Mourning for CDU politician: Kurt Biedenkopf is dead

Kurt Biedenkopf was Prime Minister for eleven years – a time that left a strong mark on Saxony. Now the CDU politician has died at the age of 91. His successor Kretschmer praised him as a “great Saxon”.

Former Saxon Prime Minister Kurt Biedenkopf is dead. Biedenkopf was at the helm of the Free State of Saxony for eleven years – the high point of his career, which began in the 1970s.

Biedenkopf was born on January 28, 1930 in Ludwigshafen. At the age of 37, the lawyer and economist at the Ruhr University Bochum became Germany’s youngest university rector at the time. In 1973 the law professor became general secretary of the CDU at the suggestion of the party leader at the time, Helmut Kohl, and was long regarded as the party’s hope. Later he became Kohl’s rival, and the two broke up.

Chance of a comeback through the turnaround

In the 1980s, Biedenkopf only made a name for itself with the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia, at the end of the decade his political career was basically over.

But the turning point in the GDR opened up the chance for a comeback for him. The CDU politician Lothar Späth persuaded him to go to the East and apply for the office of Prime Minister in Saxony. Biedenkopf later gave the reason that he wanted to serve the country together with his wife Ingrid.

“King Kurt”

Under his leadership, Saxony experienced a kind of “early days” in the 1990s – both with regard to economic development and the political position of his party in the state. Three times he obtained an absolute majority for the CDU in state elections in the Free State.

Many Saxons called him “King Kurt” – also a criticism of his style of governance, which is often perceived as high-handed, and the sometimes less tactful dealings with party friends. However, he enjoyed great popularity in Saxony until his death – also because, despite his western origin, he distinguished himself as one of the most energetic advocates of the interests of East Germany.

However, the end of Biedenkopf’s term of office was less laudable. Affairs such as discount purchases from the Ikea furniture store accelerated his case. The conflict over his successor had already broken out openly beforehand.

Also present after his political career

Ultimately, Biedenkopf succumbed to his former Finance Minister Georg Milbradt in an internal power struggle. In April 2002, Biedenkopf left office at the age of 72. Nevertheless, he remained present in the Saxony CDU – especially when things weren’t going well in the party. He later worked again as a lawyer and published. He also remained involved in politics, for example as an ombudsman for Hartz IV complaints.

“A statesman and a father in the best sense of the word”

The CDU chairman Armin Laschet praised Biedenkopf as an “exceptional politician”. He was also “a statesman and a father in the best sense of the word”.

Saxony’s current Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer said that Biedenkopf was a great German personality of the 20th century – and a clever visionary for the Free State of Saxony. “A great Saxon has passed away. As Prime Minister from 1990 to 2002, he laid the foundation for the successful development of our homeland – strong in Germany, respected in the world, ready for the future,” said the CDU politician.

Awarded an honorary doctorate in April

Biedenkopf made his last major public appearance in April, when the University of Leipzig awarded the former politician, who is highly recognized as a professor and promoter of science, with an honorary doctorate. Even then, Biedenkopf looked weakened, and in July he came to the hospital.

According to the Dresden State Chancellery on behalf of the family, Biedenkopf died yesterday evening at the age of 91. He fell asleep peacefully with his family.