Wolfgang Clement
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Clement is a German
politician. Clement was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD). He was Premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
from 1998 to 2002 and Federal Minister of Economics and Labour from 2002 to 2005.
Wolfgang Clement is an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
at the Graf-Engelbert-Schule
in Bochum
, Clement first completed a Volontariat (internship) at the Westfälische Rundschau newspaper in Dortmund
. He then studied jurisprudence at the University of Münster
, leaving in 1965 with a law degree after passing the First State Examination. This qualification also permitted him to teach. Clement was subsequently employed as an articled clerk and assistant at the Institute for Trial Law at the University of Marburg. In 1968, he returned to the Westfälische Rundschau, first as a political editor. He later became head of the political department, then deputy editor-in-chief. In 1986, Clement moved to the newspaper Hamburger Morgenpost
in Hamburg
, where he remained as editor-in-chief until 1989. On 12 November 2004, he was presented with an honorary doctorate (Dr. h. c.) by Ruhr University
in Bochum.
From 1994 to 2001 he was on the SPD State Executive in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), from 1996 as deputy leader. Clement has been a member of the SPD federal executive board since 1997 and SPD deputy chairman since December 1999.
On 31 July 2008, Clement was shut out from the SPD by the Landesschiedskommission (i.e. State arbitration board) of NRW. Clement, not willing to accept this, went to the superior Bundesschiedskommission (Federal arbitration board) which subsequently cancelled the verdict on November 24 2008. On November 25, however, Clement himself announced his decision to leave the party.
’s government. After the state election in 1990 he relinquished this office in favour of the post of Minister for special tasks, effective from 13 June 1990. After the 1995 state election Clement was made Minister of Economics and Small Business, Technology and Transport.
After he had long been seen as the “crown prince” of Johannes Rau, Clement was finally elected as Rau’s successor as State Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on 27 May 1998.
In a government statement of 17 June 1998 Wolfgang Clement announced the amalgamation of the Justice and Interior ministries into one entity. There was serious doubt about whether this decision was compatible with the German Constitution, as it was seen by some as a violation of the division of powers. On 9 February 1999 the Constitutional Court of North Rhine-Westphalia ruled that the amalgamation violated the rights of the state parliament. In spite of this, Clement wanted to continue with the merger, at least until the 2000 state election, but had to bow to growing pressure from coalition partner Bündnis '90/Die Grünen
(the Green party). The merger was cancelled and Clement himself took on the responsibilities of Justice Minister from 10 March to 22 March 1999. From 23 March 1999 to the end of the legislative period on 27 June 2000 Jochen Dieckmann was Justice Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the 2000 state election the SPD, under Clement’s leadership, received 42.8% of all votes cast, a drop of 3.2% from the previous election. However, the SPD was again able to form a coalition government with the Greens.
Even after this election there were fierce debates between Clement and in particular Bärbel Höhn, the Minister of the Environment (Bündnis '90/Die Grünen), who opposed the continuation of coal mining subsidies and the support of big industrial projects (e.g. Garzweiler II) that were promoted by Clement.
Since he started his term of office as state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on 27 May 1998, four ministers have resigned or left their position early.
In Clement’s time in office as state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia four investigating committees were set up.
After the 2002 federal election Clement gave up his office of Premier on 21 October and was appointed federal Minister of Economics Labour in the government led by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. With this he was taking over the newly created so-called “super ministry” that had been formed by the amalgamation of the Economic and Labour ministries.
The expectations created by the merger - that Clement could bring about an economic upturn and a decrease in unemployment thanks to the expanded powers available to him - are yet to be fulfilled (as of July 2005). Clement’s policy in this role has been marked by two areas of conflict. First, there have been numerous conflicts with Minister for the Environment Jürgen Trittin (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) on the issues of deposits on drink cans, the phasing out of nuclear energy and the trading in emissions certificates that had been agreed upon at the World Climate Conference
in Kyoto
. Second, in contrast to many other government members, Clement wanted to continue unwaveringly with the measures under Schröder’s “Agenda 2010” reforms package, rather than slowing down the roll-out. The reforms have come under much criticism since their unveiling in March 2003.
In view of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s frequent threats to resign, especially in 2003, Clement was seen by some to be Schröder’s only possible successor.
. At the same time, Clement was appointed by President Horst Köhler
in a caretaker role to continue his functions until the formation of a new government. After the election of Angela Merkel as Chancellor on 22 November 2005 Clement permanently left office.
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. Clement was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD). He was Premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
from 1998 to 2002 and Federal Minister of Economics and Labour from 2002 to 2005.
Wolfgang Clement is an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is a non-governmental organization which researches Holocaust rescuers and advocates for their recognition. The organization developed educational programs for school to promote peace and civil service...
Education and career
After attaining his abiturAbitur
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...
at the Graf-Engelbert-Schule
Graf-Engelbert-Schule
Graf-Engelbert School is an urban high school for boys and girls in Bochum, Germany. Near the center of the city and the tree-lined Königsallee, it is located on Else-Hirsch-Straße...
in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, Clement first completed a Volontariat (internship) at the Westfälische Rundschau newspaper in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
. He then studied jurisprudence at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
, leaving in 1965 with a law degree after passing the First State Examination. This qualification also permitted him to teach. Clement was subsequently employed as an articled clerk and assistant at the Institute for Trial Law at the University of Marburg. In 1968, he returned to the Westfälische Rundschau, first as a political editor. He later became head of the political department, then deputy editor-in-chief. In 1986, Clement moved to the newspaper Hamburger Morgenpost
Hamburger Morgenpost
Hamburger Morgenpost is a daily German newspaper, published in Hamburg in tabloid format.The Hamburger Morgenpost is the second largest newspaper in Hamburg.- History :...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, where he remained as editor-in-chief until 1989. On 12 November 2004, he was presented with an honorary doctorate (Dr. h. c.) by Ruhr University
Ruhr University
Ruhr University Bochum , located on the southern hills of central Ruhr area Bochum, was founded in 1962 as the first new public university in Germany since World War II...
in Bochum.
Party
Clement has been a member of the SPD since 1970. From 1981 to 1986 he was spokesman for the SPD federal executive board and was also a deputy federal party whip from 1985 to 1986.From 1994 to 2001 he was on the SPD State Executive in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), from 1996 as deputy leader. Clement has been a member of the SPD federal executive board since 1997 and SPD deputy chairman since December 1999.
On 31 July 2008, Clement was shut out from the SPD by the Landesschiedskommission (i.e. State arbitration board) of NRW. Clement, not willing to accept this, went to the superior Bundesschiedskommission (Federal arbitration board) which subsequently cancelled the verdict on November 24 2008. On November 25, however, Clement himself announced his decision to leave the party.
Member of Parliament
Clement was a member of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1 October 1993 to 7 November 2002.Public office
In 1989 Clement was appointed head of the state chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia by Johannes RauJohannes Rau
Johannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
’s government. After the state election in 1990 he relinquished this office in favour of the post of Minister for special tasks, effective from 13 June 1990. After the 1995 state election Clement was made Minister of Economics and Small Business, Technology and Transport.
After he had long been seen as the “crown prince” of Johannes Rau, Clement was finally elected as Rau’s successor as State Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on 27 May 1998.
In a government statement of 17 June 1998 Wolfgang Clement announced the amalgamation of the Justice and Interior ministries into one entity. There was serious doubt about whether this decision was compatible with the German Constitution, as it was seen by some as a violation of the division of powers. On 9 February 1999 the Constitutional Court of North Rhine-Westphalia ruled that the amalgamation violated the rights of the state parliament. In spite of this, Clement wanted to continue with the merger, at least until the 2000 state election, but had to bow to growing pressure from coalition partner Bündnis '90/Die Grünen
Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
(the Green party). The merger was cancelled and Clement himself took on the responsibilities of Justice Minister from 10 March to 22 March 1999. From 23 March 1999 to the end of the legislative period on 27 June 2000 Jochen Dieckmann was Justice Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the 2000 state election the SPD, under Clement’s leadership, received 42.8% of all votes cast, a drop of 3.2% from the previous election. However, the SPD was again able to form a coalition government with the Greens.
Even after this election there were fierce debates between Clement and in particular Bärbel Höhn, the Minister of the Environment (Bündnis '90/Die Grünen), who opposed the continuation of coal mining subsidies and the support of big industrial projects (e.g. Garzweiler II) that were promoted by Clement.
Since he started his term of office as state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on 27 May 1998, four ministers have resigned or left their position early.
- October 1998: Minister for the Economy Bodo Hombach moves to Berlin to become Minister of the Chancellery after the federal election (which resulted in an SPD-Greens coalition under the leadership of Gerhard Schröder)
- 9 March 1999: Reinhard Rauball resigns from his office of Justice Minister after just once week in the position
- 17 April 2001: Detlev Samland had admitted at the end of March 2001 that he had not paid tax on his earnings from being a board director according to regulations. He now accepts the consequences from this tax misdemeanour and resigns from his position as Minister for European and Federal Affairs. His successor his Hannelore Kraft.
- 26 January 2000: The so-called “flight affair” causes the downfall of Finance Minister and close friend of Clement, Heinz Schleußer. It was alleged that Schleußer and other leading politicians had used aircraft belonging to the Westdeutsche Landesbank (West German State Bank, WestLB) for personal flights. Schleußer maintains until the end that he never flew on personal business but eventually admits that he had taken a female companion on board on two occasions, a claim that he had previously denied.
In Clement’s time in office as state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia four investigating committees were set up.
- Review of state enterprises: Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung (Institute for Economic Support), Projekt Ruhr GmbH, Bildungszentrum für die Entsorgungs- und Wasserwirtschaft GmbH (Education Centre for Waste and Water Ltd., BEW) as well as the business connections of Christian Langer with the state chancellery.
- High Definition Oberhausen (HDO) - to look at the support practices, especially limitations and shortcomings, of the state in broadcasting, film and media sectors, in particular examining all actions and mismanagement at the Technologiezentrum Oberhausen (Oberhausen Technology Centre, HDO)
- High Definition Oberhausen (HDO) - continuing the examination of actions and mismanagement begun in the second committee.
- Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (West German State Bank Giro Centre, WestLB) - looking at the air travel made by members of the state government or parliament with the assistance and at the expense of the WestLB.
After the 2002 federal election Clement gave up his office of Premier on 21 October and was appointed federal Minister of Economics Labour in the government led by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. With this he was taking over the newly created so-called “super ministry” that had been formed by the amalgamation of the Economic and Labour ministries.
The expectations created by the merger - that Clement could bring about an economic upturn and a decrease in unemployment thanks to the expanded powers available to him - are yet to be fulfilled (as of July 2005). Clement’s policy in this role has been marked by two areas of conflict. First, there have been numerous conflicts with Minister for the Environment Jürgen Trittin (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) on the issues of deposits on drink cans, the phasing out of nuclear energy and the trading in emissions certificates that had been agreed upon at the World Climate Conference
World Climate Conference
The world climate conferences are a series of international meetings, organized by the World Meteorological Organization , about global climate issues. The first two conferences largely focused on climate change in addition to climate research and forecasting...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Second, in contrast to many other government members, Clement wanted to continue unwaveringly with the measures under Schröder’s “Agenda 2010” reforms package, rather than slowing down the roll-out. The reforms have come under much criticism since their unveiling in March 2003.
In view of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s frequent threats to resign, especially in 2003, Clement was seen by some to be Schröder’s only possible successor.
Post 2005 federal election
Following the 18 September 2005 federal election, Clement was, together with the other ministers in Schröder’s government, dismissed from office on 18 October 2005, the opening session of the sixteenth BundestagBundestag
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...
. At the same time, Clement was appointed by President Horst Köhler
Horst Köhler
Horst Köhler is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union. He was President of Germany from 2004 to 2010. As the candidate of the two Christian Democratic sister parties, the CDU and the CSU, and the liberal FDP, Köhler was elected to his first five-year term by the Federal Assembly on...
in a caretaker role to continue his functions until the formation of a new government. After the election of Angela Merkel as Chancellor on 22 November 2005 Clement permanently left office.