Harald Ringstorff
After graduating from high school, Ringstorff did his basic military service in the GDR National People's Army (NVA) from 1958 to 1960. He then studied chemistry at the University of Rostock, where he graduated with a diploma in 1965. From 1965 to 1969, Ringstorff worked as a research assistant at the university mentioned. He received his doctorate there in 1969. Ringstorff began his professional career as a chemist in 1969 at the Shipbuilding Combine in Rostock, where he worked until 1987. He then worked at the Rostock Varnishes and Colors Combine until 1990 as head of the Ship Colors Coast branch.
In the course of the peaceful revolution that led to the dissolution of the GDR in autumn 1989, Ringstorff also began his political involvement with the SPD, which he helped found in the GDR. In the first free People's Chamber elections in the spring of 1990, Ringstorff entered the last GDR People's Chamber. After German reunification, he was elected to the state parliament of the new federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in autumn 1990. Ringstorff was made state chairman of the SPD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 1990. He was the parliamentary group leader of his party in the state parliament until 1994. After the state elections in 1994, Ringstorff was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs and EU Affairs in the grand coalition under Prime Minister Berndt Page, and he also served as his deputy.
Ringstorff held these ministerial positions until 1996. In May of that year he resigned to return to the chairmanship of the SPD parliamentary group. As a result of the state elections in 1998, the SPD decided to form a coalition with the PDS. Ringstorff was elected Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on November 3, 1998. Ringstorff was able to successfully defend his government power in the 2002 state elections. The SPD emerged with gains in votes, while its coalition partner PDS suffered significant losses. In the 2006 state elections, Ringstorff's government was reconfirmed; The SPD had to accept a decline in vote share of around 10 percentage points, but still remained the strongest party. From November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007, Ringstorff was President of the Federal Council.
Ringstorff announced on August 6, 2008 that he wanted to resign as Prime Minister for reasons of age. His successor as Prime Minister on October 6th was Erwin Sellering.
In the course of the peaceful revolution that led to the dissolution of the GDR in autumn 1989, Ringstorff also began his political involvement with the SPD, which he helped found in the GDR. In the first free People's Chamber elections in the spring of 1990, Ringstorff entered the last GDR People's Chamber. After German reunification, he was elected to the state parliament of the new federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in autumn 1990. Ringstorff was made state chairman of the SPD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 1990. He was the parliamentary group leader of his party in the state parliament until 1994. After the state elections in 1994, Ringstorff was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs and EU Affairs in the grand coalition under Prime Minister Berndt Page, and he also served as his deputy.
Ringstorff held these ministerial positions until 1996. In May of that year he resigned to return to the chairmanship of the SPD parliamentary group. As a result of the state elections in 1998, the SPD decided to form a coalition with the PDS. Ringstorff was elected Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on November 3, 1998. Ringstorff was able to successfully defend his government power in the 2002 state elections. The SPD emerged with gains in votes, while its coalition partner PDS suffered significant losses. In the 2006 state elections, Ringstorff's government was reconfirmed; The SPD had to accept a decline in vote share of around 10 percentage points, but still remained the strongest party. From November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007, Ringstorff was President of the Federal Council.
Ringstorff announced on August 6, 2008 that he wanted to resign as Prime Minister for reasons of age. His successor as Prime Minister on October 6th was Erwin Sellering.