Helmut Linssen (born June 21, 1942, in Krefeld) is a German politician (CDU). From June 24, 2005, to July 15, 2010, he was finance minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, immediately afterwards federal treasurer of the CDU. On February 6, 2014, following increasing pressure after his tax haven deals became known, he announced his retirement.[1]