33 Facts About Christian Schmidt

Christian Schmidt's appointment was challenged by Russia, China, and the political leadership of Republika Srpska, who dispute its legitimacy.

Christian Schmidt was Parliamentary Secretary of State in the German Federal Ministry of Defence from 2005 to 2013, as well as Parliamentary Secretary of State in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development from December 2013 until February 2014.

Christian Schmidt was member of the Bundestag for Furth from 1990 to 2021.

Christian Schmidt attended the Georg-Willhem-Steller-Gymnasium in Bad Windsheim where he completed his Abitur in 1976.

Christian Schmidt then undertook mandatory military service in the 1st Mountain Division of the West German Army.

Christian Schmidt began legal studies in 1977 in Erlangen and Lausanne.

Christian Schmidt finished his legal studies with the successful completion of the required state examinations in 1982 and 1985.

Christian Schmidt was admitted to the bar in 1985 and practiced law until the assumption of his duties as Parliamentary State Secretary in November 2005.

From 1984 to 1990 Christian Schmidt was a town councillor in his hometown of Obernzenn and member of the District Council for Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim.

From 1989 to 1993 Christian Schmidt was a member of the CSU State Committee, a post that he took up again in 1999.

Since 1999, in addition to his duties on the CSU State Committee, Christian Schmidt has been Chairman of the CSU-District Association in Fuerth.

Christian Schmidt is the Chair of the CSU Regional Working Group on Foreign, Security and European Policy.

Christian Schmidt was elected to the German Parliament, the Bundestag, in the 1990 elections.

Christian Schmidt served as Chair of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group from 1994 until 1998 and as Chair for the German-British Parliamentary Friendship Group from 1998 until 2005.

Christian Schmidt has been a member of the German-Baltic, German-Croatian, and German-Czech Parliamentary Friendship Groups.

In 1997 the Federal Minister of Defence selected Christian Schmidt to serve on the Advisory Committee of the German-Czech Discussion Forum.

Christian Schmidt was rapporteur for the discussions pertaining to the Parliamentary Participation Act of 2005 dealing with the deployment of the German Bundeswehr within the Federal Republic.

Christian Schmidt entered the German Parliament as a directly elected candidate, representing Furth.

Christian Schmidt was named Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence by Chancellor Angela Merkel on 23 November 2005.

Christian Schmidt had defended zu Guttenberg against the accusations of plagiary.

From 2011 until 2017 Christian Schmidt had been serving as one of 5 deputy chairmen of the CSU, under the leadership of chairman Horst Seehofer.

Christian Schmidt was responsible for the relationship of the CSU with other parties that are members of the European People's Party caucus at the European Union level.

Christian Schmidt managed CSU international outreach to Israel, Croatia, Austria, the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From 2014 until 2018, Christian Schmidt served as Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture in the third cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In November 2017, Christian Schmidt angered most politicians by breaking an agreement not to back a European Union proposal to extend the use of glyphosate for another five years, a measure opposed by Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks of the SPD, who had secured a guarantee of a non-positive vote just minutes before; it is usual practice that Germany abstains in EU votes if ministers from different governing parties disagree on a policy.

Since leaving his government post, Christian Schmidt has been serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and its Sub-Committee on the United Nations.

In 2019, Christian Schmidt was appointed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community to serve on the committee that oversaw the preparations for the 30th anniversary of German reunification.

In January 2021, the German government nominated Christian Schmidt to be the new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Christian Schmidt imposed changes to Bosnia and Herzegovina's electoral law after voting hours ended for the 2022 general election.

Russia and China had opposed Christian Schmidt's appointment, do not recognize the legality and legitimacy of Christian Schmidt's election and refuse to recognize his authority, as he was appointed without a corresponding United Nations Security Council resolution nor was he chosen or approved on a broad consensus by the Peace Implementation Council, as was the case for previous High Representatives.

On 28 April 2023, after months of political deadlock in the formation of a new government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the 2022 general election, Christian Schmidt intervened by suspending the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for twenty-four hours, with Social Democratic Party president Nermin Niksic getting appointed as the new Federal Prime Minister.

Christian Schmidt's appointment is deemed unconstitutional by at least two opposition leaders of parliamentary parties due to Schmidt's intervention.

On 26 March 2024, Christian Schmidt imposed a new set of changes to Bosnia and Herzegovina's election law, announcing the implementation of electronic vote-counting, electronic identification and digital voting stations at a limited number of locations in a pilot scheme.