| Franz Josef Jung | |
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In office 28 October 2009 – 27 November 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Olaf Scholz |
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| Succeeded by | Ursula von der Leyen |
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In office 22 November 2005 – 27 October 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Struck |
| Succeeded by | Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
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State Minister
for Federal and European Affairs of Hesse
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In office 7 April 1999 – 7 September 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Norbert Schüren Rupert von Plottnitz |
| Succeeded by | Jochen Riebel |
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| Born | March 5, 1949 Erbach, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union (CDU) |
| Alma mater | University of Mainz |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | franz-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.
After his military service, Franz Josef Jung studied law at the University of Mainz and is a lawyer and civil law notary. 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.
In September 2007 he sparked a debate by his controversial assertion to shoot down jetliners in the case of a terrorist attack on Germany.[2] 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.[3]
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On 27 November 2009, he tendered his resignation as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs because of the Kunduz airstrike in Afghanistan of 4 September 2009.[4] The airstrike was against two fuel tankers that had been hijacked by the Taliban but also resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.[5] 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.[6] 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.[6] Although it is not clear whether Jung knew about the video when he had denied that civilians were killed.[7]
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.[5] 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.[6][8]
Jung is a Roman Catholic. He is married with three children.[9]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Norbert Schüren, Rupert von Plottnitz |
Hessian
Minister for Federal and European Affairs 1999–2000 |
Succeeded by Jochen Riebel |
| Preceded by Peter Struck |
German Minister of Defence 2005–2009 |
Succeeded by Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
| Preceded by Olaf Scholz |
German
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs 2009 |
Succeeded by Ursula von der Leyen |
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   | Jung - REGIERUNGonline - FRANZ JOSEF JUNG |
| | Official website from Franz Josef Jung - Dr. Franz Josef Jung MdB - Startseite |
| | Biography by German Bundestag - Deutscher Bundestag: Jung, Dr. Franz Josef |
| | German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes - guardian.co.uk - Article from September 20, 2007 - German defence minister ready to shoot down hijacked planes | World news | The Guardian |
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