Heiner Geißler (3 March 1930 – 12 September 2017)[1] was a German politician with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and a federal minister from 1982 to 1985.

Born Heinrichjosef Georg Geißler[2] in Gleisweiler,[3] he studied law and philosophy in Munich and Tübingen, where he graduated in 1960.

From 1977 to 1989, Geißler was Secretary General of the CDU under the leadership of Kohl, shaping strategy and running election campaigns.

[6] In late 1989, he joined forces with Kurt Biedenkopf, Lothar Späth, Rita Süssmuth and others in an unsuccessful effort to oust Kohl as CDU chairman.

In addition to his parliamentary work, Geißler also served as Vice-President of the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International from 1986 until 1993.