She entered the Bavarian State Association of the Social Democratic Party, the BayernSPD in 1972 and worked in its party's Board of directors. She was elected into the Bundestag three times, in the electoral district of Bad Kissingen, the first time in May 1989. From 1998 to 2002, Kastner worked as the Managing Director of the SPD in the Bundestag and served as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Bundestag from October 2002 to September 2009 and she was succeeded by Wolfgang Thierse.[4][1] Despite her retirement from the Bundestag in 2013, Kastner is still politically active on regional and local level.[2]Florian Pronold, praised her as a caring and motivated person.[2]
Personal life
Kastner, a Lutheranian Christian, is married and has three children totaling eight grand-children.[2][1]
Honours
Kastner has been awarded the following honours:[3][5][6]