Norbert Blüm
| Norbert Blüm | |
|---|---|
|
Norbert Blüm in 1988 | |
| Federal Minister for Social Affairs and Labour | |
|
In office 4 October 1982 – 27 October 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Heinz Westphal |
| Succeeded by | Walter Riester |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 July 1935 Rüsselsheim, Germany |
| Nationality |
German  |
| Political party | CDU |
| Relations | Marita Blüm |
| Residence | Bonn |
| Alma mater | University of Bonn |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Norbert Blüm (born 21 July 1935) is a German politician who was a federal legislator from North Rhine-Westphalia, Chairman of the CDU there (1987–1999), and a minister for labor and social affairs (for 16 years in the government of Helmut Kohl).
Born in Rüsselsheim, he trained as a toolmaker at Adam Opel AG in the town. During this time he was a founding member of the local Scout Group within the Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg. Later he studied German language and literature, history and philosophy.
Especially during his political career, Blüm has been an outspoken critic of the agenda and conduct of Scientology. As a consequence, he has been a target of Scientology advocates who claimed that the organization was a victim of religious discrimination in Germany.
He received the Leipzig Human Rights Award in 2001.
His most known quotation "Die Rente ist sicher" (loosely translated into: "Pensions are secure") is actually a misquotation. It was actually a slogan he wielded in 1986 ("Eins ist sicher: Die Rente", "one thing is certain: The pension"). The misquotation became an infamous saying in Germany and has been target of Kabarett and hostile remarks for years. After almost 3 decades, Blüm even took part in it by talking about his infamous quotation in the German TV show Neues aus der Anstalt.
External links
- Norbert Blüm in German Wikipedia
- Norbert Blüm's article on the founding of the Scout Group "Partner Erde" in Rüsselsheim (German) at the Wayback Machine (archived October 9, 2007)
- The 2001 Leipzig Human Rights Award, video coverage of the event at Xenu TV, June 9, 2001
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