Romeo Thälmann

Romeo Thälmann (born 9 April 1958, age ) is a Jonathian politician who served as the Speaker of the House between 2017 and 2023 under the government of Jonas Albert. Aligned with the Liberal Party, Thälmann previously served as Secretary of Justice under prime ministers Richard Johnson, John Harvall, and Bill Samuels, before stepping back following the 2009 election to focus on health issues following a heart attack. He later made a comeback amidst the 2015 election. He permanently retired from politics in 2023.
Thälmann holds many social democratic political positions, although he was known as a pragmatist and a moderate Liberal early in his political career. He led the Liberal opposition to the Provincial Richts Act in 1998 and 1999, which culminated in the Supreme Court hearing on the act in late 1999. Thälmann has for much of his time as a politician been a key member of the Liberal Party, but despite this he has never been elected leader of the party; he did run in 1996, but lost to the more popular Leyla Wilson.
During the Albert administration, Thälmann was appointed Speaker of the House. Under his tenure, boosted by the Liberal majorities that he has served under, Thälmann has worked to ensure parliament moves smoothly. After prime minister Jonas Albert came out as bisexual in 2017, Thälmann was a heavy critic of conservative media outlets, many of whom were attacking or criticising the prime minister. On November 20th, 2022, Thälmann announced his retirement from politics, with him intending to step down as Speaker of the House after the 2023 election. Thälmann's reasons for retiring include wanting to spend more time with his family, as well as a second heart attack that occurred in June of 2022. He was succeeded by Kenzie Hillstrom.
Thälmann is married to Margaret Thälmann, whom he met during college in 1978. In 2019 and 2020, Time listed Thälmann as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Category:People
Category:Jonathian people
Category:Jonathia
Category:Romeo Thälmann