Prior to her entry into politics,Fischbach was a teacher at Erich Fried Comprehensive School and the Evangelical Free Church.[3][4] She also worked at the Selm/Bork Police Academy[de].[5]
Local politics
Fischbach joined the CDU in 1990 and served on the Herne local council for four years between 1994 and 1998 before her election to the Bundestag.[3]
Bundestag
A CDU poster showing Fischbach
Fischbach was elected to the Bundestag via the state list in 1998.[3][5] She said in 2017 that she had not expected to win in 1998,and that she had planned her candidacy as a "test run" for the 2002 election,but decided to take her seat anyway.[3] She was elected for the Herne constituency.[3][6][5]
Before the 2012 North Rhine-Westphalia election,Fischbach was slated to be Minister for Family Affairs and Women in the state;however,the CDU lost the election.[7] In 2014,she was appointed as Parliamentary State Secretary for the Ministry of Health and served until her retirement in 2017.[3][8] Fischbach served as deputy chairwoman of the CDU parliamentary group. In 2017,Fischbach was appointed as the Federal Commissioner for Patients' Affairs and Nursing Care,and served until late 2018.[9][10][11] She was a member of the committees for Labour and Social Affairs and Family Affairs,Senior Citizens,Women and Youth.[5]
To the surprise of several other party members and over the objections of local chairman Markus Schlüter,she decided not to run for re-election to the Bundestag in 2017.[3]
Other political activities
Fischbach was the chairwoman of the CDU's Herne district from 1998 to 2007.[5] Fischbach chaired the Women's Union of North Rhine-Westphalia between 2011 and 2017.[3][6] In 2013,she was re-elected as chairwoman unanimously.[6]
Fischbach identifies as conservative.[3] She said in 2012 that she supports same-sex marriage.[14] In 2007,she said in response to a constituent's question that she supported the German forces in Afghanistan and opposed their proposed withdrawal.[15]
According to her personal website,Fischbach supports the "special protection" and support of families,equal rights and pay for women,the expansion of affordable healthcare,fair opportunities for children,and fair treatment of all religions.[16]
Personal life
Fischbach is Catholic. She is married and has one daughter.[17][5]
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