The former Federal Minister of Economics, Wolfgang Clement, died in Bonn at the age of 80.
Wolfgang Clement died at the age of 80. The ex-Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and former Federal Minister of Economics died in Bonn in the presence of his family. The first reported the "Neue Westfälische Zeitung". Clement leaves behind his wife Karin and five daughters.
In August of this year, it was reported that Clement was diagnosed with lung cancer. Born in Bochum, he was Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1998 to 2002 and Federal Minister for Economics and Labor in the cabinet of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (76) from 2002 to 2005. In 2008 the trained journalist and studied law left the SPD and henceforth supported the FDP, but did not appear politically.
FDP federal chairman Christian Linder (41) writes on twitter Regarding Clements death: "As a social liberal, he was committed to social advancement, work and growth throughout his life. I have come to appreciate him personally as a man of honor and advisor. We think of his wife Karin and his family."