“We will miss him dearly as a good friend and adviser.” Wolfgang Gerhardt, Chairman of the Board of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, commented on the passing of State Secretary (ret.) Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz.

“In Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz the Foundation lost a friend and an indispensable contributor to our work, who was a passionate development politician and a committed partner of civil society”, commented Chairman of the Board Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt.

From the very beginning of his professional and political career, Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz supported and shaped the work of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for over 40 years as a colleague, the Federal Chairman of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and most recently as State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. With his characteristic energy he promoted and challenged our work.

Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz notably proved his boundless commitment and drive when he successfully reformed the organizational structure of the German development cooperation along with Dirk Niebel, former Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. They gave it a liberal stamp by strengthening good governance, individual responsibility and self-help capabilities in developing countries.

„We are very thankful for his distinct support for those active in development work, especially those working for the political foundations whose work he had known and appreciated over years”, acknowledged Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt.

Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, a champion of free speech, lived his life for organized Liberalism. Even in the battle for political concepts, to which he contributed with many creative ideas, Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz was a charming person who reached people through fairness and humor.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom will honor his memory forever.

“His early death means the end of a long and exceptionally creative power”, said Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt.