Peer Steinbrück is a German social democratic politician. He was the SPD candidate for Chancellor of Germany in the 2013 federal election. From 2002 to 2005 he was the 8th Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2005 to 2009 he served as German Federal Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Angela Merkel. He was nominated by his party as opposition candidate for Chancellor on 28 September 2012. He is generally considered a member of the more conservative wing of the party.