The German Trade Union Confederation has elected SPD member of the Bundestag Yasmin Fahimi as its new chairwoman.
The 54-year-old received 93.2 percent of the delegate votes at the DGB federal congress on Monday in Berlin.
For the first time in the history of the DGB, a woman is at the head of the trade union federation.
Fahimi succeeds Reiner Hoffmann, who, after two terms in office, has retired for reasons of age.
Fahimi advertised her biography when she was introduced.
As the daughter of a single mother, she encountered some resistance, she said in front of around 400 delegates.
Fahimi had held various positions at the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE).
She was SPD general secretary, state secretary in the Ministry of Labor and became a member of the Bundestag in 2017.
The qualified chemist is one of the SPD leftists.
She now wants to resign her mandate, as Fahimi announced in a letter to SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich.
Orientation towards the common good
Fahimi said: "We want living conditions that create happiness and prospects." This includes, among other things, affordable housing - and overall an orientation towards the common good "that does not leave everything to the market".
Against the background of the Russian war in Ukraine, Fahimi turned against "all despots" and dictators.
Referring to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, she said: "We will never forgive Putin for that." Fahimi said: "We are ready to fight wherever we see injustice." The trade unions stand as a community of values for peace, freedom and justice.
IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann had suggested Fahimi to the delegates and introduced her as an “experienced colleague who is very well versed in matters of the working world”.
Fahimi's partner is IGBCE Chair Michael Vassiliadis.
Hoffmann received 93.1 percent in 2014 and 76.3 percent when he was re-elected in 2018.
His predecessor Michael Sommer was elected in 2010 with 94.1 percent.