Michael Kellner (born 8 May 1977) is a German politician (Alliance 90/The Greens) who has been serving as a Member of the Bundestag representing electoral constituency Uckermark – Barnim I since 2021.[1][2][3]
Michael Kellner | |
|---|---|
 Kellner in 2021 | |
| Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Action | |
| Assumed office 8 December 2021 Serving with | |
| Chancellor | Olaf Scholz |
| Minister | Robert Habeck |
| Preceded by | |
| Member of the Bundestag for Uckermark – Barnim I | |
| Assumed office 26 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Sabine Stüber |
| Chief Executive of the Alliance '90/The Greens | |
| In office 19 October 2013 – 2022 | |
| Leader | Annalena Baerbock Robert Habeck |
| Preceded by | Steffi Lemke |
| Succeeded by | Emily Büning |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 May 1977 Gera, Thuringia, Germany |
| Political party | Alliance 90/The Greens |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Berlin |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | michael-kellner |
In addition to his parliamentary work, Kellner has been serving as Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz since 2021.[4] In this capacity, he is also the Commissioner for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.[5]
Early life and education
editAfter a stay at kibbutz in Israel,[6] Kellner studied political science at the University of Potsdam from 1996 to 2002.[7] In his thesis, he analyzed the relationship between the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg.[6]
Career
editKellner joined Alliance 90/The Greens in 1997.[6]
From 2004 to 2009, Kellner worked as chief of staff to Claudia Roth in her capacity as member of the Green Party's national leadership. He subsequently became a legislative advisor to Frithjof Schmidt.[6]
From 2013 to 2022, Kellner was his party's General Secretary.[8][9] Following his switch into a government position, he was replaced in the role during a party convention in January 2022 by Emily Büning.[10]
Other activities
edit- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, Ex-Officio Member of the Senate (since 2022)[11]
- Heinrich Böll Foundation, Member of the Supervisory Board[12]
Controversy
editIn early 2022, Kellner became one of the six subjects of an embezzlement investigation launched by the Berlin public prosecutor's office into the entire leadership board of the Green Party over the payment of so-called ‘corona bonuses,’ which had been paid in 2020 to all employees of the party's federal office and at the same time to its board.[13]
Personal life
editKellner is married to Verena Graichen, who has been serving as deputy chair of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) since 2019.[14] They have two children and live in Berlin and Oberuckersee.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Michael Kellner". Bundestag (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ Gabel, Michael (31 August 2020). "Grünen-Geschäftsführer Kellner will in den Bundestag" (in German). MOZ.de. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "25 Abgeordnete aus Brandenburg ziehen in den Bundestag ein" (in German). rbb. ARD. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Kellner folgt Habeck ins Ministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz" (in German). Berliner Verlag. Berliner Zeitung. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Silke Kersting (5 January 2022), Bundesregierung: Das sind die neuen Beauftragten und Koordinatoren in wichtigen politischen Feldern Handelsblatt.
- ^ a b c d e Marion Kaufmann (6 June 2021), Grüne Spitzenkandidat:innen in Brandenburg: Die Zwei hinter Baerbock Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten.
- ^ Kixmüller, Jan; Micha, Corinna (22 November 2017). "Von der Uni in die Bundespolitik". Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Simone Peter und Cem Özdemir führen nun die Grünen" (in German). Die Zeit. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Bundesvorstand bestätigt, Parteirat neu gewählt". Alliance 90/The Greens. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ Hackenbruch, Felix (30 January 2022). "Sie will bei den Grünen jetzt die Strippen ziehen". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Senate, as of February 2022 Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.
- ^ Supervisory Board Heinrich Böll Foundation.
- ^ Hans von der Burchard (19 January 2022), Senior German Green politicians under investigation over ‘corona bonuses’ Politico Europe.
- ^ Bernhard Pötter (19 December 2021), Wirtschafts- und Klimaministerium: Energiewende als Familienprojekt Die Tageszeitung.