Christian Schmidt (politician, 1943)

Christian Schmidt (born February 23, 1943 in Wittenberge ) is a former German politician of the Greens .

Christian Schmidt in 1972 at an SPD party congress

After graduating from high school in 1963, Christian Schmidt studied Romance studies and history and received his doctorate in 1970. He then worked as a teacher until 1983 .

Career in the SPD

Schmidt, who was dependent on a wheelchair due to a sports accident, joined the SPD in 1965. He was part of the unofficial left-wing faction within the Hamburg SPD and was considered one of the strategic minds. As a candidate for the Young Socialists , he was elected to the extended state executive with a third of the votes. At this party congress there had been sharp clashes between “right” and “left”. Among other things, he was chairman of the commission for foreigners policy and in the state board responsible for the area of ​​“political education”. In 1981 Schmidt left the SPD. The SPD state chairman Oswald Paulig , who is more likely to belong to the right wing of the party, regretted leaving and praised Schmidt's human qualities.

Career with the Greens

In 1981 Schmidt switched to the Green Alternative List (GAL).

He belonged to the Bundestag in the 10th legislative period and was, among other things, the spokesman for the green parliamentary group. However, the Federal Palace was not set up for wheelchair users. Schmidt could not speak in front of the lectern because it was not adjustable. As usual, his speeches could not be broadcast from the house channel because the associated camera was firmly aligned with the desk. Together with Jutta Ditfurth and Regina Michalik , Christian Schmidt resigned as spokesman for the Federal Green Party in December 1988. The reason for this was the lack of support from the Federal Assembly at the extraordinary party congress in Karlsruhe . Two years later he left the party.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Heinz Gärtner (editor): SPD annual report 1978/80 . Ed .: SPD regional organization Hamburg, pp. 65, 57.

literature

• Rudolf Vierhaus , Ludolf Herbst (eds.), Bruno Jahn (collaborators): Biographical manual of the members of the German Bundestag. 1949-2002. Vol. 2: N-Z. Attachment. KG Saur, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-598-23782-0 , p. 753.

Web links

Commons : Christian Schmidt (Greens)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files