Martin Schulz

Martin Schulz
President of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 January 2012
Vice President	14 Giovanni Pittella Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Stavros Lambrinidis / Anni Podimata Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca Dagmar Roth-Behrendt Libor Rouček Isabelle Durant Roberta Angelilli Diana Wallis Pál Schmitt / László Tőkés Edward McMillan-Scott Rainer Wieland Silvana Koch-Mehrin / Giles Chichester
Preceded by	Jerzy Buzek
Leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
In office 5 July 2004 – 17 January 2012
Preceded by	Enrique Barón Crespo
Succeeded by	Hannes Swoboda
Member of the European Parliament for Germany
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 July 1994
Personal details
Born	(1955-12-20) 20 December 1955 Hehlrath, West Germany (now Germany)
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Website	Official website

Martin Schulz (born on 20 December 1955 in Hehlrath) is a German politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Germany, since 2004 leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament (formerly called the Party of European Socialists group and since 2009 called the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats). He is the current President of the European Parliament.

Career

• 1975-1977: Apprentice bookseller
• 1977-1982: Worked in various bookshops and publishing houses
• 1982-1994: Bookshop proprietor
• 1991-1999: Member of the SPD Party Council
• since 1995: Member of the Mittelrhein SPD Executive
• since 1996: Chairman of the Aachen District SPD
• since 1999: Member of the SPD Federal Executive
• 1984-1999: Municipal Councillor, Würselen
• 1987-1998: Mayor of Würselen
• since 1994: Member of the European Parliament
• 1994-1996: PES Group coordinator, Subcommittee on Human Rights
• 1996-2000: PES Group coordinator, Committee on Civil Liberties and Home Affairs
• 2000-2004: Chairman of the German Socialist (SPD) delegation, European Parliament
• 2002-2004: First Vice-Chairman of the PES Group
• since 2009: Chairman of the PES and then S&D Group
• since 2012: President of the European Parliament

Berlusconi incident

On July 2, 2003, one day after taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy was heavily criticised by MEP Martin Schulz because of Berlusconi's domestic policy. Berlusconi replied:

"Signor Schulz, so che in Italia c'è un produttore che sta montando un film sui campi di concentramento nazisti: la suggerirò per il ruolo di kapò. Lei è perfetto!“

In English: "Mister Schulz, I know of a movie-producer in Italy who is making a film about Nazi concentration-camps. I will recommend you for the part of a Kapo (concentration-camp inmate appointed as supervisor). You are perfect!"

Berlusconi later claimed he was referring to the comedy-series Hogan's Heroes, where a slow-witted character named Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz, played by John Banner, starred.

Even though Berlusconi insisted that he was just ironic, his comparisons with the Nazis caused a brief diplomatic rift between Italy and Germany.

See also: European Parliament election, 2004 (Germany)

President of the European Parliament

On 17 January 2012, Martin Schulz was elected President of the European Parliament, with 387 votes in favour out of 670 cast. On 15 September 2011 Members of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament had unanimously nominated Schulz as their candidate for President of the European Parliament. Other candidates were Nirj Deva (142 votes) and Diana Wallis (141 votes).

External links

• Official homepage
• Website of Martin Schulz's political group in European Parliament
• Template:EP MEP info/6th term
• Declaration (PDF) of financial interests (in German)