Lars Klingbeil

Lars Klingbeil (born 23 February 1978) is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party who has been serving as the party's Co-Leader since 2021, together with Saskia Esken. Klingbeil previously was the General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party from December 2017 to December 2021. Since 2001 he has been a member of the City Council of Munster and a member of the District Council of Heide. He was a Member of the Bundestag for about 9 months in 2005 and has been a member again since the 2009 Federal Election. From 2003 till 2007, Klingbeil was the Deputy Leader of the Jusos, the SPD youth wing. Klingbeil is a member of the Seeheim Circle, the right wing of the SPD, which shares many similarities with Tony Blair's New Labour. Early life and education After doing his Abitur in Munster and completing his alternative civilian service, in 1999 Klingbeil began studying political science at Leibniz University Hannover, he graduated in 2004 with a master's degree. From 2001 to 2004 he received a scholarship from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). Political career Whilst at university Klingbeil worked in the constituency offices of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and from 2001 until 2003. After finished his studies he worked as youth education advisor for the Social Democratic Party in North Rhine-Westphalia.