The new Economics Minister in Schleswig-Holstein is not German – but a Dane.
More precisely: Claus Ruhe Madsen (49, independent). Madsen is already a household name for many Germans: he has been mayor of Rostock for three years.
The new personnel in the future black-green Kiel state government was leaked a few days ago. Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) has now confirmed Madsen’s appointment at a state party conference in Neumünster.
The 49-year-old Dane has been the head of Rostock’s town hall since 2019 – making him the first mayor of a major German city without German citizenship. He became known nationwide as a talk show guest during the corona pandemic.
Most recently, as head of administration, it was primarily about damage limitation: Rostock canceled the federal garden show planned for 2025 – a novelty in the 70-year history of Buga.
Madsen will also be responsible for transport, work, technology and tourism in Kiel. Günther said that he had had several exciting encounters with Madsen in recent years – for example with the Danish queen. They also have a similar understanding of the political style, stressed Günther. Madsen will be the first Dane in Schleswig-Holstein to hold a ministerial post.
In addition to the occupation in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, there is another exciting position in Kiel: Aminata Touré (Greens) is the first Afro-German woman to become a minister in Germany. She was born 29 years ago in a refugee home in Neumünster, her parents are from Mali. Now she will lead the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Madsen comes from Copenhagen and has lived in Germany since 1992. After graduating from high school, he first worked in a furniture store in the Ruhr area before opening his own furniture store in Rostock in 1998. His entrepreneurial commitment and his unconventional manner brought him to the top of the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce as President in 2013.