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Malu DreyerGerman lawyer and politician
Date of Birth: 06.02.1961
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Malu Dreyer: A Journey from Law to Politics
- Legal Career
- Political Entry and Early Positions
- Rise to Prominence
- Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate
- Party Leadership
- Personal Life
Malu Dreyer: A Journey from Law to Politics
Early Life and EducationMalu Dreyer was born in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She attended the Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium, graduating in 1980. During her high school years, she spent an exchange year in Claremont, California.
Dreyer initially studied English and Theology at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. However, due to health reasons, she switched to law and became a legal intern in 1987. She passed her first and second state exams in 1987 and 1990, respectively.
Legal Career
After graduation, Dreyer worked as a research assistant at the university from 1989 to 1991. In 1991, she was appointed public prosecutor in Bad Kreuznach. She later served in the scientific service of the State Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1992.
Political Entry and Early Positions
In 1994, Dreyer joined the Social Democratic Party (SPD). She became mayor of Bad Kreuznach on May 18, 1995, and remained in the post until 1997. From September 24, 1997, she served as a council member responsible for social affairs, youth, and housing policy in the city of Mainz.
Rise to Prominence
Ministerial RolesDreyer's political career accelerated in 2002 when she became Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Family, and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate. She later held the expanded role of Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Family, Health, and Women from 2006 to 2011. In 2011, she became Minister of Social Affairs, Labor, Health, and Demography.
Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate
On January 16, 2013, Dreyer was elected as Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate by the state parliament. She formed a "red-green" coalition with the Green Party. After the 2016 state elections, she was re-elected as Minister-President, this time leading a coalition with the SPD, Free Democratic Party (FDP), and Greens.
Dreyer served as President of the Bundesrat, the German upper house of parliament, from November 2016 to October 2017.
Party Leadership
Following Andrea Nahles' resignation as SPD leader in 2019, Dreyer became one of three interim co-leaders alongside Manuela Schwesig and Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel. After Schwesig's resignation due to a cancer diagnosis and Schäfer-Gümbel's departure, Dreyer remained the sole acting leader until Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjáns were elected as co-chairs in December 2019.
Personal Life
Dreyer is married to Klaus Jensen, a former mayor of Trier. In 2006, she publicly acknowledged her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and has used a wheelchair ever since.
