Manuel Hagel: From Bank Employee to Potential Leader of Baden-Württemberg
Manuel Hagel, born May 1, 1988, in Ehingen, Germany, is a politician currently serving as a member of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg and as the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group. His career trajectory has moved from banking to a prominent position in German politics, and in May 2025, he was selected as the CDU’s candidate for Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg in the upcoming 2026 state election.
Early Life and Career
Hagel began his career as a banker, completing training and gaining experience at Sparkasse Ulm. He progressed through various roles, including Privatkundenberater (private customer advisor), Geschäftsstellenleiter (branch manager), and Filialdirektor (branch director) before entering politics. He holds a diploma as a bankbetriebswirt (banking specialist) from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Landtag Baden-Württemberg
Political Ascent
Hagel entered the CDU in 2006 and quickly rose through the party ranks. He became a member of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg in 2016, representing the constituency of Ehingen. CDU Fraktion Baden-Württemberg From 2016 to 2021, he served as the secretary general of the CDU in Baden-Württemberg under the leadership of Thomas Strobl. Wikipedia In 2021, he was elected as the chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in Baden-Württemberg. CDU Fraktion Baden-Württemberg He was nominated as a delegate to the Federal Convention for the election of the President of Germany in 2022. Wikipedia
Current Role and Responsibilities
As the CDU’s top candidate for the 2026 state election, Hagel is focused on leading his party to victory and potentially becoming the next Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg. Wikipedia He is also currently the Landesvorsitzender (state chairman) of the CDU Baden-Württemberg, assuming this role in 2023. cdu-bw.de He is a member of several committees in the Landtag, including the Committee on Internal Affairs, Digitization and Migration, and the Committee on Consumer Protection. Landtag Baden-Württemberg
Personal Life
Manuel Hagel is Catholic and is married with three children. He resides in Ehingen (Donau). CDU Fraktion Baden-Württemberg He is also a member of the Kreistag (district council) of the Alb-Donau-Kreis. CDU Fraktion Baden-Württemberg