Martin Schulz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Martin Schulz MEP
|
|
 |
|
|
Leader of the Party of European Socialists
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office July 5, 2004 |
|
| Preceded by | Enrique Baron Crespo |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office July 19, 1994 |
|
|
Mayor of Würselen
|
|
| In office 1987 – 1988 |
|
|
|
|
| Born | December 20, 1955  Hehlrath, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Political party | SPD / PES |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Bookseller, Politician |
| Website | http://www.martin-schulz.info |
Martin Schulz (born on 20 December 1955 in Hehlrath) is a German politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Germany, former chairman of the Party of European Socialists group and chairman of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, and a substitute for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Contents |
[edit] Career
- 1975-1977: Apprentice bookseller
- 1977-1982: Worked in various bookshops and publishing houses
- 1982-1994: Bookshop proprietor
- 1991-1999: Member of the SPD Party Council
- since 1995: Member of the Mittelrhein SPD Executive
- since 1996: Chairman of the Aachen District SPD
- since 1999: Member of the SPD Federal Executive
- since 1984: Municipal Councillor, Würselen
- 1987-1998: Mayor of Würselen
- since 1994: Member of the European Parliament
- 1994-1996: PES Group coordinator, Subcommittee on Human Rights
- 1996-2000: PES Group coordinator, Committee on Civil Liberties and Home Affairs
- 2000-2004: Chairman of the SPD group, European Parliament
- 2002-2004: First Vice-Chairman of the PES Group
- since 2004: Chairman of the PES Group
[edit] Berlusconi Incident
On July 2, 2003, one day after taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy was heavily criticised by MEP Martin Schulz because of Berlusconi's domestic policy. Berlusconi replied:
- "Signor Schulz, so che in Italia c'è un produttore che sta montando un film sui campi di concentramento nazisti: la suggerirò per il ruolo di kapò. Lei è perfetto!“
- In English: "Mister Schulz, I know a movie-producer in Italy, who is making a film about Nazi concentration-camps. I will suggest you to play the role of a Kapo (concentration-camp inmate appointed as supervisor). You are perfect!"
Berlusconi later claimed he was referring to the comedy-series Hogan's Heroes, where a slow-witted character named Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz, played by John Banner, starred.
Even though Berlusconi insisted that he was just ironic [1], his comparisons with the Nazis caused a brief diplomatic rift between Italy and Germany.
[edit] Martin Schulz accuses Dutch MEP of National Socialism
On May 23rd, during a visit of Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende to the European Parliament, Dutch MEP Erik Meijer defended the prime minister by stating that more countries would have voted no to the constitution, had they been allowed to vote.
Martin Schulz immediately accused Erik Meijer of national socialism: “Du verkaufst reintheoretischen Quatsch. Ist das holländischer Nationalsozialismus” (you are uttering theoretic nonsense. Is that Dutch National Socialism?".[2]
[edit] Martin Schulz and Jean-Marie Le Pen
In May 2009, Martin Schulz initiated the rewriting of the rules of the European Parliament, aiming to avoid Jean-Marie Le Pen from delivering the inaugural speech of the next session. As a response, the French far-right leader said that Martin Schulz "looks like Lenin and speaks like Hitler".[3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- European Parliament biography of Martin Schulz (incl. Speeches, Questions and Motions)
- DeclarationPDF of financial interests (German)
- email address of Martin Schulz: maschulz@europarl.eu.int
