Lars Klingbeil

Lars Klingbeil (German: [ˈlaʁs ˈklɪŋbaɪl]; born 23 February 1978) is a German politician who has been serving as the Vice Chancellor of Germany and Federal Minister of Finance since 6 May 2025. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), he has served as the SPD's Co-leader since 2021, together with Saskia Esken (2021–2025) and Bärbel Bas (since 2025).

Klingbeil was the General Secretary of the SPD 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 nine 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, SPD's youth wing. Klingbeil is a member of the Seeheim Circle, the more economically right-leaning faction of the SPD.

Early life and education

The son of a soldier, Klingbeil was born into a working-class family in Soltau. He has a sister.

After graduating from school with his Abitur in Munster and completing his alternative civilian service, in 1999 Klingbeil began studying political science at Leibniz University Hannover, graduating in 2004 with a M.A. degree. From 2001 to 2004 he received a scholarship from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES); in 2001, he completed an internship in the foundation's New York office and witnessed the September 11 attacks.

Political career

Whilst at university, Klingbeil worked in the constituency offices of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Heino Wiese from 2001 until 2003. After finishing his studies he worked as youth education advisor for the Social Democratic Party in North Rhine-Westphalia.