Zdebel studied sociology, political science, journalism and Dutch language in Münster and Nijmegen without graduating. During his studies he was engaged as a university lecturer in the AStA of the University of Münster. In the 1980s and 1990s he worked as a journalist in Münster. Later he was office manager of the member of the state parliament Rüdiger Sagel. He became member of the bundestag after the 2013 German federal election.[2] He is a member of the Committee for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Finance Committee.[3][4] In April 2021, Zdebel got no safe place on party list for 2021 German federal election.[5]