Staatssekretär

Staatssekretär, plural Staatssekretäre, is a title used in German-speaking countries for a high-ranking government official. The term denotes a senior role within a ministry and is typically associated with political responsibilities rather than a fixed civil service rank.

In Germany, at the federal level, a Staatssekretär usually refers to a parliamentary state secretary who serves as the minister’s deputy. The position is a political appointment and often filled by a member of the governing party. Tasks commonly include representing the ministry in parliament, coordinating policy across the ministry, handling parliamentary questions, and assisting with the formulation and implementation of policy. Depending on the ministry, there can be one or several Staatssekretäre, each with responsibility for specific policy areas and with authority to act on behalf of the minister when needed.

In German state governments (Länder), the term can denote either a political deputy to a minister or, in some cases, the senior civil servant within a ministry. The exact composition and powers vary by state, but the general idea is that a Staatssekretär is a top-level official who helps steer ministry work and acts as a liaison between political leadership and the administration.

In Austria, a Staatssekretär is similarly a political deputy to a federal minister, part of the cabinet and responsible for supporting policy development and coordination within a ministry. Like in Germany, there may be multiple Staatssekretäre assigned to different areas, and they may represent the minister in various official capacities.

Etymologically, the term combines Staats (state) and Sekretär (secretary). The role is distinct from ordinary civil service ranks and is characterized by political duties and ministerial accountability.