Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany
A Federal Minister for Special Affairs (Bundesminister für besondere Aufgaben) is a federal minister without portfolio of Germany.
Currently, the title is commonly given to the head of the Chancellery to provide him with a vote in cabinet meetings. Historically, appointees have been important political aides or politicians waiting for a portfolio or representatives of certain parties, groups or regions. For instance, several East German politicians were appointed after German reunification in 1990.
List of Federal Ministers for Special Affairs
- Robert Tillmanns (CDU), 1953-1955
- Hermann Schäfer (FDP/FVP), 1953-1956
- Waldemar Kraft (BHE), 1953-1956
- Franz Josef Strauß (CSU), 1953-1955
- Heinrich Krone (CDU), 1961-1966
- Ludger Westrick (CDU), 1964-1966, also Head of the Chancellery
- Horst Ehmke (SPD), 1969-1972, also Head of the Chancellery
- Egon Bahr (SPD), 1972-1974
- Werner Maihofer (FDP), 1972-1974
- Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), 1984-1989, also Head of the Chancellery
- Rudolf Seiters (CDU), 1989-1991, also Head of the Chancellery
- Hans Klein (CSU), 1989-1990, also government spokesman
- Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German head of state
- Lothar de Maizière (CDU), 1990, last East German Prime minister
- Günther Krause (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German minister of the Interior
- Rainer Ortleb (FDP), 1990-1991, last East German FDP chairman
- Hansjoachim Walther (DSU), 1990-1991, last DSU chairman
- Friedrich Bohl (CDU), 1991-1998, also Head of the Chancellery
- Bodo Hombach (SPD), 1998-1999, also Head of the Chancellery
- Thomas de Maizière (CDU), 2005-2009, also Head of the Chancellery
- Ronald Pofalla (CDU), 2009-2013, also Head of the Chancellery
- Peter Altmaier (CDU), since 2013, also Head of the Chancellery