Uta Nickel (born 19 July 1941) is a German economist and one of the former

finance minister A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

s of

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

Early life and education

Nickel was born in Leipzig on 19 July 1941. She studied economics.

Career

Nickel joined the ruling party of East Germany, Socialist Unity, in 1960. She served as the councillor of finance of Leipzig in the period between 1963 and 1976. She was state secretary for finances and prices from 1988 to 1989. She was appointed minister of finance and prices on 18 November 1989, replacing Ernst Höfner in the post. She was part of the reform-minded cabinet formed by

Hans Modrow Hans Modrow (; 27 January 1928 – 10 February 2023) was a German politician best known as the last communist premier of East Germany. Coming into office amidst the Peaceful Revolution, he was the ''de facto'' leader of East Germany through ...

. She resigned from the office in January 1990 following the allegations that she was involved in illegal payments. Upon these accusations, she was investigated by the prosecutor general for financial breach of trust. Nickel denied any wrongdoing. Nickel's term officially ended on 12 April 1990 when Walter Siegert was appointed as acting finance minister. After retiring from politics Nickel worked as a consultant for two

property development Real estate development, or property development, is a business process, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re- lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of developed land or parcels to oth ...

companies based in

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nickel, Uta 20th-century German women politicians 1941 births Female finance ministers Finance ministers of East Germany German women economists Living people Women government ministers of East Germany Politicians from Leipzig Socialist Unity Party of Germany politicians