Carsten Linnemann | |
|---|---|
 Linnemann in 2025 | |
| General Secretary of theChristian Democratic Union | |
| Assumed office 12 July 2023 Acting: 12 July 2023 – 6 May 2024 | |
| Deputy | Christina Stumpp |
| Leader | Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Mario Czaja |
| Deputy Leader of theChristian Democratic Union | |
| In office 20 January 2022 – 6 May 2024 | |
| Leader | Friedrich Merz |
| Preceded by | Jens Spahn |
| Succeeded by | Karl-Josef Laumann |
| Member of theBundestag forPaderborn | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Gerhard Wächter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carsten Christoffer Linnemann (1977-08-10)10 August 1977 (age 48) |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union |
Carsten Christoffer Linnemann (born 10 August 1977) is a German economist and politician of theChristian Democratic Union (CDU) who has been a member of theBundestag since the2009 election,[1] representing the constituency ofPaderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia.
From 2022, Linnemann was one of five deputy chairs of the CDU, under the leadership of chairmanFriedrich Merz.[2] In 2024 he became CDU general secretary after having assumed the position in an acting capacity the year prior; in 2025 he held on to the secretariat rather than becoming a member of the new goverrnment.[3] From 2013 until 2021, Linnemann had been the chairman of the Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT), the pro-business wing in theCDU/CSU.[4][5]
Between 2006 and 2007, Linnemann was an assistant toNorbert Walter, chief economist ofDeutsche Bank. He subsequently worked as economist withIKB Deutsche Industriebank from 2007 to 2009, where he focused on small and medium enterprises.
Since 2009, Linnemann has been serving on the Committee on Labor and Social Affairs, where he is his parliamentary group'srapporteur on welfare payments (Arbeitslosengeld II).
In the negotiations to form aGrand Coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDU together with the BavarianCSU) and theSocial Democrats (SPD) following the2013 federal elections, Linnemann was part of the CDU/CSU delegation in the working group on labor policy, led byUrsula von der Leyen andAndrea Nahles. In similar talks following the2017 federal elections, he was again part of the working group on social affairs, this time led Nahles,Karl-Josef Laumann andBarbara Stamm. However, he later abstained in the party leadership's vote on endorsing the renewedgrand coalition underChancellorAngela Merkel.[6]
From 2018 to 2021, Linnemann served as deputy chairman of theCDU/CSU parliamentary group under the leadership of successive chairmenVolker Kauder andRalph Brinkhaus. In this capacity, he oversaw the group's initiatives on economic policy, small and medium businesses, tourism and energy.
Since 2022, Linnemann has been leading a working group – alongsideSerap Güler andMario Voigt – in charge of drafting the CDU's newparty platform.[7]
On 17 July 2015, Linnemann voted against the government's proposal to negotiate a third bailout forGreece.[8] In June 2017, he voted against Germany's introduction ofsame-sex marriage.[9]
In 2019, Linnemann drew sharp criticism for saying that children who speak little German should not immediately be allowed to enter elementary school.[10]
Ahead of the2021 national elections, Linnemann endorsedArmin Laschet as the Christian Democrats' joint candidate to succeedChancellorAngela Merkel.[11]
Linnemann is a critic of – in his words "dangerous" – plans to ban far-rightAfD.[12]
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