Matthias Birkwald

Matthias W. Birkwald (born 28 September 1961 in Münster) is a German politician (The Left). Since October 2009 he has been a member of the German Bundestag.

Education and early career Matthias W. Birkwald was born in Münster. He graduated from the Municipal High School in Erftstadt-Lechenich in 1981 and studied Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy and Political Economy in Cologne, Bonn and Bremen. He achieved a degree in 1990 as a graduate social scientist. Especially after his studies, Birkwald was involved in state and federal politics, was a member of the Young Democrats / Young Left NRW, the PDS and the WASG. He ran several times for a seat in the state parliament of NRW and in the Bundestag. From 2003 to 2005, Matthias Birkwald was a personal assistant to the Berlin Senator for social affairs, health and consumer protection, Heidi Knake-Werner, responsible for social affairs and migration. From 2005 to 2009, he served as bureau chief for Lothar Bisky in the German Bundestag.

Works with Christoph Butterwegge & Gerd Bosbach (ed.): Armut im Alter. Probleme und Perspektiven der sozialen Sicherung (Poverty in old age. Problems and perspectives of social protection). Campus-Verlag, Frankfurt / New York 2012,