Lothar Späth (16 November 1937 – 18 March 2016) was a German politician of the
CDU.
Life
Späth was born in
Sigmaringen.
From 30 August 1978 to 13 January 1991 Späth was the 5th
Minister President of
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg ( ; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a states of Germany, German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million i ...
and chairman of the
CDU Baden-Württemberg, serving as the 36th
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
of the
Bundesrat in 1984/85.
After leaving politics, Späth headed the
Jenoptik company, one of the few former
Eastern German state owned enterprises, which survived the transformation into a market economy in a united Germany. He stayed there until 2003. Then he became president of the Industrie- und Handelskammer East-Thuringia in
Gera
Gera () is a city in the German state of Thuringia. With around 93,000 inhabitants, it is the third-largest city in Thuringia after Erfurt and Jena as well as the easternmost city of the ''Thüringer Städtekette'', an almost straight string of ...
.
In order to support medium-sized companies in opening up foreign markets, he set up the "Baden-Württemberg Export Foundation" in 1984, today
Baden-Württemberg International.
In 1989, he sponsored the publication of an art portfolio called
Kinderstern, featuring original drawings by
Sol LeWitt
Solomon "Sol" LeWitt (September 9, 1928 – April 8, 2007) was an American artist linked to various movements, including conceptual art and minimalism.
LeWitt came to fame in the late 1960s with his wall drawings and "structures" (a term he pref ...
,
Jörg Immendorff,
Sigmar Polke,
Max Bill,
Heinz Mack,
Keith Haring
Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an American artist whose pop art emerged from the Graffiti in New York City, New York City graffiti subculture of the 1980s. His animated imagery has "become a widely recognized visual l ...
and
Imi Knoebel, to benefit children cancer patients. Along with
Rupert Neudeck, he is also a patron of the "German Economic Foundation for Humanitarian Help".
In September 1992 Späth was awarded the title of ''Royal Norwegian Honorary Consul General for
Thuringia
Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area.
Er ...
and
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt ( ; ) is a States of Germany, state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of
and has a population of 2.17 million inhabitants, making it the List of German states ...
.''
From 1998–2001, Späth hosted a TV talk show broadcast in Germany called "Späth am Abend", delivering weekly political commentaries beginning in 2002.
(The title is a play on words between "Late at night" (''Spät am Abend'') and "Späth in the evening", a reference to the host's name.)
Literature
* Marlis Prinzing: ''Lothar Späth – Wandlungen eines Rastlosen''. Orell Füssli Verlag, Zürich 2006, .
* Stefan Wogawa: ''Lothar Späth. Blick hinter eine (Selbst-)Inszenierung''. OWUS e. V., Bad Salzungen 2010. (Reihe Wirtschaft & Politik, Bd. 1)
* Marlis Prinzing, Lothar Späth: ''"Wir schaffen das" – Antworten auf die Krise – Perspektiven für die Zukunft. Marlis Prinzing trifft Lothar Späth.'' Kaufmann, Lahr 2009, .
References
External links
Catalogue of Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
1937 births
2016 deaths
People from Sigmaringen
Presidents of the German Bundesrat
Members of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg
Christian Democratic Union of Germany politicians
People from the Province of Hohenzollern
Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Recipients of the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg
Minister-presidents of Baden-Württemberg
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