberg
Lüchow-Dannenberg
Lüchow-Dannenberg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany which is usually referred to as Hannoversches Wendland or Wendland. It is bounded by the districts of Uelzen and Lüneburg and the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania , Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt Lüchow-Dannenberg is a district in...
the state's "nuclear district"; only a radioactive waste dump at Gorleben
Gorleben
Gorleben is a small municipality in the Gartow region of the Lüchow-Dannenberg district in the far north-east of Lower Saxony, Germany, a region also known as the Wendland....
was realized, however. During his tenure Albrecht was embroiled in an unusually large number of political scandals; most famously, the Celle Hole
Celle Hole
Celle Hole is a breach in the outer wall of the prison of Celle, Germany. First used on July 25, 1978, the name was part of a campaign by one of the West German secret services and the GSG 9 in an attempt to lay blame on the Red Army Faction, West Germany's most active and prominent left-wing...
. In 1980, Albrecht started a campaign for being elected Chancellor
Chancellor of Germany
The Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
, but did not prevail against fellow conservative Franz-Josef Strauß. Albrecht lost the 1990 state elections to Gerhard Schröder
Gerhard Schröder
Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder is a German politician, and was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor...
, who later became Chancellor.
He is the father of politician Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician of the conservative Christian Democratic Union.Since 30 November 2009, she has served as the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Second Cabinet Merkel. In the First Cabinet Merkel , she served as Federal Minister of Family...
and Hans-Holger Albrecht
Hans-Holger Albrecht
Hans-Holger Albrecht is a German President and CEO of the Swedish-based European broadcasting group Modern Times Group MTG AB which is part of the Kinnevik Group, controlled by the Stenbeck family...
, President & CEO of the Swedish-based European broadcasting group Modern Times Group MTG AB. His brother is George Alexander Albrecht
George Alexander Albrecht
George Alexander Albrecht is a German conductor. His brother Ernst Albrecht is a politician. His son is the conductor Marc Albrecht....
, a conductor.