Born on 11 November 1955 in Brilon

Since 1972
Member of the CDU

1975
Abitur (university entrance qualification) at the Friedrich-Spee Gymnasium in Rüthen

1975 to 1976
Military service

1976 to 1981
Studied law and political sciences in Bonn and Marburg, graduating in 1982 with his first state examination in law and, after a preparatory service period at Saarbrücken Regional Court from 1982 to 1985, with his second state examination in law 

1985 to 1986
Judge at Saarbrücken District Court

Since 1986
Lawyer

1986 to 1989
Speaker at the Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (chemical industry association, VCI) 

1989 to 1994
Member of the European Parliament

1994 to 2009
Member of the Bundestag

1998 to 2000
Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag

2000 to 2002
Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag

2002 to 2004
Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag

2005 to 2021
Partner, and from 2017 Senior Counsel of the international law firm Mayer Brown LLP

2019 to 2021
Vice-President of the economic council of the CDU

Since 2021   
Member of the Bundestag 

2022 to 2025 
Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag

Since 2022  
Chair of the CDU in Germany

Since 6 May 2025 
Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany