Shredder Gerhard (Schrder Gerhard)

(p. 1944)
Born in Mozenburge (Lower Saxony) April 7, 1944. Raised without a father, who died during the Second World War. Left school at age 14, worked as assistant to the seller. Attended the University of GцІttingen, where in 1976 received a degree in law. Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in 1963, led the youth section of the party in 1978. He was elected to the Bundestag in 1980. In 1986, Schroeder led the opposition in Lower Saxony, became prime minister of this land in 1990, after the SPD formed a ruling coalition with the green ( 'red-green').
Schroeder took a centrist position, with sympathy for the business community, was a member of the supervisory board of the company 'Volsksvagen'. In April 1998, called Schroeder's SPD candidate for the post of Federal Chancellor. In the pre-election program, he promised to create new jobs, work more intensively with representatives of business development of the economy, make changes in the social security system, consider the possibility of tax cuts. In the parliamentary elections on Sept. 27, 1998 the SPD received 40.9% of the vote, securing a majority of seats in the Bundestag. A month later, the party entered into coalition with the Greens, who added 6,7% of the vote, and Schroeder officially took over as chancellor. Together the two parties held 345 of 669 seats in new parliament. The new government was formed mainly of politicians, leftist militants.