Biography

After graduating from high school, apprenticeship and work as a typesetter in Weimar. From 1964 in Berlin, studies at the Humboldt University, then scientific assistant in the department of cultural theory/aesthetics at the Berlin University until 1975. 1975 to 1976 employee in the Ministry of Culture of the GDR. 1977 to 1990 scientific assistant at the Academy of Sciences of the GDR, in the Central Institute for Literary History.

Non-party until the end of 1989. Signed up with the New Forum at the beginning of October 1989. Joined the SPD in early January 1990; June to September 1990 chairman of the SPD/GDR; member of the People's Chamber from March 18 to October 2, 1990, deputy parliamentary group chairman, lastly parliamentary group chairman of the SPD/GDR. 1990 to 2005 deputy chairman of the SPD.

Member of the Bundestag since October 3, 1990; 1990 to 1998 Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group; October 1998 to October 2005 President and since October 18, 2005 Vice President of the German Bundestag.

- IMDb mini biography by: Christian_Wolfgang_Barth