Dietrich Wersich (born April 27, 1964) is a German

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and physician. Since March 7, 2011 he is chairman of the CDU parliamentary Group in the Hamburg state legislature (Hamburgische Bürgerschaft), the largest opposition party. From May 7, 2008 to March 7, 2011 he was Hamburg State Minister of Social Affairs, Family Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection. From November 29, 2010 to March 7, 2011 he was also Deputy Mayor of Hamburg.

Early life and career

After receiving the Abitur at

Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums The ''Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums'' ( ''Academic School of the Johanneum'', short: Johanneum) is a Gymnasium (or Grammar School ) in Hamburg, Germany. It is Hamburg's oldest school and was founded in 1529 by Johannes Bugenhagen. The school's f ...

in 1984, he completed the '' "Grundwehrdienst".'' From 1986 to 1992, Wersich studied medicine at

University of Hamburg The University of Hamburg (german: link=no, Universität Hamburg, also referred to as UHH) is a public research university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by combining the previous General Lecture System ('' Allgemeines Vo ...

and subsequently worked as a physician for Internal medicine,

Geriatrics Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term ''geriatrics'' originates from the Greek γέρων ''geron'' meaning "old man", and ιατρός ''iatros ...

and Gerontology at AK Ochsenzoll hospital and Bethanien hospital until 1999. From 2000 to 2002, he continued his medical work in a private practice. During his work as a physician, Wersich founded a theater production company for the Altonaer Theater, STAITSCH TeaterbetriebsGmbH, for which he acted as managing partner until 2004. Since 2003, his company also works for Hamburger Kammerspiele and Harburger Theater.

Political career

Since 2008, Wersich held various local positions in the Hamburg CDU. He was also a member of the Bezirksversammlung Hamburg-Nord ( Stadtbezirk-legislature) and, since 2004, a member of the board of the Hamburg state CDU. From 1997 to 2004 and since 2011 he is a member of the Hamburgische Bürgerschaft. On April 1, 2004, Wersich became a member of the Senat der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg as state secretary under

Ole von Beust Ole von Beust (born 13 April 1955) is a former German politician who was First Mayor of Hamburg from 31 October 2001 to 25 August 2010, serving as President of the Bundesrat from 1 November 2007 on for one year. He was succeeded as mayor by C ...

. Until April 30, 2006, he was state secretary for health, before becoming state secretary in the newly formed Ministry of Social Affairs, Family Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection on May 1, 2006. On May 7, 2008, he was named Hamburg State Minister of Social Affairs, Family Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of the new CDU/ Green Alternative List (GAL) coalition government. Following the cancellation of the coalition by the GAL, all GAL ministers were discharged and their positions given to the remaining CDU ministers on November 30, 2010. Wersich became acting Minister of Schools and Vocational Training as well as Deputy Mayor of Hamburg until he was replaced on March 7, 2011 by

Dorothee Stapelfeldt Dorothee Stapelfeldt (born 12 August 1956) is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) who served in the governments of mayors Olaf Scholz and Peter Tschentscher of Hamburg, including as State Minister for Urban Devel ...

of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) following the February 20 Hamburg state election. On March 7, 2011, Wersich was elected chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Hamburg state legislature (Hamburgischer Bürgerschaft), thus becoming the leader of the largest opposition party.

Other activities

* Infinitas Kay-Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees * Erich Quenzel Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees * Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Member of the Advisory Board * Academy of World Religions (AWR) at the

, Member of the Advisory Board * Übersee Club, Member of the Board of Trustees

Personal life

One of Wersichs four brothers is the former member of the Hamburgische Bürgerschaft, CDU-politician Ekkehart Wersich. Wersich lives with his partner in Hamburg.Hamburger Morgenpost: Dietrich Wersich, Hamburger CDU-Chef, Ja ich bin schwul
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References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wersich, Dietrich 1964 births Living people Christian Democratic Union of Germany politicians Senators of Hamburg University of Hamburg alumni LGBT legislators in Germany 21st-century German LGBT people LGBT conservatism