Franziska Giffey was born in Frankfurt/Oder in 1978. After completing her Abitur (the German university entrance qualification) in 1997, she studied public administration at the Fachhochschule für Verwaltung und Rechtspflege Berlin (FHVR), a college for public and judicial administration, and received her degree in 2001. From 2001 to 2002, Giffey worked for the borough mayor of Treptow-Köpenick, after which she served as the commissioner for European affairs of the borough Neukölln until 2010. In addition to her work as the commissioner for European affairs, she completed a master’s degree in European administrative management. In 2003, Giffey also worked at Berlin’s EU liaison office in Brussels and, in 2005, at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. From 1 September 2010, she served as the borough councillor for education, schools, culture, and sports in Neukölln until she was elected mayor of Neukölln on 15 April 2015. Giffey was appointed Germany’s minister for family affairs on 14 March 2018 and resigned from this post on 19 May 2021. Since 21 December 2021, she has been Governing Mayor of Berlin. Giffey joined the SPD in 2007. She is co-chair of the Berlin SPD and was elected directly to the Berlin House of Representatives by her constituency in Rudow.
Photo: Lena Giovanazzi