Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany

A Federal Minister for Special Affairs (Bundesminister für besondere Aufgaben) is a federal minister without portfolio of Germany.

Currently, the title is commonly given to the head of the Chancellery to provide him with a vote in cabinet meetings. Historically, appointees have been important political aides or politicians waiting for a portfolio or representatives of certain parties, groups or regions. For instance, several East German politicians were appointed after German reunification in 1990.

List of Federal Ministers for Special Affairs

• Robert Tillmanns (CDU), 1953-1955
• Hermann Schäfer (FDP/FVP), 1953-1956
• Waldemar Kraft (BHE), 1953-1956
• Franz Josef Strauß (CSU), 1953-1955
• Heinrich Krone (CDU), 1961-1966
• Ludger Westrick (CDU), 1964-1966, also Head of the Chancellery
• Horst Ehmke (SPD), 1969-1972, also Head of the Chancellery
• Egon Bahr (SPD), 1972-1974
• Werner Maihofer (FDP), 1972-1974
• Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), 1984-1989, also Head of the Chancellery
• Rudolf Seiters (CDU), 1989-1991, also Head of the Chancellery
• Hans Klein (CSU), 1989-1990, also government spokesman
• Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German head of state
• Lothar de Maizière (CDU), 1990, last East German Prime minister
• Günther Krause (CDU), 1990-1991, last East German minister of the Interior
• Rainer Ortleb (FDP), 1990-1991, last East German FDP chairman
• Hansjoachim Walther (DSU), 1990-1991, last DSU chairman
• Friedrich Bohl (CDU), 1991-1998, also Head of the Chancellery
• Bodo Hombach (SPD), 1998-1999, also Head of the Chancellery
• Thomas de Maizière (CDU), 2005-2009, also Head of the Chancellery
• Ronald Pofalla (CDU), 2009-2013, also Head of the Chancellery
• Peter Altmaier (CDU), since 2013, also Head of the Chancellery