Thomas Heilmann (born 16 July 1964) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Born in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, he served as a member of the Bundestag from the state of Berlin from 2017 to 2025.
Career in the private sector From 2001 until 2008, Heilmann was a partner and CEO of Scholz & Friends. In 2001, he was nominated to join the supervisory board of Axel Springer SE; however, he was replaced by Axel Sven Springer before the vote.
At the request of Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen, Heilmann negotiated a high-profile agreement between investor Nicolas Berggruen and other shareholders on the sale of embattled department house chain Karstadt in 2010.
From 2011 until 2012, Heilmann briefly served as chair of the board at Save the Children Germany.
Political career Career in state government From 2012 until 2016, Heilmann served as State Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection in the coalition governments of successive Governing Mayors of Berlin Klaus Wowereit (2012–2014) and Michael Müller (2014–2016).
In 2012, Heilmann – together fellow state ministers Mario Czaja and Frank Henkel – unsuccessfully advocated for a reduction in the penalty-free personal use of cannabis from 15 to six grams.Konrad Litschko (22 May 2012), Gras: Breitseite gegen Kiffer Die Tageszeitung.
In the negotiations to form a Grand Coalition of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU together with the Bavarian CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) following the 2013 German elections, Heilmann was part of the CDU/CSU delegation in the working group on digital policy, led by Dorothee Bär and Brigitte Zypries.
In the 2016 state elections, Heilmann unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the State Parliament.
Member of the German Parliament (2017–2025)
Heilmann became a member of the Bundestag in the 2017 German federal election, representing Berlin's Steglitz-Zehlendorf district. In parliament, he has served on the Committee on Labour and Social Affairs (2018–2021), the Committee on the Digital Agenda (2018–2021) and the Committee on Economic Affairs and Climate Action (since 2021). In his first term, he was his parliamentary group's rapporteur on blockchain.Felix Holtermann (9 May 2019), Digitales Wertrecht: Union plant Blockchain-Anleihe schon 2019 Handelsblatt.
Within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Heilmann has been leading the group of CDU parliamentarians from Berlin since 2021.
In the negotiations to form a coalition government between the CDU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) under the leadership of Kai Wegner following Berlin's 2023 state elections, Heilmann was part of his party's delegation to the working group on mobility, climate action and environmental protection.Ken Münster (7 March 2023), Koalitionsgespräche ab dieser Woche: Das sind die Verhandler von CDU und SPD in Berlin Tagesspiegel.
In July 2023, Heilmann made news headlines when the Federal Constitutional Court issued an injunction blocking parliament from considering a plan submitted by the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to encourage home owners to replace fossil fuel heating systems with cleaner alternatives. This way, the court ruled in favor of Heilmann's emergency petition in which he had argued that his rights as a lawmaker would be violated by it being pushed through without an opportunity for more detailed consideration.Germany’s top court blocks a parliament vote on a contentious bill to replace heat sources in homes Associated Press, 5 July 2023.Peter Wilke and Hans von der Burchard (6 July 2023), German top court hits pause on controversial heating law — and coalition peace Politico Europe.
Other activities Government agencies Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (BNetzA), Alternate Member of the advisory board (since 2022)Members of the Advisory Board Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (BNetzA)
Corporate boards BwConsulting, Member of the advisory board (since 2017)Beirat der BwConsulting konstituiert BwConsulting, press release of 7 April 2017. Scholz & Friends, Member of the supervisory board (2008–2010)Werber: Personalkarussel dreht sich Manager Magazin, 8 February 2008. Cision, Member of the Board of Directors (2007–2012)The nomination committee's proposal for resolutions at Observer's Annual General Meeting Cision, press release of 23 February 2007.Annual Report 2012 Cision. Deutsche Bank, Member of the advisory board (2003–2010)Advisory Board: Membership in 2003 Deutsche Bank.Advisory Board: Membership in 2010 Deutsche Bank.
Non-profit organizations Save the Children Germany, Member of the supervisory board (since 2016)Supervisory Board Save the Children Germany. betterplace.org, Member of the Advisory BoardAdvisory Board betterplace.org Museum Berggruen, Member of the International CouncilInternational Council Museum Berggruen. Save the Children International, Member of the Board of Trustees (2016–2018)Trustees' report, strategic report and financial statements for 2016 Save the Children International.Trustees' report, strategic report and financial statements for 2018 Save the Children International. Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR), Member of the Board of TrusteesGrüne: Schluss mit den vielen Nebenjobs B.Z., 13 July 2012.
Political positions Ahead of the Christian Democrats' leadership election in 2018, Heilmann publicly endorsed Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to succeed Angela Merkel as the party's chair."Tut mir leid für Spahn, aber ich sehe leider keine Chance mehr für ihn" Die Welt, 4 November 2018.
In January 2025, Heilmann was one of 12 CDU lawmakers who opted not to back a draft law on tightening immigration policy sponsored by their own leader Friedrich Merz, who had pushed for the law despite warnings from party colleagues that he risked being tarnished with the charge of voting alongside the far-right Alternative for Germany.Thomas Escritt and Christian Kraemer (31 January 2025), German parliament rejects migration bill, dealing blow to election frontrunner Reuters.Helen Bielawa, Marcel Pauly and Rina Wilkin (1 February 2025), Zustrombegrenzungsgesetz: So haben die einzelnen Abgeordneten abgestimmt Der Spiegel.
References
External links
Bundestag biography