Grethe Härnisch-Eichinger

**Margarethe Maria** "**Grethe**" **Härnisch-Eichinger** (née **Schmiedeberg**; born 26 September 1955) is a Lungarian politician, who has served as Minister of Food and Agriculture in the Münd cabinet since 2017. A Unionist, she has additionally served as Minister of Transportation and Development from 2009 to 2017 during the administration of Mark Gebauer, Minister of Transportation and Development from 2005 to 2009 in the second Ehrler cabinet, and as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for Amrisdorf since 2001.

Born in Völkdorf, Amrisdorf, Härnisch-Eichinger grew up on a winery in the West Midlands, with her family's property spanning several acres of vineyards. After graduating from secondary school in 1975, Härnisch-Eichinger enrolled in the University of Amrisdorf and graduated with a degree in horticulture in 1978. Afterwards, she returned to her family's winery, and began working full-time for her family's wine business. She left her employment after her marriage in 1980, and subsequently became a housewife and mother.

Härnisch-Eichinger entered politics for the first time in 1997, after being selected to stand as a candidate for the Unionists in Amrisdorf during the 1997 federal election. She ultimately did not win a seat, but returned in the 2001 election and was elected to parliament. As a legislator, Härnisch-Eichinger became well-known in Lungary for prioritizing rural issues, especially notable within the more urban-dominated Unionist Party. In 2005, she was nominated by Philip Ehrler to replace the resigning Matthäus Winzer as Minister of Transportation and Development. Four years later, she was selected by Mark Gebauer to serve as Minister of Energy and the Environment, and became one of Gebauer's closest confidantes and advisers. After Gebauer announced his resignation ahead of the 2017 federal election, Härnisch-Eichinger was heavily rumored to run in the 2016 Unionist leadership election, but ultimately decided not to, citing her disinterest in serving as a party leader or Prime Minister. Following the 2017 election, Härnisch-Eichinger was nominated by Lara Münd to serve as Minister of Food and Agriculture, becoming one of the few Gebauer cabinet members to also serve in the Münd cabinet.

A widely popular figure amongst rural conservatives and voters in both the East Midlands and West Midlands, Härnisch-Eichinger has been often theorized as a potential future party leader or Prime Minister, although she has often rejected the claims and says she has no interest in pursuing higher positions. For several years, Härnisch-Eichinger was courted to become the Unionist leader in Amrisdorf and potentially the Minister-President of Amrisdorf, although she has rejected these offers as well, claiming that she has no interest in being a head of government. As she has sworn off running for these offices, many Unionist politicians seek out her highly influential endorsement while running.

## Early life and family

Härnisch-Eichinger was born on 26 September 1955 in Völkdorf, Amrisdorf to parents Gunter (1924–2012) and Camilla Schmiedeberg (née *Stüber*; born 1926). Her parents owned several acres of land, which they used for vineyards for their winery. The family made wine on their property, and sold it under the *Schmiedeberg* brand name; the brand was founded in 1876 by Gunter's great-grandfather.

With their successful company and acres of owned land, the family was quite wealthy; Härnisch-Eichinger was raised in a two-story, seven-bedroom home. However, Härnisch-Eichinger has recalled her parents being "quite modest" with their spending. In 2009, she stated, "My folks were quite successful, but they didn't raise us spoiled or anything. We all worked a lot. I didn't even know that we were considered wealthy until I was a teenager, and I didn't learn *how* wealthy until I was an adult."

Härnisch-Eichinger is the eldest of four children; her younger siblings are Catharina, born  (1958-01-11) 11 January 1958 (age 66), Christopher, born  (1960-07-16) 16 July 1960 (age 63), and Ursula, born  (1965-12-18) 18 December 1965 (age 58). She grew up as a member of the Church of Lungary, and attended church weekly.

## Education and early career

Härnisch-Eichinger began her education in 1962, attending a local, public primary school in Völkdorf, Amrisdorf. While in primary school, Härnisch-Eichinger was a popular student who also was a champion figure skater. She had initially wished to pursue a career as a professional figure skater, but left the sport after tearing her ACL at age 15. Härnisch-Eichinger graduated from primary school in 1972, subsequently enrolling in Völkdorf Gymnasium, where she studied a natural sciences and mathematics program. She graduated with her secondary school diploma in 1975.

After graduating from secondary school, Härnisch-Eichinger enrolled in the Faculty of Horticulture and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Amrisdorf, where she graduated with a degree in horticulture in 1978. After graduating, Härnisch-Eichinger began working at her family's winery. She initially was under the impression that she would inherit the business after her father's retirement, but her father later announced his plans to select her younger brother Christopher as his successor; this caused tension in the family, and Härnisch-Eichinger did not talk to her brother or father until 1999, since leaving her employment at the family business in 1980.

## Political career

### Early career

Härnisch-Eichinger entered politics for the first time in 1997, after being selected to stand as a candidate for the Unionists in Amrisdorf during the 1997 federal election. She ultimately did not win a seat, but returned in the 2001 election and was elected to parliament. As a legislator, Härnisch-Eichinger became well-known in Lungary for prioritizing rural issues, especially notable within the more urban-dominated Unionist Party.

### Ministerial posts

In 2005, she was nominated by Philip Ehrler to replace the resigning Matthäus Winzer as Minister of Transportation and Development. Four years later, she was selected by Mark Gebauer to serve as Minister of Energy and the Environment, and became one of Gebauer's closest confidantes and advisers. After Gebauer announced his resignation ahead of the 2017 federal election, Härnisch-Eichinger was heavily rumored to run in the 2016 Unionist leadership election, but ultimately decided not to, citing her disinterest in serving as a party leader or Prime Minister. Following the 2017 election, Härnisch-Eichinger was nominated by Lara Münd to serve as Minister of Food and Agriculture, becoming one of the few Gebauer cabinet members to also serve in the Münd cabinet.

A widely popular figure amongst rural conservatives and voters in both the East Midlands and West Midlands, Härnisch-Eichinger has been often theorized as a potential future party leader or Prime Minister, although she has often rejected the claims and says she has no interest in pursuing higher positions. For several years, Härnisch-Eichinger was courted to become the Unionist leader in Amrisdorf and potentially the Minister-President of Amrisdorf, although she has rejected these offers as well, claiming that she has no interest in being a head of government. As she has sworn off running for these offices, many Unionist politicians seek out her highly influential endorsement while running.

## Personal life

Härnisch-Eichinger began a relationship with Lungarian farmer and winemaker Martin Härnisch-Eichinger in 1976. Martin was the youngest son of Benjamin Härnisch-Eichinger, the then-CEO of the *Eichinger* brand of wine, one of her family's company's biggest competitors. The relationship began controversy in both families, although they eventually began to accept it. They became engaged in 1979, and later married the following year.

Grethe and Martin have six children together: Christian, born  (1981-11-19) 19 November 1981 (age 42), Benjamin, born  (1983-07-08) 8 July 1983 (age 40), Ellen, born  (1985-02-10) 10 February 1985 (age 38), Josephine, born  (1989-05-14) 14 May 1989 (age 34), Stella, born  (1992-06-01) 1 June 1992 (age 31), and Felix, born  (1993-12-30) 30 December 1993 (age 30). Härnisch-Eichinger has stated that her youngest son Felix coming out as gay in 2010 is what influenced her to become more supportive of LGBT rights, and that she wished she was more supportive of the community prior. The family owns homes in both Völkdorf, Amrisdorf and East Munbach.