2016-11-17 - Cornelia Willius-Senzer - 0479

Cornelia Willius-Senzer (born 13 July 1943) is a German entrepreneur, dance instructor and politician ( FDP). She was the chair of the FPD parliamentary group in the

Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate The Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag is the state diet of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Article 79, Section 1 of the Rhineland-Palatinate constitution provides: "The Landtag is the supreme organ of political decision-making, el ...

from 2017 to 2021.

Life and dance career

Willius-Senzer, née Scherning, was born in

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...

. In her youth, she studied languages and worked as an interpreter in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

. In 1971 she met her future husband,

dance studio A dance studio is a space in which dancers learn or rehearse. The term is typically used to describe a space that has either been built or equipped for the purpose. Overview A dance studio normally includes a smooth floor covering or, if used fo ...

heir Horst Willius-Senzer, who asked to marry her on the condition that she had to become a

dance instructor Dance education is a practice whereby students are taught a broad understanding of dance as an art form or trained professionally in specific dance genres. Dance education also encompasses a research area in which scholars conduct original resear ...

. She is honorary president of the , the association of German ballroom dance instructors, and president of the European Dance Council.

Career in politics

Willius-Senzer entered politics as a FDP member in 2003. She was elected a member of the Landtag in the 2016 Rhineland-Palatinate state election. As Mother of the House, she opened the parliamentary session. In 2017, she was elected chair of the FDP group. In the 2021 Rhineland-Palatinate state election, Willius-Senzer retained her seat, elected as third on her party's statewide list. She continued in her role as Mother of the House, opening the first session of the new parliament, but was succeeded as chair of the party's parliamentary group by Daniela Schmitt in March 2021.

References

Members of the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate Free Democratic Party (Germany) politicians 21st-century German politicians 1943 births Politicians from Rhineland-Palatinate Women members of State Parliaments in Germany Living people 21st-century German women politicians {{Germany-FDP-politician-stub