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{{short description|German politician}}
{{Short description|German politician (born 1955)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox Minister
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = Müller Gerd 2017 by Büro Dr. Gerd Müller.jpg
| image = Müller Gerd 2017 by Büro Dr. Gerd Müller.jpg
|name = Gerd Müller
| name = Gerd Müller
|office = [[Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)|Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development]]
| office = [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization]]
| term_start = 10 December 2021
|chancellor = [[Angela Merkel]]
| office1 = [[Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)|Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development]]
|term_start = 17 December 2013
|term_end =
| chancellor1 = [[Angela Merkel]]
| term_start1 = 17 December 2013
|predecessor = [[Dirk Niebel]]
|successor =
| term_end1 = 8 December 2021
| predecessor1 = [[Dirk Niebel]]
|office1 = [[Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture|Parliamentary Secretary of State for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection]]
| successor1 = [[Svenja Schulze]]
|term_start1 = 22 November 2005
| office2 = [[Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture|Parliamentary Secretary of State for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection]]
|term_end1 =17 December 2013
| term_start2 = 22 November 2005
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|08|25|df=yes}}
| term_end2 = 17 December 2013
|birth_place = [[Krumbach, Bavaria|Krumbach]], [[West Germany]]
| chancellor2 = [[Angela Merkel]]
|death_date =
| minister2 = [[Horst Seehofer]]<br />[[Ilse Aigner]]<br />[[Hans-Peter Friedrich]] <small>(Acting)</small>
|death_place =
| predecessor2 = [[Matthias Berninger]]
|alma_mater =
| successor2 = Maria Flachsbach
|profession =
| office3 = Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br /> for [[Oberallgäu (electoral district)|Oberallgäu]]
|nationality = German
|party = [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]]
| term_start3 = 16 October 1994
|website =
| term_end3 = 2021
| predecessor3 = [[Ignaz Kiechle]]
|chancellor1=[[Angela Merkel]]|minister1=[[Horst Seehofer]]<br />[[Ilse Aigner]]<br />[[Hans-Peter Friedrich]] <small>(Acting)</small>|predecessor1=[[Matthias Berninger]]|successor1=Maria Flachsbach|office2=Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br /> for [[Oberallgäu (district)|Oberallgäu]]|term_start2=16 October 1994|predecessor2=[[Ignaz Kiechle]]|office3=[[Member of the European Parliament]] <br /> for [[Germany]]|term_start3=18 June 1989|term_end3=12 June 1994}}
| office4 = [[Member of the European Parliament]] <br /> for [[Germany]]
'''Gerd Müller''' (born 25 August 1955 as ''Gerhard Müller'' in the town of [[Krumbach, Bavaria|Krumbach]], district of [[Günzburg (district)|Günzburg]], [[Bavaria]], Germany) is a [[Germany|German]] [[politician]] and member of the [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]]. He is the [[Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development|Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development]].
| term_start4 = 18 June 1989
| term_end4 = 12 June 1994
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|08|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Krumbach, Bavaria]], West Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| profession =
| party = [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]]
| website =
}}
'''Gerhard''' "'''Gerd'''" '''Müller''' (born 25 August 1955) is a German politician of the [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]], who is currently serving as Director General of the [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization]] since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerd Müller of Germany chosen as next UNIDO Director General {{!}} UNIDO |url=https://www.unido.org/news/gerd-mller-germany-chosen-next-unido-director-general |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.unido.org |language=en}}</ref>

He was German [[Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development|Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development]] from 2013 to 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister Müller proposed as new Director General of UNIDO |url=https://www.bmz.de/en/news/archive-press-releases/minister-mueller-proposed-as-new-director-general-of-unido-86786 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development |language=en}}</ref>

From 1994 until 2021, Müller represented [[Oberallgäu (electoral district)|Oberallgäu]] in the [[Bundestag]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Bundestag - Dr. Gerd Müller |url=https://www.bundestag.de/webarchiv/abgeordnete/biografien19/M/mueller_gerd-522180 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Deutscher Bundestag |language=de}}</ref>


== Political career ==
== Political career ==
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Between [[1989 European Parliament election in West Germany|1989]] and 1994, Müller was a [[Member of the European Parliament]], where he served on the [[European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism|Committee on Transport and Tourism]] and on the Joint Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Economic Community (ACP-EEC).
Between [[1989 European Parliament election in West Germany|1989]] and 1994, Müller was a [[Member of the European Parliament]], where he served on the [[European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism|Committee on Transport and Tourism]] and on the Joint Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Economic Community (ACP-EEC).


Since 1994, Müller has been a member of the German Parliament (''[[Bundestag]]'') following the [[1994 German federal election|federal election]] that year. He served on the committees for foreign and defense policy and was the spokesman on Europe, foreign, and development policy for the CSU group.<ref name="aicgs.org">Stephan Wallace (28 April 2014), [http://www.aicgs.org/issue/ministry-for-economic-cooperation-and-development/ Commentary: Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development] American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) Washington, D.C.</ref>
From 1994 until 2021, Müller was a member of the German Parliament (''[[Bundestag]]'') for [[Oberallgäu (electoral district)|Oberallgäu]]. He served on the committees for foreign and defense policy and was the spokesman on Europe, foreign, and development policy for the CSU group.<ref name="aicgs.org">Stephan Wallace (28 April 2014), [http://www.aicgs.org/issue/ministry-for-economic-cooperation-and-development/ Commentary: Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620123533/http://www.aicgs.org/issue/ministry-for-economic-cooperation-and-development/ |date=20 June 2017 }} American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) Washington, D.C.</ref>


=== Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, 2005–2013 ===
=== Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, 2005–2013 ===
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Following the [[2013 German federal election|2013 federal elections]], Müller was part of the CDU/CSU team in the negotiations with the SPD on a coalition agreement.
Following the [[2013 German federal election|2013 federal elections]], Müller was part of the CDU/CSU team in the negotiations with the SPD on a coalition agreement.


=== Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, 2013–present ===
=== Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, 2013–2021 ===
Since 2013, Müller has been Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development in the [[Third Merkel cabinet|third cabinet]] of Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]; he was succeeded as Parliamentary State Secretary by [[Peter Bleser]].
Since 2013, Müller has been Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development in the [[Third Merkel cabinet|third cabinet]] of Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]; he was succeeded as Parliamentary State Secretary by [[Peter Bleser]].


In February 2014, Müller accompanied German [[President of Germany|President]] [[Joachim Gauck]] on a state visit to [[India]] – where they met with [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Sonia Gandhi]], among others – and to [[Myanmar]].<ref>Anne Merholz (5 February 2014), [http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/gauck-joachim/so-exotisch-ist-die-indienreise-des-bundespraesidenten-34554728.bild.html Großes Staatsbankett für Gauck] "[[Bild]]".</ref>
In February 2014, Müller accompanied German [[President of Germany|President]] [[Joachim Gauck]] on a state visit to [[India]] – where they met with [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Sonia Gandhi]], among others – and to [[Myanmar]].<ref>Anne Merholz (5 February 2014), [http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/gauck-joachim/so-exotisch-ist-die-indienreise-des-bundespraesidenten-34554728.bild.html Großes Staatsbankett für Gauck] "[[Bild]]".</ref>


In October 2014, Müller co-chaired the Berlin Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation along with Foreign Minister [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] and the [[UN High Commissioner for Refugees]], [[António Guterres]].<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/NaherMittlererOsten/syriarefugeeconference/141028_Flueko.html Supporting stability in the region: Syrian Refugee Conference in Berlin] [[Federal Foreign Office (Germany)|Federal Foreign Office]], Berlin.</ref> In November 2014, he and German Environment Minister [[Barbara Hendricks (politician)|Barbara Hendricks]] hosted a conference which raised $10 billion for the [[Green Climate Fund]]’s projects to fight global warming.<ref>Stefan Nicola and Alex Morales (20 November 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-20/un-green-climate-fund-approaches-10-billion-in-pledges.html UN Green Climate Fund Approaches $10 Billion in Pledges] ''[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]''</ref> During his term, the German government pledged €800 million (2016) and €1 billion (2019) in contributions to the [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]].<ref>[https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2016-09-17-global-fund-donors-pledge-nearly-13-billion-to-help-end-epidemics/ Global Fund Donors Pledge Nearly $13 Billion to Help End Epidemics] [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]]], press release of 17 September 2016.</ref>
In October 2014, Müller co-chaired the Berlin Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation along with Foreign Minister [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] and the [[UN High Commissioner for Refugees]], [[António Guterres]].<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/NaherMittlererOsten/syriarefugeeconference/141028_Flueko.html Supporting stability in the region: Syrian Refugee Conference in Berlin] [[Federal Foreign Office (Germany)|Federal Foreign Office]], Berlin.</ref> In November 2014, he and German Environment Minister [[Barbara Hendricks (politician)|Barbara Hendricks]] hosted a conference which raised $10 billion for the [[Green Climate Fund]]’s projects to fight global warming.<ref>Stefan Nicola and Alex Morales (20 November 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-20/un-green-climate-fund-approaches-10-billion-in-pledges.html UN Green Climate Fund Approaches $10 Billion in Pledges] ''[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]''</ref> During his term, the German government pledged €800 million (2016) and €1 billion (2019) in contributions to the [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]].<ref>[https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2016-09-17-global-fund-donors-pledge-nearly-13-billion-to-help-end-epidemics/ Global Fund Donors Pledge Nearly $13 Billion to Help End Epidemics] [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]], press release of 17 September 2016.</ref>


In August 2015, Müller was part of Chancellor Merkel’s delegation to the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and [[Brazil]] in [[Brasília]].<ref>Thomas Vitzthum (August 20, 2015), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article145459098/Reise-ins-Land-der-begrenzten-Moeglichkeiten.html Reise ins Land der begrenzten Möglichkeiten] ''[[Die Welt]]''.</ref> In January 2016, he participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and [[Turkey]] in Berlin.<ref>[https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/BPA/2016/01/2015-01-15-deu-tuerk-regierungskonsultationen-breg.html Erste Deutsch-Türkische Regierungskonsultationen in Berlin] [[Cabinet of Germany|Federal Government of Germany]], press release of January 15, 2016.</ref>
In August 2015, Müller was part of Chancellor Merkel’s delegation to the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and [[Brazil]] in [[Brasília]].<ref>Thomas Vitzthum (August 20, 2015), [https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article145459098/Reise-ins-Land-der-begrenzten-Moeglichkeiten.html Reise ins Land der begrenzten Möglichkeiten] ''[[Die Welt]]''.</ref> In January 2016, he participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and [[Turkey]] in Berlin.<ref>[https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/BPA/2016/01/2015-01-15-deu-tuerk-regierungskonsultationen-breg.html Erste Deutsch-Türkische Regierungskonsultationen in Berlin] [[Cabinet of Germany|Federal Government of Germany]], press release of January 15, 2016.</ref>
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In September 2020, Müller announced that he would not stand in the [[2021 German federal election|2021 federal elections]] but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.<ref>Christian Deutschländer (September 13, 2020), [https://www.merkur.de/politik/gerd-mueller-csu-entwicklungsminister-merkel-kabinett-regierung-csu-schluss-politik-90042706.html CSU-Minister Gerd Müller kündigt überraschend Rückzug aus der Politik an - „Großer Verlust“] ''[[Münchner Merkur]]''.</ref>
In September 2020, Müller announced that he would not stand in the [[2021 German federal election|2021 federal elections]] but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.<ref>Christian Deutschländer (September 13, 2020), [https://www.merkur.de/politik/gerd-mueller-csu-entwicklungsminister-merkel-kabinett-regierung-csu-schluss-politik-90042706.html CSU-Minister Gerd Müller kündigt überraschend Rückzug aus der Politik an - „Großer Verlust“] ''[[Münchner Merkur]]''.</ref>


===Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization===
== Political positions ==
While still serving as minister, the German government nominated Müller as its candidate for Director General of the [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization]] (UNIDO). In July 2021, he was selected over [[Bernardo Calzadilla Sarmiento]] (Bolivia) and [[Arkebe Oqubay]] (Ethiopia) by the organization's Industrial Development Board.<ref name="UNIDO1">{{cite web |url=https://www.unido.org/news/gerd-muller-germany-chosen-next-unido-director-general |title= Gerd Müller of Germany chosen as next UNIDO Director General |date=12 July 2021 |accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref> This selection was confirmed by UNIDO's 19th General Conference in late 2021. Müller took up the position in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unido.org/dg-mueller-biography|title=DG Mueller Biography &#124; UNIDO|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527112711/https://www.unido.org/dg-mueller-biography|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Political positions==
=== Human rights and development ===
=== Human rights and development ===
In April 2014, Müller became the first member of Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]'s cabinet to publicly confront world football's governing body [[FIFA]] over its allocation of the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] to [[Qatar]], criticizing that the choice contradicted global efforts to tackle [[climate change]] and that human rights breaches on the country's stadium construction sites even extended to "slave labor."<ref>[http://www.dw.de/rethink-qatar-2022-world-cup-urges-german-cabinet-minister/a-17547399 Rethink Qatar 2022 World Cup, urges German cabinet minister] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 6 April 2014.</ref> Later that year, he publicly accused Qatar of funding [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] militants, arguing that the country was the "keyword" when it comes to IS financing.<ref>Stephen Brown (17 September 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/17/uk-iraq-crisis-germany-qatar-idUSKBN0HC18T20140917 Emir assures Merkel Qatar doesn't fund extremists in Syria, Iraq] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>
In April 2014, Müller became the first member of Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]'s cabinet to publicly confront world football's governing body [[FIFA]] over its allocation of the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] to [[Qatar]], criticizing that the choice contradicted global efforts to tackle [[climate change]] and that human rights breaches on the country's stadium construction sites even extended to "slave labor."<ref>[http://www.dw.de/rethink-qatar-2022-world-cup-urges-german-cabinet-minister/a-17547399 Rethink Qatar 2022 World Cup, urges German cabinet minister] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 6 April 2014.</ref> Later that year, he publicly accused Qatar of funding [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] (IS) militants, arguing that the country was the "keyword" when it comes to IS financing.<ref>Stephen Brown (17 September 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-crisis-germany-qatar-idUSKBN0HC18T20140917 Emir assures Merkel Qatar doesn't fund extremists in Syria, Iraq] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>


In June 2017, Müller voted against Germany’s introduction of [[Same-sex marriage in Germany|same-sex marriage]].<ref>[https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article166099805/Diese-Unionsabgeordneten-stimmten-fuer-die-Ehe-fuer-alle.html Diese Unionsabgeordneten stimmten für die Ehe für alle] ''[[Die Welt]]'', June 30, 2017.</ref>
In June 2017, Müller voted against Germany’s introduction of [[Same-sex marriage in Germany|same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-15 |title=Ehe für alle: Welcher Abgeordnete dafür und welcher dagegen stimmte - WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article166099805/Diese-Unionsabgeordneten-stimmten-fuer-die-Ehe-fuer-alle.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


=== International agriculture ===
=== International agriculture ===
Müller is strongly in favor of extending subsidizing German agriculture for export, which he hopes will lessen the flow of refugees coming to [[Europe]]<ref name="zeit2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2013-12/gerd-mueller-minister-entwicklungshilfe/komplettansicht|title=Nein, nicht DER Gerd Müller|last=Augustin|first=Kersten|newspaper=[[Die Zeit]]|language=de|date=18 December 2013|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref>
Müller is strongly in favor of extending subsidizing German agriculture for export, which he hopes will lessen the flow of refugees coming to [[Europe]].<ref name="zeit2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2013-12/gerd-mueller-minister-entwicklungshilfe/komplettansicht|title=Nein, nicht DER Gerd Müller|last=Augustin|first=Kersten|newspaper=[[Die Zeit]]|language=de|date=18 December 2013|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref>


=== Relations to the African continent ===
=== Relations to the African continent ===
Müller has in the past voted in favor of German participation in [[United Nations peacekeeping|United Nations peacekeeping missions]] as well as in United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping missions on the African continent, such as in [[Somalia]] – both [[Operation Atalanta]] and [[European Union Training Mission Somalia|EUTM Somalia]] (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018), [[African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur|Darfur/Sudan]] (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan|South Sudan]] (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), [[EUTM Mali|Mali]] (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) the [[EUFOR RCA|Central African Republic]] (2014), and [[United Nations Mission in Liberia|Liberia]] (2015). He abstained from the vote on extending the mandate for Mali in 2016.
Müller has in the past voted in favor of German participation in [[United Nations peacekeeping|United Nations peacekeeping missions]] as well as in United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping missions on the African continent, such as in [[Somalia]] – both [[Operation Atalanta]] and [[European Union Training Mission Somalia|EUTM Somalia]] (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018), [[African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur|Darfur/Sudan]] (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan|South Sudan]] (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), [[EUTM Mali|Mali]] (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), the [[EUFOR RCA|Central African Republic]] (2014), and [[United Nations Mission in Liberia|Liberia]] (2015). He abstained from the vote on extending the mandate for Mali in 2016.


During an official visit in 2019, Müller described the slaughter of some 65,000 [[Herero people|Herero]] and 10,000 [[Nama people|Nama]] tribespeople in [[Namibia]] between 1904 and 1908 as genocide, one of the most senior government members to use the term while compensation claims were under discussion.<ref>Madeline Chambers (September 2, 2019), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-namibia/german-minister-calls-colonial-era-killings-in-namibia-genocide-idUSKCN1VN1DM German minister calls colonial-era killings in Namibia 'genocide'] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>
During an official visit in 2019, Müller described the slaughter of some 65,000 [[Herero people|Herero]] and 10,000 [[Nama people|Nama]] tribespeople in [[Namibia]] between 1904 and 1908 as genocide, one of the most senior government members to use the term while compensation claims were under discussion.<ref>Madeline Chambers (September 2, 2019), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-namibia/german-minister-calls-colonial-era-killings-in-namibia-genocide-idUSKCN1VN1DM German minister calls colonial-era killings in Namibia 'genocide'] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>
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== Other activities ==
== Other activities ==
===Corporate boards===
===Corporate boards===
* [[KfW]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors
* [[KfW]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report of the Board of Supervisory Directors {{!}} KfW |url=https://www.kfw.de/About-KfW/Reporting-Portal/Reporting-2021/Report-of-the-Board-of-Supervisory-Directors/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.kfw.de |language=en}}</ref>


===International organizations===
===International organizations===
* Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee, Member<ref>[http://www.devcommittee.org/sites/www.devcommittee.org/files/documents/DCMembers_1.pdf Members] Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee.</ref>
* Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee, Member<ref>[http://www.devcommittee.org/sites/www.devcommittee.org/files/documents/DCMembers_1.pdf Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622161907/http://www.devcommittee.org/sites/www.devcommittee.org/files/documents/DCMembers_1.pdf |date=22 June 2020 }} Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee.</ref>
* [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]] (MIGA), [[World Bank Group]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors<ref>[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BODINT/Resources/278027-1215526322295/MIGAGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]] (MIGA), [[World Bank Group]].</ref>
* [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]] (MIGA), [[World Bank Group]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013–2021)<ref>[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BODINT/Resources/278027-1215526322295/MIGAGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]] (MIGA), [[World Bank Group]].</ref>
* [[World Bank]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors<ref>[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BODINT/Resources/278027-1215526322295/BankGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] [[World Bank]].</ref>
* [[World Bank]], Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013–2021)<ref>[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BODINT/Resources/278027-1215526322295/BankGovernors.pdf Board of Governors] [[World Bank]].</ref>


===Non-profit organizations===
===Non-profit organizations===
* [[Welthungerhilfe]], Chair of the Board of Trustees<ref>[https://www.welthungerhilfe.org/news/press-releases/2021/dr-gerd-mueller-takes-over-chair-of-ambassador-council/ Dr Gerd Müller takes over Chair of Ambassador Council] [[Welthungerhilfe]], press release of November 29, 2021.</ref>
* [[Kempten University of Applied Sciences]], Member of the Board of Trustees
* [[Kempten University of Applied Sciences]], Member of the Board of Trustees
* [[Hanns Seidel Foundation]], Member
* [[Hanns Seidel Foundation]], Member
* German Spa Association (DHV), President (2008-2012)
* {{ill|German Spa Association|de|Deutscher Heilbäderverband}} (DHV), President (2008-2012)


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==
* [[World Food Programme|World Food Programme’s Hunger Hero Award]] (2017)<ref>[http://de.wfp.org/neuigkeiten/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-rekordhilfen-fuer-wfp-2016-sichern-millionen-syrern-ueberleben Deutsche Rekordhilfen für WFP 2016 sichern Millionen Syrern das Überleben und investieren in eine Welt ohne Hunger] [[World Food Programme]], press release of 23 January 2017.</ref>
* [[World Food Programme|World Food Programme’s Hunger Hero Award]] (2017)<ref>[http://de.wfp.org/neuigkeiten/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-rekordhilfen-fuer-wfp-2016-sichern-millionen-syrern-ueberleben Deutsche Rekordhilfen für WFP 2016 sichern Millionen Syrern das Überleben und investieren in eine Welt ohne Hunger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015605/http://de.wfp.org/neuigkeiten/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-rekordhilfen-fuer-wfp-2016-sichern-millionen-syrern-ueberleben |date=1 November 2018 }} [[World Food Programme]], press release of 23 January 2017.</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Müller is [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Bundestag - Dr. Gerd Müller |url=https://www.bundestag.de/webarchiv/abgeordnete/biografien19/M/mueller_gerd-522180 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Deutscher Bundestag |language=de}}</ref> and married to Gertie Müller-Hoorens,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Dr. Gerd Müller erneut zum Direktkandidaten gewählt - Dr. Gerd Müller |url=https://www.gerd-mueller.de/dr-gerd-mueller-erneut-zum-direktkandidaten-gewaehlt/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922215540/https://www.gerd-mueller.de/dr-gerd-mueller-erneut-zum-direktkandidaten-gewaehlt/ |archive-date=22 September 2021 |access-date=2024-07-23 }}</ref> with whom he has two children.<ref name=":1" />
Müller is Catholic and father of two children.


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{commonscatinline}}
{{commons category|Gerd Müller (CSU)}}
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Latest revision as of 02:43, 6 November 2024

Gerd Müller
Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Assumed office
10 December 2021
Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development
In office
17 December 2013 – 8 December 2021
ChancellorAngela Merkel
Preceded byDirk Niebel
Succeeded bySvenja Schulze
Parliamentary Secretary of State for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
In office
22 November 2005 – 17 December 2013
ChancellorAngela Merkel
MinisterHorst Seehofer
Ilse Aigner
Hans-Peter Friedrich (Acting)
Preceded byMatthias Berninger
Succeeded byMaria Flachsbach
Member of the Bundestag
for Oberallgäu
In office
16 October 1994 – 2021
Preceded byIgnaz Kiechle
Member of the European Parliament
for Germany
In office
18 June 1989 – 12 June 1994
Personal details
Born (1955-08-25) 25 August 1955 (age 69)
Krumbach, Bavaria, West Germany
Political partyChristian Social Union in Bavaria

Gerhard "Gerd" Müller (born 25 August 1955) is a German politician of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, who is currently serving as Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization since 2021.[1]

He was German Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development from 2013 to 2021.[2]

From 1994 until 2021, Müller represented Oberallgäu in the Bundestag.[3]

Political career

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Müller was chairman of the Junge Union's Bavarian section from 1987 until 1991. In this position, his calls in favour of capital punishment for drug dealers caused significant controversy.[4][5]

Between 1989 and 1994, Müller was a Member of the European Parliament, where he served on the Committee on Transport and Tourism and on the Joint Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Economic Community (ACP-EEC).

From 1994 until 2021, Müller was a member of the German Parliament (Bundestag) for Oberallgäu. He served on the committees for foreign and defense policy and was the spokesman on Europe, foreign, and development policy for the CSU group.[6]

Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, 2005–2013

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From 2005 to 2013, Müller served as Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection under ministers Horst Seehofer (2005–2008) and Ilse Aigner (2008–2013) in the first and second cabinets of Chancellor Angela Merkel. In this capacity, he was responsible for international relations, third-world development projects, and world food aid programs, among other issues.[6] In 2011, he participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and China in Berlin; his counterpart in the Chinese government at the time was Han Changfu.[7]

Following the 2013 federal elections, Müller was part of the CDU/CSU team in the negotiations with the SPD on a coalition agreement.

Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, 2013–2021

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Since 2013, Müller has been Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development in the third cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel; he was succeeded as Parliamentary State Secretary by Peter Bleser.

In February 2014, Müller accompanied German President Joachim Gauck on a state visit to India – where they met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, among others – and to Myanmar.[8]

In October 2014, Müller co-chaired the Berlin Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation along with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres.[9] In November 2014, he and German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks hosted a conference which raised $10 billion for the Green Climate Fund’s projects to fight global warming.[10] During his term, the German government pledged €800 million (2016) and €1 billion (2019) in contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.[11]

In August 2015, Müller was part of Chancellor Merkel’s delegation to the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and Brazil in Brasília.[12] In January 2016, he participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and Turkey in Berlin.[13]

In September 2020, Müller announced that he would not stand in the 2021 federal elections but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.[14]

Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization

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While still serving as minister, the German government nominated Müller as its candidate for Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In July 2021, he was selected over Bernardo Calzadilla Sarmiento (Bolivia) and Arkebe Oqubay (Ethiopia) by the organization's Industrial Development Board.[15] This selection was confirmed by UNIDO's 19th General Conference in late 2021. Müller took up the position in December 2021.[16]

Political positions

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Human rights and development

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In April 2014, Müller became the first member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet to publicly confront world football's governing body FIFA over its allocation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar, criticizing that the choice contradicted global efforts to tackle climate change and that human rights breaches on the country's stadium construction sites even extended to "slave labor."[17] Later that year, he publicly accused Qatar of funding Islamic State (IS) militants, arguing that the country was the "keyword" when it comes to IS financing.[18]

In June 2017, Müller voted against Germany’s introduction of same-sex marriage.[19][3]

International agriculture

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Müller is strongly in favor of extending subsidizing German agriculture for export, which he hopes will lessen the flow of refugees coming to Europe.[5]

Relations to the African continent

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Müller has in the past voted in favor of German participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions as well as in United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping missions on the African continent, such as in Somalia – both Operation Atalanta and EUTM Somalia (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018), Darfur/Sudan (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), South Sudan (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), Mali (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), the Central African Republic (2014), and Liberia (2015). He abstained from the vote on extending the mandate for Mali in 2016.

During an official visit in 2019, Müller described the slaughter of some 65,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama tribespeople in Namibia between 1904 and 1908 as genocide, one of the most senior government members to use the term while compensation claims were under discussion.[20]

Other activities

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Corporate boards

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  • KfW, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Supervisory Directors[21]

International organizations

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Non-profit organizations

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Recognition

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Personal life

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Müller is Roman Catholic[27] and married to Gertie Müller-Hoorens,[28] with whom he has two children.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Gerd Müller of Germany chosen as next UNIDO Director General | UNIDO". www.unido.org. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Minister Müller proposed as new Director General of UNIDO". Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Deutscher Bundestag - Dr. Gerd Müller". Deutscher Bundestag (in German). Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Sängerknaben und Eunuchen". Der Spiegel (in German). 20 November 1989. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b Augustin, Kersten (18 December 2013). "Nein, nicht DER Gerd Müller". Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b Stephan Wallace (28 April 2014), Commentary: Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Archived 20 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) Washington, D.C.
  7. ^ Erste deutsch-chinesische Regierungskonsultationen Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, press release of June 28, 2011.
  8. ^ Anne Merholz (5 February 2014), Großes Staatsbankett für Gauck "Bild".
  9. ^ Supporting stability in the region: Syrian Refugee Conference in Berlin Federal Foreign Office, Berlin.
  10. ^ Stefan Nicola and Alex Morales (20 November 2014), UN Green Climate Fund Approaches $10 Billion in Pledges Bloomberg
  11. ^ Global Fund Donors Pledge Nearly $13 Billion to Help End Epidemics Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, press release of 17 September 2016.
  12. ^ Thomas Vitzthum (August 20, 2015), Reise ins Land der begrenzten Möglichkeiten Die Welt.
  13. ^ Erste Deutsch-Türkische Regierungskonsultationen in Berlin Federal Government of Germany, press release of January 15, 2016.
  14. ^ Christian Deutschländer (September 13, 2020), CSU-Minister Gerd Müller kündigt überraschend Rückzug aus der Politik an - „Großer Verlust“ Münchner Merkur.
  15. ^ "Gerd Müller of Germany chosen as next UNIDO Director General". 12 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  16. ^ "DG Mueller Biography | UNIDO". Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  17. ^ Rethink Qatar 2022 World Cup, urges German cabinet minister Deutsche Welle, 6 April 2014.
  18. ^ Stephen Brown (17 September 2014), Emir assures Merkel Qatar doesn't fund extremists in Syria, Iraq Reuters.
  19. ^ "Ehe für alle: Welcher Abgeordnete dafür und welcher dagegen stimmte - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 15 February 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  20. ^ Madeline Chambers (September 2, 2019), German minister calls colonial-era killings in Namibia 'genocide' Reuters.
  21. ^ "Report of the Board of Supervisory Directors | KfW". www.kfw.de. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  22. ^ Members Archived 22 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee.
  23. ^ Board of Governors Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group.
  24. ^ Board of Governors World Bank.
  25. ^ Dr Gerd Müller takes over Chair of Ambassador Council Welthungerhilfe, press release of November 29, 2021.
  26. ^ Deutsche Rekordhilfen für WFP 2016 sichern Millionen Syrern das Überleben und investieren in eine Welt ohne Hunger Archived 1 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine World Food Programme, press release of 23 January 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Deutscher Bundestag - Dr. Gerd Müller". Deutscher Bundestag (in German). Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Dr. Gerd Müller erneut zum Direktkandidaten gewählt - Dr. Gerd Müller". 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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