Ruprecht Polenz

Ruprecht Polenz (26 May 1946 in Großpostwitz) is a German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) political party.

Ruprecht Polenz
Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Union
In office
10 April 2000 – November 2000
LeaderAngela Merkel
Preceded byAngela Merkel
Succeeded byLaurenz Meyer
Member of the Bundestag
In office
1994 – 2013
Succeeded bySybille Benning
Personal details
Born (1946-05-26) 26 May 1946
Großpostwitz
CitizenshipGerman
NationalityGermany
Political partyCDU
Alma materUniversity of Münster

Political career

In the 1994 national elections, Polenz was first voted into the German federal Parliament, the Bundestag. Throughout his time in parliament, he served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Polenz became senior member of the CDU party on 10 April 2000 under the leadership of the party's chairwoman Angela Merkel. He was the party's secretary-general from April to November 2000.

Polenz served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs between 2005 and 2013. He was also a member of the German delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and a substitute member of the Committee on Cultural and Media Affairs. Additionally, he chaired the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Panel under Section 41 (5) of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act and was a substitute member of the Joint Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat under Article 53 a of the Basic Law.

Life after politics

Following his retirement from active politics, Polenz became president of the German Association for East European Studies (DGO).[1] Between 2013 and 2014, he was a Senior Fellow at the Istanbul Policy Center of Sabancı University.

In November 2015, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier named Polenz Special Envoy for the German-Namibian talks on a joint declaration addressing the colonial-era crackdown against Hereros in Namibia.[2][3] Polenz has stated that he would consider the killings genocide.[4]

Political positions

In 2008, Polenz and four other legislators issued a committee report which concluded that Germany's under-representation in international organizations at the time was because the country lacked a personnel policy and coherent strategy for promoting itself internationally.[5]

Contrary to his own party, Polenz has been one of Germany's most outspoken proponents of an accession of Turkey to the European Union.[6]

In 2011, Polenz was among the first to speak out publicly against the decision of Quadriga, a German nonprofit group, to honor Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia; the group later canceled its annual prize ceremony following further public criticism of Putin's stance on democracy and human rights in Russia.[7]

Ahead of the Christian Democrats’ leadership election in 2018, Polenz publicly endorsed Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to succeed Angela Merkel as the party's chair.[8]

In a well-received, open letter, Polenz turned to Rezo after his video "The destruction of the CDU". The politician largely agreed with the Youtuber's positions on climate protection and the CDU's dealings with young voters, particularly with regard to the Friday for future demonstrators.[9]

He has repeatedly described the AfD as right-wing, right-wing extremist and fascist.[10]

Other activities (selection)

Corporate boards

Non-profit organizations

Personal life

Polenz is married and has four children.

See also

References
  1. Ruprecht Polenz German Association for East European Studies (DGO).
  2. Foreign Minister Steinmeier on relations with Namibia Federal Foreign Office, press release of 4 November 2015.
  3. Theresa Krinninger (4 November 2015), Polenz: "Ich habe Erfahrung mit heikler Außenpolitik" Deutsche Welle.
  4. Onishi, Norimitsu (29 December 2016). "Germany Grapples With Its African Genocide". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2016. “It will be described as genocide,” Ruprecht Polenz, Germany’s special envoy to the talks, said of a joint statement that the two governments are preparing.
  5. Judy Dempsey (11 November 2009), Letter from Europe: Germany Holds Back on Top European Roles International Herald Tribune.
  6. Ruprecht Polenz: Better for Both of Them – Turkey Ought to Be in the EU Körber-Stiftung, Hamburg.
  7. Nicholas Kulish (16 July 2011), German Group That Cited Putin as ‘Role Model’ Cancels Prize After Outcry New York Times.
  8. Ralf Repöhler (6 December 2018), Benning wählt „AKK“, ihr Stellvertreter Jens Spahn Westfälische Nachrichten.
  9. "Ruprecht Polenz macht vor, wie Politiker soziale Medien nutzen sollten" (in German). 28 October 2019.
  10. Kirche und Leben, Münster Germany (28 October 2019). "Polenz hält AfD Faschismus und Rechtsextremismus vor" (in German).
  11. Ruprecht Polenz Center for Global Politics (CGP), Free University of Berlin.
  12. Ruprecht Polenz Center for Global Politics (CGP), Free University of Berlin.
  13. Board of Trustees Deutsche Initiative für den Nahen Osten (DINO).
  14. Members in Germany European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
  15. Board of Trustees German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA).
  16. Board of Trustees Green Helmets.
  17. Members Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
  18. Board members European Stability Initiative.
  19. Board of Trustees Willy Brandt Foundation.
  20. International Advisory Board Zentrum Liberale Moderne.
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