Jürgen Rüttgers
Encyclopedia
Jürgen Rüttgers is a German
politician
(CDU
) and former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia
, widely known for his views on immigration and the much-discussed phrase "Kinder statt Inder" ("children instead of Indians
") which was a media interpretation of "Statt Inder an die Computer müssen unsere Kinder an die Computer" ("instead of Indians in front of computers, our children must be in front of computers"), during an election campaign (which he finally lost) at a time when there was a parallel nationwide discussion about whether or whether not immigration rules should be liberalised on behalf of attracting more highly qualified foreign academics to the German labor market. His opinions on the superiority of the Christian religion, which he expressed in a TV talk-show were also a reason for headlines lately.
In the state parliament (Landtag) election 2005, Jürgen Rüttgers was the opposition Christian Democratic Union's front-runner for the second time. The former minister for education, science, research and technology in Chancellor Helmut Kohl
's Cabinet in 1994 to 1998 has headed the CDU in the state since 1999 and has been its leader in state parliament since the last election. Rüttgers has also been one of the CDU's deputy party chairmen since 2000.
After CDU and FDP
won a majority of seats in the election on 22 May 2005, they formed a coalition to take over government from the former SPD
and Green party
coalition led by Peer Steinbrück
. Rüttgers was elected Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia
on 22 June.
Together with Luigi Berlinguer (Italy
), Claude Allegre
(France
), and Baroness Tessa Blackstone (United Kingdom
), Rüttgers is one of the heads of the "Sorbonne declaration
", the joint declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system, in 25 May 1998. That was the Intro to the "Bologna process
".
Rüttgers holds degrees in Law and History from the University of Cologne
and a Dr. Jur. (Ph.D.
) in Law (1979). He became a member of K.D.St. V. Rappoltstein Köln, a Catholic student fraternity that is member of the Cartellverband
.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
(CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
) and former Minister-President 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...
, widely known for his views on immigration and the much-discussed phrase "Kinder statt Inder" ("children instead of Indians
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
") which was a media interpretation of "Statt Inder an die Computer müssen unsere Kinder an die Computer" ("instead of Indians in front of computers, our children must be in front of computers"), during an election campaign (which he finally lost) at a time when there was a parallel nationwide discussion about whether or whether not immigration rules should be liberalised on behalf of attracting more highly qualified foreign academics to the German labor market. His opinions on the superiority of the Christian religion, which he expressed in a TV talk-show were also a reason for headlines lately.
In the state parliament (Landtag) election 2005, Jürgen Rüttgers was the opposition Christian Democratic Union's front-runner for the second time. The former minister for education, science, research and technology in Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
's Cabinet in 1994 to 1998 has headed the CDU in the state since 1999 and has been its leader in state parliament since the last election. Rüttgers has also been one of the CDU's deputy party chairmen since 2000.
After CDU and FDP
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
won a majority of seats in the election on 22 May 2005, they formed a coalition to take over government from the former SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and Green party
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...
coalition led by Peer Steinbrück
Peer Steinbrück
Peer Steinbrück is a German social democratic politician. From 2005 to 2009 he served as German Federal Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Angela Merkel.- Early political career, Minister President :...
. Rüttgers was elected Minister-President 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...
on 22 June.
Together with Luigi Berlinguer (Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), Claude Allegre
Claude Allègre
Claude Allègre is a French politician and scientist.- Scientific work :The main scientific area of Claude Allègre is geochemistry....
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), and Baroness Tessa Blackstone (United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
), Rüttgers is one of the heads of the "Sorbonne declaration
Bologna process
The purpose of the Bologna Process is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe, in particular under the Lisbon Recognition Convention...
", the joint declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system, in 25 May 1998. That was the Intro to the "Bologna process
Bologna process
The purpose of the Bologna Process is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe, in particular under the Lisbon Recognition Convention...
".
Rüttgers holds degrees in Law and History from the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
and a Dr. Jur. (Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
) in Law (1979). He became a member of K.D.St. V. Rappoltstein Köln, a Catholic student fraternity that is member of the Cartellverband
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
.