▁for ▁L oth ar ▁Bis ky ▁in ▁the ▁German ▁Bund est ag . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁From ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁B irk wald ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁Young ▁Democr ats , ▁who ▁were ▁until ▁the ▁turn ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁the ▁youth ▁association ▁of ▁the ▁F DP . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁I G ▁Met all ▁trade ▁union . ▁From ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁Matth ias ▁B irk wald ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁renew al ▁movement ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁in ▁C ologne ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁Rh in eland ▁district . ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁full - time ▁youth ▁education ▁officer ▁and ▁honor ary ▁state ▁manager ▁of ▁the ▁Young ▁Democr ats ▁/ ▁Young ▁Left ▁NR W . ▁ ▁Since ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 3 , ▁he ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Democratic ▁Social ist ▁Party ▁( P DS ), ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁W AS G ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁and ▁since ▁the ▁party ' s ▁re building , ▁he ▁is ▁now ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁The ▁Left ▁Party . ▁In ▁the ▁P DS , ▁he ▁held ▁several ▁delegate ▁mand ates ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁campaign ▁director ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁Rh ine - West phal ian ▁State ▁Association . ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁to ▁ 2