Franz Josef Jung
| Franz Josef Jung | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | |
| In office 28 October 2009 – 27 November 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Olaf Scholz |
| Succeeded by | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Federal Minister of Defence | |
| In office 22 November 2005 – 27 October 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Struck |
| Succeeded by | Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
| State Minister for Federal and European Affairs of Hesse | |
| In office 7 April 1999 – 7 September 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Norbert Schüren Rupert von Plottnitz |
| Succeeded by | Jochen Riebel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 March 1949 Erbach, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union (CDU) |
| Alma mater | University of Mainz |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | franz-josef-jung.de |
Franz Josef Jung (born 5 March 1949) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He became Federal Minister of Defence in the Grand coalition cabinet of Angela Merkel on 22 November 2005.[1] In October 2009 he became Minister of Labour and Social Affairs but resigned a month later.
Life and work
After his military service, Franz Josef Jung studied law at the University of Mainz and is a lawyer and civil law notary. In 1978 Jung successfully completed his doctoral studies at the University of Mainz and was hence awarded the title Dr. jur. (i.e. PhD in Law). In his political career, he held various party functions in Hesse (currently as vice chairman of the CDU there) and also served as a state minister.
In September 2007 he sparked a debate by his controversial assertion to shoot down jetliners in the case of a terrorist attack on Germany.[2] Several politicians of the opposition parties as well as politicians from the SPD, especially Reinhard Bütikofer and Kurt Beck, described his move as "unconstitutional" and called for his resignation.[3]
Resignation
On 27 November 2009, Jung tendered his resignation as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs because of the Kunduz airstrike in Afghanistan of 4 September 2009.[4] The airstrike was against two fuel tankers that had been hijacked by the Taliban but also resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.[5] Jung's resignation was over allegations that, whilst he was Defence Minister, he intentionally downplayed the possibility that civilians had been killed in the airstrike.[6] A video taken by the American F-15 fighter bomber involved in the airstrike was leaked to the newspaper Bild and is said to have clearly depicted civilians in the target area.[6] However, it is not clear whether Jung knew about the video when he had denied that civilians were killed.[7] Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg succeeded Jung in the post.[4]
Jung's resignation came a day after the resignation of Wolfgang Schneiderhan, the Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, and Peter Wichert, a senior Defence Ministry official.[5] Their resignations were described as Germany's "biggest military shake-up in more than two decades" and have been claimed as proof that the defence ministry actively suppressed information about the incident.[6][8]
Personal life
Jung is a Roman Catholic. He is married with three children and lives in Erbach, Rheingau.
References
- ↑ Jung at bundesregierung.de
- ↑ German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes - The Guardian - 20 September 2007
- ↑ Terrorabwehr: SPD und Grüne empört über Jungs Abschuss-Pläne - Der Spiegel
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Merkel Cabinet Reshuffle: Minister Jung Resigns amid Afghanistan Airstrike Scandal". Der Spiegel. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Germany's top soldier quits over Afghanistan raid". BBC News. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Boyes, Roger (26 November 2009). "Germany's top soldier Wolfgang Schneiderhan quits over airstrike blunder". The Times. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ↑ "German minister Franz Josef Jung resigns over raid". BBC News. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ↑ Connolly, Kate (26 November 2009). "German army chief resigns over Afghanistan air strike". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Franz Josef Jung. |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Norbert Schüren, Rupert von Plottnitz |
Hessian Minister for Federal and European Affairs 1999–2000 |
Succeeded by Jochen Riebel |
| Preceded by Peter Struck |
German Minister of Defence 2005–2009 |
Succeeded by Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
| Preceded by Olaf Scholz |
German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs 2009 |
Succeeded by Ursula von der Leyen |
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