Content deleted Content added
m added post-political-career position information (leading FES) |
|||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
Line 78:
Martin Schulz was born in the village of Hehlrath, which is now a part of [[Eschweiler]]<ref name=Munzinger/> in western Rhineland, near the Dutch and Belgian borders, as one of five children. His father, Albert Schulz, was a local policeman and belonged to a social democratic family; his mother, Clara, belonged to a conservative Catholic family and was active in the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]]. Having grown up in the border area between Germany, [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]], Schulz has relatives in all three countries.<ref name="auto">Markus Feldenkirchen and Horand Knaup (25 November 2016), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/eu-parliament-president-schulz-could-shake-up-german-politics-a-1123130.html Schulz Heads to Berlin: The Man Who Could Shake Up German Politics] ''[[Spiegel Online]]''.</ref>
After four years at primary school, from 1962 to 1966, Schulz attended the [[Gymnasium (Germany)|Heilig-Geist (Holy Spirit) gymnasium]], a private Roman Catholic school run by the [[Holy Ghost Fathers]] (or Spiritans),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hgg-broich.de/informationen |title=HGG Homepage | Informationen |access-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422224342/http://hgg-broich.de/informationen/ |archive-date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in Broich (now [[Würselen]]), a district of the town of Broichweiden, for nine years.<ref name="latimesaplainspokengermanpopulist">{{cite news|last1=Kirschbaum|first1=Erik|title=A plain-spoken German populist may have a shot at ousting Angela Merkel|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-germany-shulz-2017-story.html|access-date=10 February 2017|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=8 February 2017}}</ref> As a teenager, he went to France on a school exchange programme.<ref name=Munzinger/> He left school without passing his ''[[Abitur]]'' after failing the 11th grade twice.<ref name=Spiegel>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/martin-schulz-could-present-serious-challenge-to-angela-merkel-in-german-election-a-1132362.html |title=Martin Schulz could present serious challenge to Angela Merkel in German election|date=1 February 2017|publisher=[[Der Spiegel]]}}</ref>
From 1975 to 1977 Schulz then trained to be a bookseller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/de/1911/Martin_SCHULZ.html|access-date=30 January 2012|title=Martin Schulz MEP}}</ref> The next two years he worked for a number of publishing houses and bookshops. In 1980 Schulz suffered from [[alcoholism]]. After a successful [[Drug rehabilitation|rehab]] Schulz opened his own bookshop in Würselen in 1982.<ref name=Spiegel/>
==Early career in municipal politics, 1987–1998==
In 1974, at the age of 19, Schulz joined the [[SPD]], became involved with the [[Young Socialists in the SPD|Young Socialists]] and in 1984 was elected to the Würselen Municipal Council, remaining a member for just over two electoral terms, to 1998, from 1987 onwards as mayor.<ref name="fttheveteranmep">{{cite news|last1=Wagstyl|first1=Stefan|title=Martin Schulz, the veteran MEP challenging for Merkel's crown|url=https://www.ft.com/content/78e5471a-eeb9-11e6-930f-061b01e23655
==Member of the European Parliament (MEP), 1994–2017==
Line 117:
Since 1999, Schulz has been part of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] leadership under party chairmen [[Gerhard Schröder]] (1999–2004), [[Franz Müntefering]] (2004–05 and 2008–09), [[Matthias Platzeck]] (2005–06), [[Kurt Beck]] (2006–08) and [[Sigmar Gabriel]] (2009–17). Within the party, he serves as co-chairman of the Commission for International Politics, alongside [[Niels Annen]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kommission Internationale Politik: Vorstand|url=http://www.spd.de/spd_organisationen/internationalepolitik/Kommission_Internationale_Politik/Vorstand/|website=SPD-Fraktion|access-date=12 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626100019/http://www.spd.de/spd_organisationen/internationalepolitik/Kommission_Internationale_Politik/Vorstand/|archive-date=26 June 2015}}</ref> Schulz was an SPD delegate to the [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Federal Convention]] for the purpose of electing the [[President of Germany]] in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2012. In the negotiations to form a [[coalition government]] following the [[2013 German federal election|2013 federal elections]], he was part of the wider leadership circle chaired by [[Angela Merkel]], [[Horst Seehofer]] and [[Sigmar Gabriel]]. He also led the SPD delegation in the working group on European affairs; his co-chair of the CDU/CSU was fellow MEP [[Herbert Reul]].
During his 2014 campaign for the Presidency of the European Commission, Schulz established himself as a regular presence in German media on issues unconnected to the European Parliament elections that year.<ref>Toby Vogel (14 April 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/if-germany-changes-europe-changes/ If Germany changes, Europe changes] ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref> By 2015, German newspapers speculated that Schulz was interested in running for the chancellorship of Germany in the [[2017 German federal election|2017 federal elections]].<ref>Tara Palmeri (5 May 2015), [http://www.politico.eu/article/martin-schulz-president-for-life-2/ Martin Schulz: President-for-life?] ''[[Politico Europe]]''.</ref> In May 2016, he told weekly newspaper ''[[Welt am Sonntag]]'' that he would not enter the race to succeed Angela Merkel.<ref>Andrea Bonanni, Jurek Kuczkiewicz, Christoph B. Schiltz and Andre Tauber (29 May 2016), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article155772413/Die-Europaeische-Union-ist-tief-gespalten.html "Die Europäische Union ist tief gespalten"] ''[[Welt am Sonntag]]''.</ref> In November 2016, Schulz announced that he would not seek a third term as president of the European Parliament, but would instead run for a seat on the German parliament in the 2017 elections, which reignited the chancellorship speculations. On 24 January 2017, Schulz was confirmed as the Social Democrats' candidate for chancellor.<ref name="sueddeutsche1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/eil-martin-schulz-wird-kanzlerkandidat-der-spd-1.3346814|title=Bundestagswahl: Martin Schulz wird Kanzlerkandidat der SPD|date=24 January 2017 |via=Sueddeutsche.de}}</ref>
===2017 federal election===
Line 147:
After the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|membership referendum]], Schulz warned in mid-2016: "If we break the instruments with which we banish the demons, we will set them free again."<ref name="zeit-juli-2016" /> He is one of the 27 initiators of the Charter of Digital Fundamental Rights published in November 2016 Of the European Union.<ref>digitalcharta.eu: [https://digitalcharta.eu/intiatorinnen-und-initiatoren/ Liste der Initiatoren]</ref>
In December 2017, Schulz called for a new constitutional treaty for a "[[European Federation|United States of Europe]]".<ref name=Schulz>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/07/martin-schulz-united-states-of-europe-germany-sdp Martin Schulz wants 'United States of Europe' within eight years] - [[The Guardian]], 7 December 2017</ref> He proposed that this constitution should be written by "a convention that includes civil society and the people" and that any state that declined to accept this proposed constitution should have to leave the bloc.<ref name=Schulz /> His proposal is "likely to be met with some resistance from [[Angela Merkel|Merkel]] and other EU leaders".<ref name=Schulz />
===Security policy===
Line 167:
==Other activities==
* Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Member of the Political Advisory Board (since 2020)<ref>[https://www.spd-wirtschaftsforum.de/news/neukonstituierung_politischer_beirat-20200701/ Bernd Westphal und Anke Rehlinger koordinieren neu konstituierten Politischen Beirat des SPD-Wirtschaftsforums] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420002356/https://www.spd-wirtschaftsforum.de/news/neukonstituierung_politischer_beirat-20200701/ |date=20 April 2022 }} Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, press release of 1 July 2020.</ref>
* Bonner Akademie für Forschung und Lehre praktischer Politik (BAPP), Member of the Board of Trustees
* [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES), Chairman (since December 2020) <ref>[https://www.fes.de/beitraege/martin-schulz-ist-unser-neuer-vorsitzender Martin Schulz elected as new Chairman] [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES).</ref>
Line 185:
===Incident with Godfrey Bloom===
On 24 November 2010 the British MEP [[Godfrey Bloom]] caused a row in the European Parliament when he interrupted a speech by Martin Schulz, heckling him with the Nazi propaganda slogan [[Führer#Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer|Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer]] ('one people, one empire, one leader') and accusing him of being an 'undemocratic fascist'. Bloom later stated that he was referring to the fact that the indoctrination of the German people under the Nazi regime has long-lasting effects; "some Germans still find it difficult to accept diversity in Europe and differences of opinion". In the debate on the future of the [[Stability and Growth Pact|Euro Stability Pact]] Schulz had criticised the role played by the United Kingdom, which was involved in the discussions despite not being a member of the eurozone, and said that some eurosceptics would take pleasure in the collapse of the European Union. Following the incident, the President of Parliament, [[Jerzy Buzek]], excluded Bloom from the Chamber.<ref>{{cite
===Campaign-related issues===
Schulz received criticism after having transformed the Twitter account that his staff had built up for his European Parliament presidency into his own personal account in order to use it as part of his candidature to the EU Commission.<ref name="euobserver.com">{{cite web|url=http://euobserver.com/institutional/123732|title=EU parliament chief censors report criticising his actions|date=2 April 2014 }}</ref>
During his time as President of the European Parliament, Schulz removed a paragraph critical of his stewardship in a key committee report set for debate on 2 April 2014, thereby attracting a lot of negative attention.<ref name="euobserver.com"/> As a consequence, a large majority of the European Parliament voted on 4 April 2014 to invite Schulz to resign so that he would be able to campaign for the European elections.<ref>[http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/meps-cry-foul-schulz-stunt-avoid-resignation-301371 MEPs cry foul at Schulz' stunt to avoid resignation] ''[[EurActiv]]'', April 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2014-0428 "The President's political activities"], in European Parliament resolution of 16 April 2014 with observations forming an integral part of its Decision (1) on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012, Section I – European Parliament (COM(2013)0570 – C7-0274/2013 – 2013/2196(DEC)), 16 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2013/2196(DEC)|title=Procedure File: 2013/2196(DEC) – 2012 discharge: EU general budget | work = Legislative Observatory |publisher= European Parliament}}</ref>
Lastly, Schulz was criticized about the tax-free daily allowance of €304 the President of the Parliament received, until 18 April 2014, which he received while he was campaigning to become President of the commission. This was paid for 365 days a year, in addition to his salary of 200 thousand [[euro]]s per year. A member of parliament receives this daily allowance only for attending.<ref>[https://www.welt.de/debatte/henryk-m-broder/article127902587/Ueppiges-Tagegeld-stellt-Schulz-Versprechen-infrage.html Üppiges Tagegeld stellt Schulz' Versprechen infrage], Die Welt, 12 May 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.swr.de/report/presse/eu-tagegeld/-/id=1197424/did=13302262/nid=1197424/gc8skf/index.html Parlamentspräsident Martin Schulz erhielt an 365 Tagen pro Jahr Tagegelder des EU-Parlaments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905225921/https://www.swr.de/report/presse/eu-tagegeld/-/id=1197424/did=13302262/nid=1197424/gc8skf/index.html |date=5 September 2017 }}, SWR, 29 April 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.swr.de/report/ueppige-pauschalen-die-fragwuerdigen-tagegelder-von-eu-parlamentariern/-/id=233454/did=13081536/nid=233454/3ogy9l/index.html Die fragwürdigen Tagegelder von EU-Parlamentariern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830185119/https://www.swr.de/report/ueppige-pauschalen-die-fragwuerdigen-tagegelder-von-eu-parlamentariern/-/id=233454/did=13081536/nid=233454/3ogy9l/index.html |date=30 August 2017 }}, Report Mainz, 5 May 2014.</ref>
=== Allegation of favoring close employees ===
Line 204:
|access-date=6 May 2018|title=Europe names a Slovak to tell the world about liberty of thought|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref>
He suffered a period of alcoholism as a young man, after a knee injury put an end to his hopes of playing [[association football|football]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/martin-schulz/martin-schulz-sein-bruder-rettete-ihn-aus-der-alkohol-hoelle-27612952.bild.html |access-date=14 December 2012|title=Sein Bruder rettete ihn vor dem Alkohol|date=11 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.derwesten.de/panorama/leute/so-ueberwand-eu-parlamentspraesident-schulz-seine-alkoholsucht-id7385515.html|access-date=14 December 2012|title=So überwand EU-Parlamentspräsident Schulz seine Alkoholsucht}}{{dead link|date=April 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Besides German, Schulz speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian and Dutch with varying degrees of fluency.<ref>{{cite
==Honours and decorations==
| |||