A social democratic Politician who served as Germany's Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2009, under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He worked in the office of German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and other German ministries.
Although a democrat, he is known for be a more conservative member of the party.
His father, Ernst Steinbruck, was an Architect.
He said "clowns" had won Italy's 2013 election; Comedian Beppe Grillo taking one fourth of the votes.
