Wolfgang Schuster
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Schuster has been the Lord Mayor
of Stuttgart
, Germany
, since January 1997. He is the successor to Manfred Rommel
and a member of the CDU
.
, Geneva
and Freiburg
from 1969 to 1973. During his studies he joined Guestfalia Tübingen, one of Germany's largest Catholic student associations. From 1974 to 1976 he trained in Ulm
before completing his doctorate in civil law.
From 1976 to 1977 Schuster studied at the Paris
École nationale d'administration
(ENA).
on Ulm
city council before acting as personal assistant to Manfred Rommel
from 1985 onwards. In 1986, he was elected mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd
where he was in office until 1993 before becoming burgomaster for the arts, education and sport in the Baden-Württemberg
capital of Stuttgart
in 1996.
In elections for the post of Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, he won the office in the second ballot on 10 November 1996, defeating Rezzo Schlauch, the candidate for the Alliance '90/The Greens
on a relatively narrow margin of 43.1% versus 39.3%.
On 24 October 2004, Schuster was re-elected to the post in the second ballot with 53.3% of votes. His opponents were Ute Kumpf (SPD
), who gained 45.2% of votes in the 2nd ballot, and Boris Palmer
(Alliance '90/The Greens
) - who withdrew his candidacy after the first ballot, indirectly recommending that his supporters should back Schuster instead.
On 6 December 2010 Schuster was elected president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions
.
radio.
Schuster has a declared aim to turn Stuttgart into Germany's most child-friendly city.
The biggest and most high-profile project during his office has been Stuttgart 21
– a major rail project to build a new underground through station for Stuttgart, also encompassing connections to existing surface and underground lines. The project was officially approved on 19 July 2007.
Schuster is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
award and was voted second most successful Mayor in Germany in a survey by Wirtschaftswoche
magazine. In 2004, he was the only (active) local politician nominated for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"Reformer of the Year" award.
Schuster established the EU Cities for Children network in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Foundation
and Stuttgart-based carmaker Daimler.
In October 2008, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
named Schuster the German member of a 12-strong reflection group called the "Council of Wise Men to Rethink Europe" which is headed by former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez.
, the political opponents of Wolfgang Schuster were quick to condemn him for backtracking on a promise made during the mayor elections of 2004 - namely that he would allow the population of Stuttgart to decide the fate of Stuttgart 21 if the additional costs of the project amounted to more than €200 million. The agreement contained a provision that the local government would have to participate in covering a cost increases possibly up to an amount above €200 million should the actual project costs significantly exceed planned costs. The Greens
subsequently accused Schuster publicly of breaking his word.
In November 2007 a citizens' petition against the Stuttgart 21 project gained 67,000 signatures. After further legal wrangling appeals were submitted for a local referendum which experts subsequently deemed unlawful as contracts had already been signed and Stuttgart was not the main source (other backers include Deutsche Bahn
, the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and the EU).
Failed projects pointed to by opponents during the office of Schuster include Stuttgart's last place as German candidate for the 2012 Olympic games
and the stopping of a project to build a German Trump Tower
in the north of Stuttgart
.
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
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 ....
, Germany
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...
, since January 1997. He is the successor to Manfred Rommel
Manfred Rommel
Manfred Rommel, Hon. CBE is a German politician , who served as Lord Mayor of Stuttgart from 1974 until 1996. He is one of the most popular local politicians of the CDU....
and a member of the 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...
.
Studies and early positions
Schuster studied law and political science in TübingenTübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
from 1969 to 1973. During his studies he joined Guestfalia Tübingen, one of Germany's largest Catholic student associations. From 1974 to 1976 he trained in Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
before completing his doctorate in civil law.
From 1976 to 1977 Schuster studied at the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
École nationale d'administration
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
(ENA).
Political career
In 1975, he represented the CDUChristian 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...
on Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
city council before acting as personal assistant to Manfred Rommel
Manfred Rommel
Manfred Rommel, Hon. CBE is a German politician , who served as Lord Mayor of Stuttgart from 1974 until 1996. He is one of the most popular local politicians of the CDU....
from 1985 onwards. In 1986, he was elected mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd is a town in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. With a population of around 62,000, the town is the second largest in the Ostalbkreis and the whole region of East Württemberg after Aalen...
where he was in office until 1993 before becoming burgomaster for the arts, education and sport in the 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...
capital of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
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 ....
in 1996.
In elections for the post of Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, he won the office in the second ballot on 10 November 1996, defeating Rezzo Schlauch, the candidate for the Alliance '90/The Greens
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...
on a relatively narrow margin of 43.1% versus 39.3%.
On 24 October 2004, Schuster was re-elected to the post in the second ballot with 53.3% of votes. His opponents were Ute Kumpf (SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
), who gained 45.2% of votes in the 2nd ballot, and Boris Palmer
Boris Palmer
Boris Palmer is a German politician and member of the Green Party. He has been mayor of Tübingen since January 2007...
(Alliance '90/The Greens
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...
) - who withdrew his candidacy after the first ballot, indirectly recommending that his supporters should back Schuster instead.
On 6 December 2010 Schuster was elected president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions
Council of European Municipalities and Regions
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the largest organisation of local and regional governments in Europe. Its members are national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from 39 countries...
.
Political priorities
Schuster's political agenda is dominated by furthering economic development and construction. He also promotes the interests of intercultural dialogue and the sharing of religious ideas and is the founder of the Stuttgart Religious Round Table. As a representative of the Deutsche Städtetag, a voluntary coalition of county boroughs and district-affiliated towns in Germany, Schuster is a member of the broadcasting council of SWRSüdwestrundfunk
The Südwestrundfunk is a public broadcasting company for the southwest of Germany, specifically the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The company has main offices in three cities: Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Mainz, with the director's office being in Stuttgart. It is an...
radio.
Schuster has a declared aim to turn Stuttgart into Germany's most child-friendly city.
Achievements in office
In 2004 Schuster's re-election to office was attributed to Stuttgart's favourable economic development during his first term.The biggest and most high-profile project during his office has been Stuttgart 21
Stuttgart 21
Stuttgart 21 is an urban development and under construction transport project in Stuttgart as part of the Stuttgart–Augsburg new and upgraded railway project in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in Germany. It consists of the replacement of the tracks and platforms of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, the city's...
– a major rail project to build a new underground through station for Stuttgart, also encompassing connections to existing surface and underground lines. The project was officially approved on 19 July 2007.
Schuster is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
World Mayor
World Mayor is a biennial award organized by The City Mayors Foundation since 2004. It intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally...
award and was voted second most successful Mayor in Germany in a survey by Wirtschaftswoche
WirtschaftsWoche
Wirtschaftswoche is a German weekly business news magazine. “Wirtschaft” means economy and “Woche” is week. For many years, the magazine was published on Thursday, but since March 2006, this has been changed to Monday. The editorial office is at Düsseldorf....
magazine. In 2004, he was the only (active) local politician nominated for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
"Reformer of the Year" award.
Schuster established the EU Cities for Children network in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Foundation
Robert Bosch Stiftung
The Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH is one of the major German foundations associated with a private company. It holds 92% of the capital stock from Robert Bosch GmbH of 1.2 billion euros. Established in 1964, it represents the philanthropic and social endeavors of founder Robert Bosch .The purpose of...
and Stuttgart-based carmaker Daimler.
In October 2008, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
named Schuster the German member of a 12-strong reflection group called the "Council of Wise Men to Rethink Europe" which is headed by former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez.
Criticism, controversy and setbacks
Shortly after funding was finalised for Stuttgart 21Stuttgart 21
Stuttgart 21 is an urban development and under construction transport project in Stuttgart as part of the Stuttgart–Augsburg new and upgraded railway project in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in Germany. It consists of the replacement of the tracks and platforms of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, the city's...
, the political opponents of Wolfgang Schuster were quick to condemn him for backtracking on a promise made during the mayor elections of 2004 - namely that he would allow the population of Stuttgart to decide the fate of Stuttgart 21 if the additional costs of the project amounted to more than €200 million. The agreement contained a provision that the local government would have to participate in covering a cost increases possibly up to an amount above €200 million should the actual project costs significantly exceed planned costs. The Greens
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...
subsequently accused Schuster publicly of breaking his word.
In November 2007 a citizens' petition against the Stuttgart 21 project gained 67,000 signatures. After further legal wrangling appeals were submitted for a local referendum which experts subsequently deemed unlawful as contracts had already been signed and Stuttgart was not the main source (other backers include Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
, the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and the EU).
Failed projects pointed to by opponents during the office of Schuster include Stuttgart's last place as German candidate for the 2012 Olympic games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and the stopping of a project to build a German Trump Tower
Trump Tower
Trump Tower or Trump Towers may refer to one of several skyscrapers owned and operated by Donald Trump:Trump Tower* Trump Towers * Trump Towers * Trump Tower * Trump Tower...
in the north of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
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 ....
.