Background
MATSCHIE, Christoph was born on July 15, 1961 in Múhlhausen.
MATSCHIE, Christoph was born on July 15, 1961 in Múhlhausen.
From 1984 to 1989 he studied Theology at the University of Rostock and the University of Jena and earned a diploma.
He is also deputy Minister-President of Thuringia. He joined the newly founded Social Democratic Party of East Germany in October 1989. Matschie has been chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in Thuringia since 1999.
He was his party"s candidate for Minister-President at the State elections of 2004 and 2009.
The Social Democratic Party of Germany remained third strongest party in the state, but managed to form a coalition government with the Christian Democratic Union in 2009. Matschie became deputy of Minister-President Christine Lieberknecht.
Protestant
Following the German reunification Matschie became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and was a member of the Bundestag from 1990 to 2004. During the legislative period from 1998 to 2002 he was a member of the federal executive board of his party"s group in the Bundestag.