Dieter Spöri
Encyclopedia
Dieter Spöri is a German politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
. He has been the President of the European Movement Germany
since 2006, and was Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württemberg
from 1992 to 1996.
from 1970 to 1974. Until 1975 he also worked as a lecturer in Economic policy at the University of Stuttgart
.
Between 1976 and 1988 Spöri was a member of the German Bundestag
where he served as parliamentary party spokesman on taxation and umpire in the finance committee. In 1988 he returned to Baden-Württemberg and was elected to the Baden-Württemberg Landtag. Four years later he ran for the post of Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg but lost to his opponent Erwin Teufel
. In the following grand coalition he served as Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Economic Affairs. Another four years later he ended his political career after the election since his party had to deal with the worst results in the state history. However, he is still rather active when it comes to discussing the future of the SPD.
In 2011 he was interviewed by the news portal EurActiv. During this interview, he discussed his early concerns but also clearly opposed a possible Greek insolvency.
Since June 2006 he has been the President of the European Movement Germany. He followed the former EU Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies (re-election in 2008 and 2010).
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
. He has been the President of the European Movement Germany
European Movement Germany
European Movement Germany is a non-partisan network of interest groups in the field of EU politics in Germany. It cooperates closely with all EU stakeholders on a national and European level, most particularly with the German Federal Government and the European Commission...
since 2006, and was Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
from 1992 to 1996.
Studies and early career
Spöri studied Economics at the University of Tübingen. After his graduation in 1969 he was a Deputy Head of the Institute of Südwestdeutsche Wirtschaftsforschung in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
from 1970 to 1974. Until 1975 he also worked as a lecturer in Economic policy at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
.
Party and mandates
Spöri joined the SPD in 1970. Five years later he became a member of the party's State Board of Baden-Württemberg, where he remained for 23 years. Between 1988 and 1998 he also belonged to the party´s Federal Board.Between 1976 and 1988 Spöri was a member of the German 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...
where he served as parliamentary party spokesman on taxation and umpire in the finance committee. In 1988 he returned to Baden-Württemberg and was elected to the Baden-Württemberg Landtag. Four years later he ran for the post of Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg but lost to his opponent Erwin Teufel
Erwin Teufel
Erwin Teufel is a German politician of the CDU. Teufel was the leader of the CDU parliamentary faction in the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg from 1978 to 1991. He was minister-president of Baden-Württemberg and chairman of the CDU state party group from 1991 to 2005, serving as President...
. In the following grand coalition he served as Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Economic Affairs. Another four years later he ended his political career after the election since his party had to deal with the worst results in the state history. However, he is still rather active when it comes to discussing the future of the SPD.
After the political career
In 1999 Spöri became Head of Corporate Representative at the Office for Federal Affairs of Daimler AG in Berlin. He also worked as Head of External Affairs and Public Policy for the enterprise since March 2008. He left Daimler AG by the end of the same year and afterwards joined PMC International AG to become Senior Vice President and Shareholder.European politics
During his active political career, he engaged in discussions concerning European politics. He raised awareness in the mid 90's by expressing serious concerns about the implementation of the Euro. In his opinion, the strict fulfillment of the Maastricht Criteria had to be guaranteed by all means. Therefore, 1999 seemed to be too early for many European states. However, he urgently sought the compromise of a German-French monetary union (the only two states which would have fulfilled the criteria at that time) in order not to risk German jobs. He proposed to pospone the implementation of the monetary union for five years.In 2011 he was interviewed by the news portal EurActiv. During this interview, he discussed his early concerns but also clearly opposed a possible Greek insolvency.
Since June 2006 he has been the President of the European Movement Germany. He followed the former EU Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies (re-election in 2008 and 2010).