Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany
A Federal Minister for Special Affairs is a member of the German government without portfolio.
The title is often given to the Chief of staff 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, after German reunification in 1990 some members of the former Government of the GDR were appointed as Federal Ministers for Special Affairs, in order to provide a representation of the New states of Germany in the federal government.List of Federal Ministers for Special Affairs
- Robert Tillmanns, 1953-1955
- Hermann Schäfer, 1953-1956
- Waldemar Kraft, 1953-1956
- Franz Josef Strauß, 1953-1955
- Heinrich Krone, 1961-1966
- Ludger Westrick, 1964-1966, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Horst Ehmke, 1969-1972, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Egon Bahr, 1972-1974
- Werner Maihofer, 1972-1974
- Wolfgang Schäuble, 1984-1989, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Rudolf Seiters, 1989-1991, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Hans Klein, 1989-1990, also government spokesman
- Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, 1990-1991, last East German head of state
- Lothar de Maizière, 1990, last East German prime minister
- Günther Krause, 1990-1991, last East German minister of the interior
- Rainer Ortleb, 1990-1991, last East German FDP chairman
- Hansjoachim Walther, 1990-1991, last East German DSU chairman
- Friedrich Bohl, 1991-1998, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Bodo Hombach, 1998-1999, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Thomas de Maizière, 2005-2009, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Ronald Pofalla, 2009-2013, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Peter Altmaier, 2013-2018, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
- Helge Braun, since 2018, also Chief of staff of the Chancellery
