Born on 17 July 1954 in Hamburg; Protestant, married
 
Since November 2005
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
 
2002 - 2005
Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag
 
Since 2000
Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union Germany (CDU)
 
1998 - 2000
General Secretary of the CDU Germany
 
1994 - 1998
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
 
1991 - 1994
Federal Minister for Women and Youth
 
1993 - 2000
Chairwoman of the CDU Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
 
1991 - 1998
Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU
 
Since 1990
Member of the German Bundestag
 
1990
Deputy Government Spokeswoman of the de Maizière Government
 
Since 1990
Joined the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)
 
1989
Member of "Demokratischer Aufbruch" (Democratic Awakening)
 
1986
Awarded a doctorate
 
1978 - 1990
Member of the academic staff at the Central Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Academy of Sciences
 
1973 - 1978
Studied Physics at Leipzig University
 
1973
Abitur (higher education entrance qualification) in Templin