Peer Steinbrueck

Peer Steinbruck was a member of the German government during the Great Coalition of 2005-2009 in the cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel. He took responsibility for a number of difficult and unpopular decisions during the economic crisis, which were intended to alleviate its effects in the long term. Although he was able to present an almost balanced budget in 2008, government debt rose to a new record level.

Peer Steinbruck became Minister for Economics, Technology and Transport in 1993 the State of Schleswig-Holstein. After studying economics, he took roles in the federal government and in the Chancellor's office, and Minister of Economy and Infrastructure in 1998 and Finance Minister in 2000 in North Rhine-Westphalia.

He then became Chief of Staff for the President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Johannes Rau.

One of Peer Steinbruck's major achievements as Federal Finance Minister was to introduce tax identification numbers, a move which had been discussed for many years.

In 1993, he became Minister of Economy and Infrastructure in the State of Schleswig-Holstein. He then returned to North Rhine-Westphalia, where he became Minister of Economy and Infrastructure in 1998 and Finance Minister in 2000.

From 2002 to 2005, Peer Steinbrück served as Minister President (Ministerpräsident) of North Rhine-Westphalia. He headed a coalition government between the SPD and the Green Party.

After the 2005 Bundestag election, SPD and CDU formed a grand coalition under the leadership of new Chancellor Angela Merkel. Peer Steinbrück became finance minister of Germany.