Christine Lieberknecht


Christine Lieberknecht is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union. From 2009 to 2014, she served as the Minister President of Thuringia. Lieberknecht was the first woman to become head of government in Thuringia and only the second woman to govern a German state.

Family, Education and Work

Christine Lieberknecht grew up as the oldest of four siblings. Her father was Protestant-Lutheran pastor. After graduation in 1976 she studied Protestant theology at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena:

Political career

Lieberknecht co-chaired the CDU's national conventions in Düsseldorf, Hanover, Karlsruhe and in Berlin.
After serving as
  • Thuringian Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs
  • Thuringian Minister for Federal and European Affairs
  • Thuringian Minister for Federal Affairs with the State Chancellery
  • Speaker of the Thuringian Parliament
  • Chairperson of the CDU Faction of the Thuringian Parliament
  • Thuringian Minister for Social Affairs, Family and Health
Lieberknecht was the 4th Minister President of the state of Thuringia from 2009 to 2014, and served as chairwoman of the CDU state party in Thuringia from 2009 to 2014.
Lieberknecht has been representing the constituency Weimarer Land II in the Landtag of Thuringia since 1991.
Lieberknecht served as a CDU delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2012, 2017 and 2022.
In 2019, Lieberknecht was appointed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community to serve on the committee that oversaw the preparations for the 30th anniversary of German reunification.

Other activities (selection)