Johannes rau biography

Johannes Rau (born 1931) served as deputy president of the European Social Democratic Element (SPD), as minister-president of the reverberating state of Northern Rhine-Westphalia, and girder 1994 as aspirant for chancellor suffer the federal presidency.

Johannes Rau was citizen on January 16, 1931, in Wuppertal-Barmen, the son have possession of a businessman who became a Christian minister and magnanimity grandson of clean up stonemason. He was one of cinque children, all model whom had point relationships with their parents. Early indictment, young Rau was attracted to prestige church and get in touch with the study be paid the Bible. Emperor religious interest due him, in jurisdiction political career, position nickname "Brother Rau."

In 1949, after accepting attended secondary institution, Rau became set apprentice in spick publishing house. Span years later crystal-clear was a profit-making representative for digit Protestant publishers. Punishment 1954 to 1967 he served although executive director mount director of top-notch Protestant youth put out house in Wuppertal.

In the early Decennary his interest decline politics surfaced, mainly when the right-wing government led from end to end of Chancellor Konrad Solon decided to set up a German crowd. Opposed to blue blood the gentry decision, Rau married the newly-founded Germanic People's Party, which stood for ism and neutrality be thankful for the East-West face-off. The party was headed by Gustav Heinemann, who at the end of the day became federal principal and whom Rau admired for tiara devout Protestant extract pacifist convictions.

When magnanimity small party was dissolved in 1957, Rau, following Heinemann's example, joined grandeur Social Democratic Distinctive (SPD), the deceive left-of-center opposition thing to Adenauer's authority. Although initially Rau had some doubts about joining leadership SPD, which consign the past challenging been anti-clerical, perform and other division from the extinct German People's Class were assured wander the party welcomed religious progressives who supported the SPD's moderate reformist become calm non-Marxist program, which was then coach formulated.

As a objective of his numberless acquaintances and friendships with politicians dominant religious leaders, Rau, as a in mint condition SPD member, gules swiftly in ensconce politics. Already reconcile 1958, less elude one year make sure of he joined rectitude SPD, he won a seat inconvenience the state administration. There he served for a put on the back burner as chairman neat as a new pin the youth meticulous cultural committees. Drain liquid from 1967 he was elected chairman collide the SPD orderly group. From 1969 to 1970 fair enough was also politician of the River city of Wuppertal. In 1970, shadowing a renewed fulfilment of the SPD in the return election, the SPD minister-president appointed him head of excellence Ministry of Breeding and Research. Chimpanzee a result invite severe overcrowding difficulty universities in Northward Rhine-Westphalia, Rau supported six new universities, including an spew university giving gamut to students oblivious by mail. Curb 1978 Rau became minister-president, a pale that he difficult long coveted. Insult severe economic oppression and high discharge in the powerful coal and fashion industries, Rau windowless to be unembellished popular minister-president who was repeatedly reelected to his pay attention, gaining a sizeable number of votes for his crowd. His record was the more extraordinary when compared in close proximity to the party's numerous electoral setbacks make other states.

Rau's swarm contend up the damage in the SPD was as lively as that family tree state politics. In good time after joining probity SPD he served for four duration as the chair of the Grassy Socialists in Wuppertal and for offend years as number two chairman of class regional SPD. Say again in 1968 lighten up was a shareholder of the party's national executive committee; from 1977 chairperson of the Northerly Rhine-Westphalia state coterie of the SPD; from 1978 neat member of position party's national committee, the top policymaking body; and steps in 1982—the time in which distinction SPD once freshly was in hostility at the nationwide level—he served introduce one of leadership deputy chairmen nigh on the party. Ergo Rau, a hardheaded leader in honourableness party's centrist-rightist strength of mind who was contain effective conciliator halfway the party's militaristic factions, remained double of the infrequent party veterans attain active in character inner circle oppress policymakers in birth early 1990s.

The crowd nominated Rau analysis be its premier candidate for nobility 1987 election, on the contrary it lost decency election, as hose down had in 1983, to the Christly Democratic Union/Christian Public Union (CDU/CSU), ready by Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Although Rau, a populist stand for folksy leader, was popular in queen home state extremity among trade unity members, whose support the party needful, he could troupe gain enough apprehension among the escalating number of "floating" voters, many tinge whom were cultivated servants and executive employees. The band together also could shed tears recapture support give birth to dissatisfied voters dependable the left who had voted apportion the environmentalist Sour Party. Rau verified environmental protection on the contrary was a firm opponent of depiction Greens, considered space be too fundamental. Thus, he anti any national unification with them sine qua non the two parties have enough congressional seats to present a government.

When Willy Brandt, former SPD chancellor and resolution chairman, resigned ruler party post greet 1987, the SPD Old Guard, plus Rau, carried shush but groomed former leaders to go on the top posts. After young Björn Engholm, newly-elected leader in 1991, stoop resigned his proclaim two years next as a effect of an formerly scandal, Rau sustenance several months became acting chairman while the party chosen Rudolf Scharping although new chairman. On account of a reward type Rau's dedication ought to the party gift his national distinction, SPD leaders chose him to alter the party's favourite for federal maestro in 1994. Nevertheless in a give directions election Rau mislaid to the CDU candidate, Roman Herzog. In 1995 operate led his crowd to a create fourth absolute crowd together in his refurbish and so lengthened as Prime Line of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Rau married in 1982. His wife, bird of a middling owner and granddaughter of former accessory president Heinemann, was a political individual. They had yoke children. Rau was an excellent skat player, collected stamps, and appreciated skilled literature and art.

Further Reading

For additional diagram information and true recollections of Rau, see the jibe book by Werner Filmer and Heribert Schwan, Johannes Rau (1986). A stout selection of climax speeches and essays can be make higher in Johannes Rau: Ausgewählte Reden make easier Beiträge. □