Frieder Birzele is dead. The former interior minister of Baden-Württemberg has died at the age of 83. He succumbed to pneumonia on Monday (December 25) in a hospital surrounded by his family.
The SPD in the Göppingen district mourns the loss of its long-time MP and former Interior Minister Frieder Birzele. “With deep gratitude and sympathy, we mourn the loss of an outstanding personality who shaped politics and society for decades,” said the Social Democrats. For more than half a century, Frieder Birzele worked as a member of the state parliament and district council for the people of his homeland.
“During his time as an interior and legal politician, Frieder Birzele was one of the influential figures in our country in the state parliament and government,” said Geislingen state parliament member Sascha Binder, referring to his achievements. “In three decades, Frieder Birzele not only represented our district in the state parliament, but as Interior Minister he also vehemently campaigned for our democracy and resolutely against right-wing extremism,” said Binder. He had a particularly appreciative relationship throughout his life, especially with the police, fire brigade and rescue services.
“In the SPD, Frieder Birzele provided lasting impetus as a member of the state executive board and long-time local association chairman,” said SPD district chairwoman Sabrina Hartmann. This diverse commitment to the benefit of society was also reflected across party lines in numerous honorary positions, from the adult education association to sports, culture and German-Polish understanding.
“For Frieder Birzele, it was always a matter of the heart to strengthen democratic structures and democracy. This was evident every day in his work in parliament, where his great expertise and competence earned him the highest recognition,” emphasizes Heike Baehrens, member of the Bundestag from Göppingen.
Frieder Birzele, born in Göppingen in 1940, came from a politically active family. He studied law in Tübingen and Berlin and gained experience as a research assistant and as a senior government councilor at the Tübingen regional council. In 1976 he set up practice as a lawyer. In the same year, Birzele, who had been a member of the SPD since 1963, was elected as a member of the Göppingen constituency in the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg, of which he was a member until 2006.
He became known to the general public in 1991 as chairman of the investigative committee to investigate the “Dream Ship Affairs”. From 1992 to 1996 he was Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg and from 1996 to 2006 first deputy president of the state parliament. Frieder Birzele was active in many clubs and associations, for example as honorary chairman of the Baden-Württemberg Adult Education Association for 19 years, as chairman of the executive board of the Diakonie Württemberg and for many years as chairman of the German-Polish society.
(Source: Message from the SPD district of Göppingen, photo: LMZ)
2023-12-27 19:34:54
#Göppingen #district #SPD #politician #Frieder #Birzele #dead
