- Mike German
Infobox Deputy First Minister
name=Michael German
order=1st Deputy First Minister for Wales
term_start =16 October 2000
term_end =6 July 2001
firstminister =Rhodri Morgan
predecessor =None
successor =Jenny Randerson
term_start2 =13 June 2002
term_end2 =8 May 2003
firstminister2=Rhodri Morgan
predecessor2 =Jenny Randerson
successor2 =Ieuan Wyn Jones
birth_date =birth date and age|1945|5|8|df=y
birth_place =Cardiff ,Wales
constituency=South Wales East Region
party= Welsh Liberal DemocratsMichael German OBE (born
8 May 1945 ), usually known as "Mike German", is leader of theWelsh Liberal Democrats , and member of theNational Assembly for Wales for theSouth Wales East Region. In 1996, he was awarded the OBE for his public and political service.Education
German was educated at the
Open University and St Mary’s College.Professional career
He trained and worked as a music teacher before becoming Head of the European Unit at the
Welsh Joint Education Committee . Has also been a school governor.Political career
His political career spans over two decades, as councillor and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on Cardiff City Council between 1983-1996 and joint leader of the Council from 1987 to 1991; he was elected to the
National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 and 2007. He is a spokesperson for Local Government, and a member of the European and External Affairs Committee, Local Government and Public Services Committee, South Wales East Regional Committee and the Objective 3 Monitoring Committee.Under a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition he became Deputy First Minister 2000-01 (and Minister for Economic Development) and again in 2002-03 (and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad). He stepped down from the role of Deputy First Minister between the two dates to answer allegations made about his role at the Welsh examination board, the WJEC. During this period he was temporarily replaced by
Jenny Randerson as Acting Deputy First Minister.In November 2007, Mike German became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, after
Lembit Opik stood down to ensure that the leadership of the party was in the National Assembly and not Westminster.German's political interests include skills development in small and large companies in Wales, constitutional affairs, Local Government, economy and regeneration.
External links
* [http://www.michaelgerman.org.uk/ Michael German AM website]
* [http://www.wales.gov.uk/who/members-biog4-e.htm#michael_german Michael German AM] official biography at the National Assembly for Wales website
* [http://www.welshlibdems.org.uk/ Welsh Liberal Democrats website]Offices held
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