Alexander Dobrindt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dobrindt in 2025 | |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2025 | |
| Chancellor | Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Nancy Faeser(as Minister of the Interior and Community) |
| Chairman of theCSU Group in theBundestag | |
| In office 24 October 2017 – 5 May 2025 | |
| Leader | Volker Kauder Ralph Brinkhaus Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Gerda Hasselfeldt |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Hoffmann |
| Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure | |
| In office 17 December 2013 – 24 October 2017 | |
| Chancellor | Angela Merkel |
| Preceded by | Peter Ramsauer |
| Succeeded by | Christian Schmidt(acting) |
| General Secretary of theChristian Social Union | |
| In office 9 February 2009 – 15 December 2013 | |
| Leader | Horst Seehofer |
| Preceded by | Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
| Succeeded by | Andreas Scheuer |
| Member of theBundestag forWeilheim | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Michaela Geiger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-06-07)7 June 1970 (age 55) Peißenberg,Bavaria, West Germany |
| Political party | CSU (since 1990) |
| Alma mater | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Website | alexander-dobrindt.de |
Alexander Dobrindt(German pronunciation:[alɛkˈsandɐˈdoːbʁɪnt]; born 7 June 1970) is a German politician of theChristian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) who has been serving as theFederal Minister of the Interior in thegovernment ofChancellorFriedrich Merz since 2025.
From 2017 to 2025, Dobrindt served as the chairman of the CSU Parliamentary Group in theGerman Bundestag. Between 2013 and 2017, he served asFederal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in the government ofChancellorAngela Merkel. Previously, he was the secretary general of theChristian Social Union of Bavaria under the leadership of party chairmanHorst Seehofer from 2009.
Dobrindt was born inPeißenberg,Bavaria. He graduated from the Weilheim Highschool in 1989 and continued his studies in theLudwig Maximilian University of Munich, finishing with aMaster of Arts insociology in 1995.
After obtaining his degree, Dobrindt worked at an engineering company as a financial director from 1996 to 2001 and as a managing director from 2001 to 2005.
Dobrindt joined theJunge Union (Junior party of the C.S.U.) in 1986 and 4 years later theChristian Social Union of Bavaria.He has been a member of the German National Parliament (Bundestag) since the2002 federal elections when he won the direct mandate in the Parliamentary Constituency ofWeilheim with 59.4 percent of the votes.[1] Since 2009, he serves as the district-chairman of the CSU in Weilheim-Schongau.
In parliament, Dobrindt served as a member of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Technology between 2005 and 2009. In the negotiations to form acoalition government following the2013 elections, he was part of the 15-member leadership circle chaired by Merkel, Seehofer andSigmar Gabriel.
In his capacity as minister, Dobrindt introduced a controversial road toll which forces foreign car drivers to pay up to 130 euros a year for using Germany'sAutobahn motorways;[2] the toll was a pet project of his CSU party. He was also in charge of drafting the government's plan to spend almost 270 billion euros (£226.48 billion) to repair and build new roads, railway lines and waterways between 2017 and 2030.[3]
From late 2016, Dobrindt was a member of the German government's cabinet committee onBrexit at which ministers discuss organizational and structural issues related to theUnited Kingdom's departure from theEuropean Union.[4][5]
Following the2017 elections, Dobrindt succeededGerda Hasselfeldt as head of the Bundestag group of CSU parliamentarians within the jointCDU/CSU group led byFriedrich Merz.
On May 6, 2025, Dobrindt was sworn in asFederal Interior Minister alongside theMerz cabinet. The following day, he ordered the pushback of illegal immigrants at the German border. On May 13, Dobrindt announced a ban on the far-right "Kingdom of Germany" (German: "Königreich Deutschland e.V.") association, which had been stockpiling weapons and had been acting increasingly hostile towards Germany's democratic system. Three members of the association were arrested, among them was its founder,Peter Fitzek. On his visit to Israel and the city ofBat Yam, reviewing the site's where Iranian missiles struck he was quoted saying: "There is no justification for attacks on a civilian population, as occurred here."[6]
On 6 June 2025,Michael O'Flaherty, theCouncil of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in a letter to Dobrindt, expressed serious concerns regarding the conduct of German authorities in response to Gaza protests.[7] O'Flaherty stated that
Since February 2025, Berlin authorities have imposed restrictions on the use of the Arabic language and cultural symbols during protests. In certain instances, such as the demonstration held on 15 May 2025 [in Berlin],[8] marches were limited to static gatherings. Additionally, protestors have reportedly been subjected to intrusive surveillance—both online and in person—and arbitrary police checks.
— Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Letter to the German Federal Minister of the Interior[9]
After threeSomalis had forced their way into Germany from Poland, using a decision of the administrative court Berlin in summer 2025, Dobrindt initially wanted to continue the pushback of illegals nonetheless and go for a clarifying, higher court ruling.[10] Mid September 2025 his office apparently had backed down, accepting the lower courts verdict and allowing the Somalis to stay in Germany for their asylum proceedings.[11]
Dobrindt played a key role as the negotiator for theChristian Social Union (CSU) in the discussions surrounding Germany's €100 billion special fund for theBundeswehr (German Armed Forces). He was instrumental in the negotiations leading to a historic amendment to Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz), which significantly increases German defense spending and enables the modernization and strengthening of theBundeswehr.[12] This landmark decision was made in response to growing security challenges in Europe and worldwide, and Dobrindt's efforts were pivotal in securing the necessary political support for the fund and the constitutional change. His work on this initiative reflected his strong commitment to enhancing Germany's defense capabilities and ensuring the country's security withinNATO and the broader international context.[13]
Dobrindt is a strong proponent of closer collaboration among conservative parties across Europe, working to ensure that they align on key political issues. He places great importance on maintaining a close partnership with key European nations, particularlyFrance, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland, as part of a broader effort to enhance European unity and security. He is also deeply committed to the security of theBaltic States, recognizing their strategic importance and advocating for their protection within the European and NATO frameworks. Dobrindt has consistently expressed his belief in the importance of robust transatlantic relations, particularly with theUnited States, which he views as a cornerstone for global stability and security.[14]
Dobrindt maintains a close and supportive relationship withIsrael, stating that he sees this as important on both a political and cultural level. He is a vocal opponent of any form of weapons embargo on Israel, stating that this provides Israel with the resources to defend itself.[15]
In 2025, Dobrindt announced that he wanted to hold talks withterrorist-IslamicTaliban inAfghanistan in order to make it easier to deport criminals with Afghan passports from Germany to Afghanistan.[16]
In October 2025, Dobrindt announced that he wanted to deport criminals with Syrian passports from Germany toSyria.[17]
In 2013, Dobrindt calledLGBTQ people a "shrill minority" which adopted an odd lifestyle.[20] In June 2017, he voted against introduction ofsame-sex marriage in Germany.[21]
Dobrindt is a Roman Catholic, was married inTorri del Benaco,Italy in 2009, and has one son.[22]
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
