Philipp Rösler News- maker 2009

Dr. Philipp Rösler in Eutin, Photo: (C) Philipp Rösler

Rösler’s story

Born on February 24, 1973 – in what is today Soc Trang Province, Vietnam – Phillip Rösler only spent nine months in his native country. While still a baby, he was adopted by a German family from an orphanage near Saigon, today’s Ho Chi Minh City. Now the son of a professional soldier in the German army, Rösler spent much of his childhood on military bases – a major life influence.

After graduating from high school in Hannover in 1992, Rösler joined the German Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Force) to train as a combat medic. The experience convinced him that he was destined to work in medicine; and in 1993 he enrolled at the Hannover Medical School. It was here that Rösler earned himself the nickname “Doc.”

After years of work, Rösler earned his Doctorate in cardio-thoracic-vascular surgery in 2002. Over the course of his studies he remained active in the Bundeswehr, providing himself with additional experience at the Bundeswehr hospital in Hamburg. In 2003, Rösler retired from the military as a Stabsarzt – the equivalent to a Captain in the United States Army.

Climbing the political ladder

The military and medical worlds were not the only passions in Rösler’s life. The same year he joined the Bundeswehr, Rösler also registered as a member of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP). While simultaneously studying to become a doctor and training with the Bundeswehr, he also started to make a name for himself on the political scene.

Rösler began his experience in a leadership position with the FDP in 1996, serving as a member of the FDP State Executive in Lower Saxony. In 2000, he became General Secretary of the FDP in Lower Saxony – a voluntary position which he held until 2004. During his time as General Secretary, Rösler continued to rise in political rank; in 2001 he was elected a member of the Regional Assembly of Hannover, as well as the Deputy Chairman of the FDP regional group.

Advancing from the regional to the state level of government in 2003, Rösler was elected member of the State Assembly in Lower Saxony, serving as Chairman for the Assembly’s FDP faction. With each passing year, Rösler’s popularity within the FDP continued to grow and in 2006 he became the State Chairman for the FDP in Lower Saxony. This past February, Rösler reached his highest position at state level, becoming the Lower Saxony Minister for Economics, Labor, and Transport, as well as Deputy Prime Minister.

His newest appointment, as Federal Minister of Health, marks the first time Rösler has been in an executive position at national level. Since he advanced to such a high position so quickly one could be forgiven for automatically assuming Rösler must fit the cliché of an egotistical cutthroat politician, willing to say or do anything to gain power.

Yet with his humble, easy-to-approach demeanor, Rösler is a far cry from the politician stereotype. Rather than being recognized for extreme tenacity and manipulative capabilities, Rösler is admired by political allies and opponents alike for his wit, intelligence, and ability to make decisions without succumbing to the influence of others.

What’s in store

Of all of his responsibilities as Federal Minister of Health, reforming the health care system easily tops the list. With the German public health system staring a €7.5 billion deficit in the face, Rösler has quite the task ahead of him.

Rösler hopes to restructure the health care system in Germany so that citizens will have more freedom in choosing the types of treatment they receive, as well in choosing a physician and health insurance provider.

Making sure over 80 million people are able to receive the health care they need is no walk in the park. But who better to rise to the challenge than someone who has already proven adept at making history.