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{{Short description|German politician (born 1949)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
{{Short description|German politician}}
⚫
{{Infobox Minister
| name = Franz Josef Jung
| name = Franz Josef Jung
| image = Verteidigungsminister Dr. Franz Josef Jung (4909819994).jpg
| image = Verteidigungsminister Dr. Franz Josef Jung (4909819994).jpg
| caption = Jung as Minister of Defence
| caption = Jung as Minister of Defence
| office = [[Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany)|Minister of Labour and Social Affairs]]
| office = [[Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany)|Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs]]
| chancellor= [[Angela Merkel]]
| chancellor= [[Angela Merkel]]
| term_start = 28 October 2009
| term_start = 28 October 2009
Line 11: Line 11:
| predecessor = [[Olaf Scholz]]
| predecessor = [[Olaf Scholz]]
| successor = [[Ursula von der Leyen]]
| successor = [[Ursula von der Leyen]]
| office2 = [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Minister of Defence]]
| office2 = [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Federal Minister of Defence]]
| term_start2 = 22 November 2005
| term_start2 = 22 November 2005
| term_end2 = 27 October 2009
| term_end2 = 27 October 2009
| chancellor2= Angela Merkel
| chancellor2= Angela Merkel
| predecessor2 = [[Peter Struck]]
| predecessor2 = [[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]]
| successor2 = [[Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg]]
| successor2 = [[Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg]]
|office3 = Member of the [[Bundestag]]
|office3 = Member of the [[Bundestag]]
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== Life and work ==
== Life and work ==
After his military service, Franz Josef Jung studied law at the [[University of Mainz]] and is a [[lawyer]] and [[civil law notary]]. In 1978 Jung successfully completed his doctoral studies at the University of Mainz and was hence awarded the title Dr. jur. (i.e. PhD in Law). In his political career, he held various party functions in [[Hesse]] (currently as vice chairman of the CDU there) and also served as a state minister. As Minister-President [[Roland Koch]]'s chief of staff in the [[Hessische Staatskanzlei|Hesse chancellery]], Jung resigned amid the [[CDU donations scandal]] in 2000.<ref>Judy Dempsey (18 October 2005), [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/international/europe/18germany.html Merkel Appoints 6 Conservatives to Join a Shaky German Cabinet] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
After his military service, Jung studied law at the [[University of Mainz]] and is a [[lawyer]] and [[civil law notary]]. In 1978 Jung successfully completed his doctoral studies at the University of Mainz and was hence awarded the title Dr. jur. (i.e. PhD in law).


In his political career, he held various party functions in [[Hesse]] (currently as vice chairman of the CDU there) and also served as a state minister. As Minister-President [[Roland Koch]]'s chief of staff in the [[Hessische Staatskanzlei|Hesse chancellery]], Jung resigned amid the [[CDU donations scandal]] in 2000.<ref>Judy Dempsey (18 October 2005), [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/international/europe/18germany.html Merkel Appoints 6 Conservatives to Join a Shaky German Cabinet], ''[[The New York Times]]''. Accessed 5 October 2022.</ref>
⚫
Even before entering the Bundestag, Jung was a CDU delegate to the [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Federal Convention]] for the purpose of electing the [[President of Germany]] in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004.

⚫
Even before entering the Bundestag, Jung was a CDU delegate to the [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Federal Convention]] for the purpose of electing the [[President of Germany]] in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004.{{cn|date=October 2022}}


===Federal Minister of Defence, 2005-2009===
===Federal Minister of Defence, 2005-2009===
Following the [[2005 German federal election|2005 federal elections]], Jung became a member of the German [[Bundestag]] and joined the [[First Merkel cabinet|first cabinet]] of [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]].
Following the [[2005 German federal election|2005 federal elections]], Jung became a member of the German [[Bundestag]] and joined the [[First Merkel cabinet|first cabinet]] of [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]].{{cn|date=October 2022}}

⚫
Between December 2005<ref>Joachim Hagen (23 December 2005), [http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-germanys-afghan-job-still-important-still-dangerous/a-1834422 Opinion: Germany's Afghan Job Still Important, Still Dangerous] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''. Accessed 5 October 2022.</ref> and March 2009, Jung visited the German military bases in [[Kunduz]], [[Mazar-i-Sharif]] and [[Faizabad]] three times.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/steinmeier-reasserts-germanys-pledge-to-afghanistan/a-2142155 Steinmeier Reasserts Germany's Pledge to Afghanistan] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 21 August 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/german-defense-minister-visits-troops-amid-afghanistan-debate/a-4084714 German Defense Minister Visits Troops Amid Afghanistan Debate] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 9 March 2009.</ref> During a later trip to Northern Afghanistan in early April 2009, he joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel in visiting reconstruction efforts in Mazar-i-Sharif.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160307034812/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-38908520090406 Merkel visits German troops in Afghanistan] ''[[Reuters]]'', 6 April 2009.</ref>


In September 2007, Jung sparked a debate by his controversial assertion to shoot down jetliners in the case of a terrorist attack on Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/20/germany.kateconnolly|title=German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes|date=20 September 2007|website=theguardian.com}}</ref>
⚫
Between December 2005<ref>Joachim Hagen (23 December 2005), [http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-germanys-afghan-job-still-important-still-dangerous/a-1834422 Opinion: Germany's Afghan Job Still Important, Still Dangerous] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''.</ref> and March 2009, Jung visited the German military bases in [[Kunduz]], [[Mazar-i-Sharif]] and [[Faizabad]] three times.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/steinmeier-reasserts-germanys-pledge-to-afghanistan/a-2142155 Steinmeier Reasserts Germany's Pledge to Afghanistan] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 21 August 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/german-defense-minister-visits-troops-amid-afghanistan-debate/a-4084714 German Defense Minister Visits Troops Amid Afghanistan Debate] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 9 March 2009.</ref> During a later trip to Northern Afghanistan in early April 2009, he joined German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] in visiting reconstruction efforts in Mazar-i-Sharif.<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/04/06/idINIndia-38908520090406 Merkel visits German troops in Afghanistan] ''[[Reuters]]'', 6 April 2009.</ref>


In September 2007, Jung sparked a debate by his controversial assertion to shoot down jetliners in the case of a terrorist attack on Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/20/germany.kateconnolly|title=German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes|date=20 September 2007|website=the Guardian}}</ref> Several politicians of the opposition parties as well as politicians from the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], especially [[Reinhard Bütikofer]] and [[Kurt Beck]], described his move as "unconstitutional" and called for his resignation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/terrorabwehr-spd-und-gruene-empoert-ueber-jungs-abschuss-plaene-a-506081.html|title=Terrorabwehr: SPD und Grüne empört über Jungs Abschuss-Pläne - DER SPIEGEL - Politik|first=DER|last=SPIEGEL|website=www.spiegel.de}}</ref>
Several politicians of the opposition parties as well as politicians from the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], especially [[Reinhard Bütikofer]] and [[Kurt Beck]], described his move as "unconstitutional" and called for his resignation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/terrorabwehr-spd-und-gruene-empoert-ueber-jungs-abschuss-plaene-a-506081.html|title=Terrorabwehr: SPD und Grüne empört über Jungs Abschuss-Pläne - DER SPIEGEL - Politik|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=17 September 2007 |accessdate=5 October 2022}}</ref>


In June 2007 the Minister Franz Josef Jung launch the F125 for $3 billion to ARGE F125 consortium (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Friedrich Lurssen Werft and Blohm + Voss) for 4 Frigates "without MK-41 missile launcher" (as for example has the previous F124 Sachsen class, able to pack enough missiles). <ref>[https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/06/german-navy-finally-commissioned-first-f125-frigate-baden-wurttemberg/]''Navalnews''</ref>
In June 2007, Jung launched the F125 for $3 billion to the ARGE F125 consortium (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Friedrich Lurssen Werft and Blohm + Voss) for 4 Frigates "without MK-41 missile launcher" (as for example has the previous F124 Sachsen class, able to pack enough missiles).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/06/german-navy-finally-commissioned-first-f125-frigate-baden-wurttemberg/|title=German Navy finally commissioned first F125 frigate "Baden-Württemberg"|first=Nathan|last=Gain|date=20 June 2019|website=navalnews.com}}</ref>


In early 2008, Jung rejected a sharply worded letter from his United States counterpart, [[Robert M. Gates]], asking that Germany send soldiers and helicopters to southern Afghanistan, where the heaviest fighting was taking place at the time. Instead, Jung announced that Germany would deploy a rapid reaction force in northern Afghanistan to replace Norwegian troops.<ref>Helene Cooper and Nicholas Kulish (7 February 2008), [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/world/europe/07diplo.html Condoleezza Rice Visits Afghanistan] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
In early 2008, Jung rejected a sharply worded letter from his United States counterpart, [[Robert Gates]], asking that Germany send soldiers and helicopters to southern Afghanistan, where the heaviest fighting was taking place at the time. Instead, Jung announced that Germany would deploy a rapid reaction force in northern Afghanistan to replace Norwegian troops.<ref>Helene Cooper and Nicholas Kulish (7 February 2008), [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/world/europe/07diplo.html Condoleezza Rice Visits Afghanistan] ''[[The New York Times]]''. Accessed 5 October 2022.</ref>


===Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, 2009===
===Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, 2009===
On 27 November 2009, Jung tendered his resignation as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs because of the [[2009 Kunduz airstrike|Kunduz airstrike]] in [[Afghanistan]] of 4 September 2009.<ref name=spiegel9>{{cite journal|title=Merkel Cabinet Reshuffle: Minister Jung Resigns amid Afghanistan Airstrike Scandal|journal=Der Spiegel|date=27 November 2009|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-cabinet-reshuffle-minister-jung-resigns-amid-afghanistan-airstrike-scandal-a-663820.html|access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref> The airstrike was against two fuel tankers that had been hijacked by the [[Taliban]], but also resulted in the [[Collateral damage|deaths of dozens of civilians]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8380226.stm|title=Germany's top soldier quits over Afghanistan raid|date=26 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref> Jung's resignation was over allegations that, whilst he was Defence Minister, he intentionally downplayed the possibility that civilians had been killed in the airstrike.<ref name="times">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6933504.ece|last=Boyes|first=Roger|title=Germany's top soldier Wolfgang Schneiderhan quits over airstrike blunder|date=26 November 2009|work=The Times|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref> A video taken by the American [[F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15]] fighter bomber involved in the airstrike was leaked to the newspaper ''[[Bild]]'' and is said to have clearly depicted civilians in the target area.<ref name="times"/> However, it is not clear whether Jung knew about the video when he had denied that civilians were killed.<ref name="BBC2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8382829.stm|title=German minister Franz Josef Jung resigns over raid|date=27 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=27 November 2009}}</ref> Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg succeeded Jung in the post.<ref name=spiegel9/>
On 27 November 2009, Jung tendered his resignation as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs because of the [[2009 Kunduz airstrike|Kunduz airstrike]] in [[Afghanistan]] of 4 September 2009.<ref name=spiegel9>{{cite journal|title=Merkel Cabinet Reshuffle: Minister Jung Resigns amid Afghanistan Airstrike Scandal|journal=Der Spiegel|date=27 November 2009|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-cabinet-reshuffle-minister-jung-resigns-amid-afghanistan-airstrike-scandal-a-663820.html|access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref> The airstrike was against two fuel tankers that had been hijacked by the [[Taliban]], but also resulted in the [[Collateral damage|deaths of dozens of civilians]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8380226.stm|title=Germany's top soldier quits over Afghanistan raid|date=26 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref> Jung's resignation was over allegations that, whilst he was Defence Minister, he intentionally downplayed the possibility that civilians had been killed in the airstrike.<ref name="times">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6933504.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909144200/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6933504.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2011|last=Boyes|first=Roger|title=Germany's top soldier Wolfgang Schneiderhan quits over airstrike blunder|date=26 November 2009|work=The Times|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref> A video taken by the American [[F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15]] fighter bomber involved in the airstrike was leaked to the newspaper ''[[Bild]]'' and is said to have clearly depicted civilians in the target area.<ref name="times"/> However, it is not clear whether Jung knew about the video when he had denied that civilians were killed.<ref name="BBC2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8382829.stm|title=German minister Franz Josef Jung resigns over raid|date=27 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=27 November 2009}}</ref> Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg succeeded Jung as minister of defence<ref name=spiegel9/> and Ursula von der Leyen replaced him in the post he was holding at the time of his resignation as federal minister of labour.


Jung's resignation came a day after the resignation of [[Wolfgang Schneiderhan (general)|Wolfgang Schneiderhan]], the [[Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Bundeswehr]], and Peter Wichert, a senior Defence Ministry official.<ref name="BBC"/> Their resignations were described as Germany's "biggest military shake-up in more than two decades" and have been claimed as proof that the defence ministry actively suppressed information about the incident.<ref name="times"/><ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/26/german-army-chief-resigns-afghanistan|last=Connolly|first=Kate|title=German army chief resigns over Afghanistan air strike|date=26 November 2009|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref>
Jung's resignation came a day after the resignation of [[Wolfgang Schneiderhan (general)|Wolfgang Schneiderhan]], the [[Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Bundeswehr]], and Peter Wichert, a senior Defence Ministry official.<ref name="BBC"/> Their resignations were described as Germany's "biggest military shake-up in more than two decades" and have been claimed as proof that the defence ministry actively suppressed information about the incident.<ref name="times"/><ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/26/german-army-chief-resigns-afghanistan|last=Connolly|first=Kate|title=German army chief resigns over Afghanistan air strike|date=26 November 2009|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=26 November 2009}}</ref>
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* [[Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute|Society to Promote the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute]], President
* [[Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute|Society to Promote the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute]], President
* Federal Association for Soldiers’ Welfare (BAS), Chairman (since 2015)
* Federal Association for Soldiers’ Welfare (BAS), Chairman (since 2015)
* ''Petersburger Dialog'', Member of the Board (since 2015)
* {{Ill|Petersburger Dialog|de}}, Member of the Board (since 2015)
* [[Rheingau Musik Festival]], Member of the Board of Trustees (since 1989)
* [[Rheingau Musik Festival]], Member of the Board of Trustees (since 1989)
* [[ZDF]], Member of the Television Board (since 1999)
* [[ZDF]], Member of the Television Board (since 1999)
* Hessian State Wineries Eberbach Monastery, Ex-officio Member of the Supervisory Board (2002-2005)
* Hessian State Wineries Eberbach Monastery, Ex-officio Member of the supervisory board (2002-2005)


==Political positions==
==Political positions==
Ahead of the Christian Democrats’ [[2018 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|leadership election]] in 2018, Jung publicly endorsed [[Friedrich Merz]] to succeed Angela Merkel as the party’s chair.<ref>Melanie Amann and René Pfister (9 November 2018), [http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-friedrich-merz-sichert-angela-merkel-unterstuetzung-zu-a-1237577.html Kampf um CDU-Vorsitz: Merz sichert Merkel Unterstützung zu] ''[[Der Spiegel]]''.</ref>
Ahead of the Christian Democrats’ [[2018 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election|leadership election]] in 2018, Jung publicly endorsed [[Friedrich Merz]] to succeed Angela Merkel as the party's chair.<ref>Melanie Amann and René Pfister (9 November 2018), [http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-friedrich-merz-sichert-angela-merkel-unterstuetzung-zu-a-1237577.html Kampf um CDU-Vorsitz: Merz sichert Merkel Unterstützung zu] ''[[Der Spiegel]]''.</ref>


==Recognition==
==Recognition==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Commonscat-inline}}
{{Commons category|Franz Josef Jung}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090910031401/http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/abgeordnete/bio/J/jung_fr0.html Biography by German Bundestag]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090910031401/http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/abgeordnete/bio/J/jung_fr0.html Biography by German Bundestag]


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{{s-ttl|title=[[Politics of Hesse|Hessian Minister for Federal and European Affairs]]|years=1999–2000}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Politics of Hesse|Hessian Minister for Federal and European Affairs]]|years=1999–2000}}
{{s-aft|after=Jochen Riebel}}
{{s-aft|after=Jochen Riebel}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter Struck]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Federal Minister of Defence (Germany)|German Minister of Defence]]|years=2005–2009}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Federal Minister of Defence (Germany)|German Minister of Defence]]|years=2005–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg]]}}
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[[Category:German Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:German Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Defence ministers of Germany]]
[[Category:Defence ministers of Germany]]
[[Category:Labor ministers (Germany)]]
[[Category:Ministers of labor of Germany]]
[[Category:Social Affairs ministers of Germany]]
[[Category:Social affairs ministers of Germany]]
[[Category:Christian Democratic Union of Germany politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for Hesse]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for Hesse]]
[[Category:21st-century German politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2013–2017]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2013–2017]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2009–2013]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2009–2013]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2005–2009]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2005–2009]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany]]
[[Category:People from the Rheingau]]

Latest revision as of 23:24, 2 November 2024

Franz Josef Jung
Jung as Minister of Defence
Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
In office
28 October 2009 – 27 November 2009
ChancellorAngela Merkel
Preceded byOlaf Scholz
Succeeded byUrsula von der Leyen
Federal Minister of Defence
In office
22 November 2005 – 27 October 2009
ChancellorAngela Merkel
Preceded byPeter Struck
Succeeded byKarl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
Member of the Bundestag
In office
2005–2017
Minister for Federal and European Affairs of Hesse
In office
7 April 1999 – 7 September 2000
Preceded byNorbert Schüren
Rupert von Plottnitz
Succeeded byJochen Riebel
Personal details
Born (1949-03-05) 5 March 1949 (age 75)
Erbach, Allied-occupied Germany
Political partyChristian Democratic Union (CDU)
Alma materUniversity of Mainz
ProfessionLawyer
Websitefranz-josef-jung.de

Franz Josef Jung (born 5 March 1949) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He became Federal Minister of Defence in the Grand coalition cabinet of Angela Merkel on 22 November 2005.[1] In October 2009 he became Minister of Labour and Social Affairs but resigned a month later.

Life and work

[edit]

After his military service, Jung studied law at the University of Mainz and is a lawyer and civil law notary. In 1978 Jung successfully completed his doctoral studies at the University of Mainz and was hence awarded the title Dr. jur. (i.e. PhD in law).

In his political career, he held various party functions in Hesse (currently as vice chairman of the CDU there) and also served as a state minister. As Minister-President Roland Koch's chief of staff in the Hesse chancellery, Jung resigned amid the CDU donations scandal in 2000.[2]

Even before entering the Bundestag, Jung was a CDU delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004.[citation needed]

Federal Minister of Defence, 2005-2009

[edit]

Following the 2005 federal elections, Jung became a member of the German Bundestag and joined the first cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel.[citation needed]

Between December 2005[3] and March 2009, Jung visited the German military bases in Kunduz, Mazar-i-Sharif and Faizabad three times.[4][5] During a later trip to Northern Afghanistan in early April 2009, he joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel in visiting reconstruction efforts in Mazar-i-Sharif.[6]

In September 2007, Jung sparked a debate by his controversial assertion to shoot down jetliners in the case of a terrorist attack on Germany.[7]

Several politicians of the opposition parties as well as politicians from the SPD, especially Reinhard Bütikofer and Kurt Beck, described his move as "unconstitutional" and called for his resignation.[8]

In June 2007, Jung launched the F125 for $3 billion to the ARGE F125 consortium (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Friedrich Lurssen Werft and Blohm + Voss) for 4 Frigates "without MK-41 missile launcher" (as for example has the previous F124 Sachsen class, able to pack enough missiles).[9]

In early 2008, Jung rejected a sharply worded letter from his United States counterpart, Robert Gates, asking that Germany send soldiers and helicopters to southern Afghanistan, where the heaviest fighting was taking place at the time. Instead, Jung announced that Germany would deploy a rapid reaction force in northern Afghanistan to replace Norwegian troops.[10]

Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, 2009

[edit]

On 27 November 2009, Jung tendered his resignation as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs because of the Kunduz airstrike in Afghanistan of 4 September 2009.[11] The airstrike was against two fuel tankers that had been hijacked by the Taliban, but also resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.[12] Jung's resignation was over allegations that, whilst he was Defence Minister, he intentionally downplayed the possibility that civilians had been killed in the airstrike.[13] A video taken by the American F-15 fighter bomber involved in the airstrike was leaked to the newspaper Bild and is said to have clearly depicted civilians in the target area.[13] However, it is not clear whether Jung knew about the video when he had denied that civilians were killed.[14] Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg succeeded Jung as minister of defence[11] and Ursula von der Leyen replaced him in the post he was holding at the time of his resignation as federal minister of labour.

Jung's resignation came a day after the resignation of Wolfgang Schneiderhan, the Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, and Peter Wichert, a senior Defence Ministry official.[12] Their resignations were described as Germany's "biggest military shake-up in more than two decades" and have been claimed as proof that the defence ministry actively suppressed information about the incident.[13][15]

Member of the Bundestag, 2009-2017

[edit]

From 2009 until 2013, Jung was a member of the parliamentary body in charge of selecting the judges of the Highest Courts of Justice, namely the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG), the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH), the Federal Labour Court (BAG), and the Federal Social Court (BSG).

After the 2013 elections, Jung was appointed deputy chairperson of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in charge of food, agriculture and consumer protection. Following the death of Andreas Schockenhoff, he took on the foreign policy portfolio in early 2015.

In July 2016, Jung announced that he would not stand in the 2017 federal elections and resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.[16] In March 2017, it was announced that Jung is to join the supervisory board of defence and automotive engineering group Rheinmetall.[17]

Other activities

[edit]

Political positions

[edit]

Ahead of the Christian Democrats’ leadership election in 2018, Jung publicly endorsed Friedrich Merz to succeed Angela Merkel as the party's chair.[18]

Recognition

[edit]
  • 2017 – Alfred Dregger Medal

Personal life

[edit]

Jung is a Roman Catholic. He is married with three children and lives in Erbach, Rheingau.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jung Archived 30 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine at bundesregierung.de
  2. ^ Judy Dempsey (18 October 2005), Merkel Appoints 6 Conservatives to Join a Shaky German Cabinet, The New York Times. Accessed 5 October 2022.
  3. ^ Joachim Hagen (23 December 2005), Opinion: Germany's Afghan Job Still Important, Still Dangerous Deutsche Welle. Accessed 5 October 2022.
  4. ^ Steinmeier Reasserts Germany's Pledge to Afghanistan Deutsche Welle, 21 August 2006.
  5. ^ German Defense Minister Visits Troops Amid Afghanistan Debate Deutsche Welle, 9 March 2009.
  6. ^ Merkel visits German troops in Afghanistan Reuters, 6 April 2009.
  7. ^ "German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes". theguardian.com. 20 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Terrorabwehr: SPD und Grüne empört über Jungs Abschuss-Pläne - DER SPIEGEL - Politik". Der Spiegel. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  9. ^ Gain, Nathan (20 June 2019). "German Navy finally commissioned first F125 frigate "Baden-Württemberg"". navalnews.com.
  10. ^ Helene Cooper and Nicholas Kulish (7 February 2008), Condoleezza Rice Visits Afghanistan The New York Times. Accessed 5 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Merkel Cabinet Reshuffle: Minister Jung Resigns amid Afghanistan Airstrike Scandal". Der Spiegel. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Germany's top soldier quits over Afghanistan raid". BBC News. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b c Boyes, Roger (26 November 2009). "Germany's top soldier Wolfgang Schneiderhan quits over airstrike blunder". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  14. ^ "German minister Franz Josef Jung resigns over raid". BBC News. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  15. ^ Connolly, Kate (26 November 2009). "German army chief resigns over Afghanistan air strike". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  16. ^ Auch Jung tritt nicht mehr an Frankfurter Rundschau, 3 July 2016.
  17. ^ Andreas Cremer (30 March 2017), Former German cabinet minister to join Rheinmetall board -Welt Reuters.
  18. ^ Melanie Amann and René Pfister (9 November 2018), Kampf um CDU-Vorsitz: Merz sichert Merkel Unterstützung zu Der Spiegel.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Norbert Schüren, Rupert von Plottnitz
 Hessian Minister for Federal and European Affairs
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Jochen Riebel
Preceded by German Minister of Defence
2005–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
2009 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Franz_Josef_Jung&oldid=1255064069"