Matthias Berger (born 2 January 1968) is a German politician who is a member of the Landtag of Saxony. On 1 December 2023 Berger was selected as the top candidate for the Free Voters of Saxony for the 2024 Saxony state election in which he was elected.[1]
Matthias Berger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Landtag of Saxony for Leipzig Land 3 | |
| Assumed office 1 September 2024 | |
| Mayor of Grimma | |
| Assumed office 2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 January 1968 (age 57) |
| Political party | Free Voters (since 2023) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (until 2023) CDU (2001) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Political career
editAs an independent politician, Berger was first elected mayor of Grimma on 10 June 2001: he received 57.6 percent of the vote as an independent candidate with the nomination from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). A year later, Berger became known nationwide with his fight against the effects of the "flood of the century" on his city. On 8 June 2008, Berger received 98.2 percent of the vote in the mayoral election. On 7 June 2015, he was confirmed in office with almost 90 percent of the vote and on 12 June 2022 with 85.9 percent.[2]
Together with Antje Hermenau, Berger has been involved in the "Citizens' Movement for Saxony" since autumn 2018, a self-described political "collective movement of the centre". On 1 December 2023, Berger was nominated as the top candidate of the State Association of Free Voters Saxony for the 2024 Saxony state election on 1 September 2024. In the election he was directly elected in the constituency of Leipzig-Land III.[3][4] He stood for election as Minister-President of Saxony and proposed a technocratic government.[5]
Legal career
editMatthias Berger is a lawyer in a law firm in Grimma; due to his elected office as mayor, his legal practice is suspended.
Personal life
editBerger is married and has two children.
References
edit- ^ dpa, wma (2023-12-01). "Sachsen: Matthias Berger wird neuer Spitzenkandidat der Freien Wähler". lvz.de. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
- ^ "Matthias Berger ist neuer Oberbürgermeister in Grimma". mdr.de (in German). 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Achterberg, Beatrice (2024-09-02). "Landtagswahlen 2024: Koalitionsmöglichkeiten in Sachsen und Thüringen". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ "Germany: Thuringia and Saxony elections propel far-right AfD". Deutsche Welle. 1 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Berger bewirbt sich um Amt des Regierungschefs". DieSachsen (in German). 13 December 2024.
External links
edit- Grimma: OBM Berger wirft Landratsamt Behinderung beim Hochwasserschutz vor. Leipziger Internet Zeitung, March 3, 2014.
- Bernhard Honnigfort: Grimma – Schwerer Neuanfang nach dem Hochwasser. Frankfurter Rundschau. 5. June 2013.
- Jens Falkowski: Grimma nach der Flut. Mediendienst Ost, June 2013.
- Roland Herold: Grimma, die Flut und der Held: Wie aus dem Oberbürgermeister „unser Matthias" wurde. Leipziger Volkszeitung, 8. August 2012.
- Marcus Jauer: Grimma nach der Flut – Eine Stadt schlägt die Schlammschlacht. Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19. August 2002.