Minister-President
The Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is Erwin Sellering (SPD). On 25th October 2011 the State Parliament confirmed him in his office for the second time. He heads a coalition of the SPD and the CDU. As a result of the State Parliament election on 4th September 2011, these two parties emerged as the strongest parties. They form a coalition and assume the function of State Government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Erwin Sellering was born in Sprockhövel (North Rhine-Westphalia) in 1949. In 1994 the jurist moved to Greifswald. There he worked at the administrative court at first as the chief judge, later he became the vice-president of the court. Within the state administration Erwin Sellering changed his activities in 1998 to serve as department head of the State Chancellery. Two years later the former Minister-President Dr. Harald Ringstoff appointed him Minister of Justice. From 2006 to 2008 Erwin Sellering served as Minister for Social Affairs and Health. Since 6th October 2008 he has served as Minister-President of the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The Minister-President determines government policy guidelines and is responsible for them. Within these guidelines each minister manages their own division independently and bears the responsibility for it. When performing official functions the Minister-President avails himself of the services of the State Chancellery. This office supports him in managing Cabinet affairs, his state functions and representative tasks, e. g. in protocolary and consulary matters and in matters of decoration and clemency as well as in maintaining international relationships.