Dr h. c. Susanne Kastner, Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)

Born on 11 December 1946 in Karlstadt/Main; Protestant; married, three children.

Obtained intermediate school-leaving certificate. Attended a specialised academy, qualified as a child care and social worker; trained through second-chance education at Munich college of religious education as a religious education teacher. Worked as a religious education teacher in a primary and lower secondary school until May 1989.

Member of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), the National Association for Workers’ Welfare (AWO), and the Bavarian Red Cross. Chairwoman of Rumänien Soforthilfe e.V. (“Emergency Aid for Romania”), chairwoman of the German-Romanian Forum, member of the board of the foundation Kinder Soforthilfe Rumänien (“Emergency Aid for Romanian Children”), and Vice-President of the German Tourism Association (DTV).

Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in 1972; member of the executive committee of the Bavarian Land branch of the SPD, member of the presidium of the Bavarian branch of the SPD, member of the SPD party executive.

Member of the German Bundestag since 22 May 1989; parliamentary secretary of the SPD parliamentary group from 1998 to 2002; Vice-President of the German Bundestag since October 2002. Chairwoman of the Commission for the Use of New Information and Communications Technologies and Media set up by the Council of Elders and chairwoman of the German-Romanian Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Useful information

Priorities of my political work

As a Vice-President of the Bundestag, there are a great many means of exerting influence open to me. At this level, we no longer pursue party politics at all costs, as a cross-party approach is needed. My position requires me to exercise a certain degree of restraint. Nonetheless, I have set a few priorities for my political work:

• The Bundestag Presidium is the supreme authority for the 2700 members of staff of the Bundestag Administration, ranging from doorkeepers to the Secretary-General of the Bundestag. I see myself as a person with whom the Administration can engage in dialogue.
  
• In addition, I chair the Commission for the Use of New Information and Communications  Technologies and Media set up by the Council of Elders, which takes decisions on the use of information and communications technology in the offices of the Members and Administration staff. The Bundestag does, after all, have 5100 computer workstations, 700 laptops and 11,200 telephones and fax machines. It is a challenge to ensure that the Bundestag is optimally equipped for the future while making savings wherever possible.
  
• I would like to bring politics and Parliament closer to young people. One element of this is the ‘Bundestag role-playing game’ project, which I tested successfully in my constituency. Additionally, a youth media workshop has been held annually since the initial event in October 2003.

Membership of Bundestag bodies

• Vice-President of the German Bundestag
• Member:
  Council of Elders
• Substitute member:
  Committee on Tourism