Katherina Reiche
Encyclopedia
Katherina Reiche is a German politician. She has been deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU
's parliamentary group since 2005.
After receiving her Abitur
in 1992, she studied chemistry
at the University of Potsdam
, Clarkson University
in New York
and the University of Turku
in Finland
. In 1997 she received her Diploma
.
In 1992 Reiche was one of the founding members of the Ring Christlich-Demokratischer Studenten (Association of Christian-Democrat Students, RCDS) in Potsdam and in the same year she joined the Junge Union
. Since 1996 she has also been member of the CDU. In 2000 Katherina Reiche became a member of the federal executive of the CDU and she also is part of the party's executive board in the state of Brandenburg
.
Since 1998 she has been a member of the Bundestag
. There she was chairman of the working group Bildung und Forschung ("Education and Science") in the years 2002 to 2005. In November 2005 she became deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU's parliamentary group in the sectors Bildung und Forschung ("Education and Science") and Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit ("Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety").
During the election campaign in 2002 she was conscripted into the CDU/CSU's competence team by then chancellor candidate Edmund Stoiber
, as an expert on women,youth and family policies.This decision was criticized by conservative circles inside the two parties,because Reiche was an unmarried mother at that point of time.
She is a political confidant of today's Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Ursula von der Leyen
.
During the election campaign 2005 she denominated the opponents of genetic engineering
as "Bioterroristen" ("Bioterrorists"). She also criticized the two then government parties SPD
and the Greens for trying to catch votes with this subject and stirring up the people's fears for the future.
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
's parliamentary group since 2005.
After receiving her Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1992, she studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Potsdam
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a German university, situated across four campuses in Potsdam, Brandenburg, including the New Palace of Sanssouci and the Park Babelsberg.- Profile :...
, Clarkson University
Clarkson University
-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the University of Turku
University of Turku
The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In 1997 she received her Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
.
In 1992 Reiche was one of the founding members of the Ring Christlich-Demokratischer Studenten (Association of Christian-Democrat Students, RCDS) in Potsdam and in the same year she joined the Junge Union
Junge Union
The Junge Union Deutschlands or JU is the jointyouth organisation of the two conservative German political parties CDU and CSU...
. Since 1996 she has also been member of the CDU. In 2000 Katherina Reiche became a member of the federal executive of the CDU and she also is part of the party's executive board in the state of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
.
Since 1998 she has been a member of the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
. There she was chairman of the working group Bildung und Forschung ("Education and Science") in the years 2002 to 2005. In November 2005 she became deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU's parliamentary group in the sectors Bildung und Forschung ("Education and Science") and Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit ("Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety").
During the election campaign in 2002 she was conscripted into the CDU/CSU's competence team by then chancellor candidate Edmund Stoiber
Edmund Stoiber
Edmund Rüdiger Stoiber is a German politician, former minister-president of the state of Bavaria and former chairman of the Christian Social Union...
, as an expert on women,youth and family policies.This decision was criticized by conservative circles inside the two parties,because Reiche was an unmarried mother at that point of time.
She is a political confidant of today's Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
The Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is a Ministry of Germany. It is headquartered in Berlin with a secondary seat in Bonn. The present minister is Kristina Schröder of the CDU.- History :...
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...
.
During the election campaign 2005 she denominated the opponents of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
as "Bioterroristen" ("Bioterrorists"). She also criticized the two then government parties SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and the Greens for trying to catch votes with this subject and stirring up the people's fears for the future.