Hessian finance minister Thomas Schäfer is dead. As the police in Hesse announced on Saturday evening (March 28), his body was found on a railroad track on Saturday morning. "Due to the overall circumstances, the extensive crime scene work, the questioning of numerous witnesses, the situation on site, as well as technical and criminological evaluations and investigations, Dr. Schäfer can be expected to commit suicide," the statement continues. Schäfer was only 54 years old.
Neither the prosecutor's office nor the police would provide any further information at this time. Schäfer had been Hesse's finance minister for almost ten years. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" wants to know from investigators that Schäfer left a farewell letter.
Colleagues are shocked
Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (68) was stunned by the news: "We are all shocked and can hardly believe that Thomas Schäfer died suddenly and unexpectedly," said Bouffier in a statement from the State Chancellery of Hesse. "We all have to deal with his death now and mourn with his family. We therefore extend our sincere condolences to his closest relatives first, and we wish them strength and strength for this difficult time," continued Bouffier.
CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (57) is also deeply dismayed: "The news of the sudden death of Thomas Schäfer shocked us all in the CDU. It hits us and makes us sad and stunned", she wrote on Twitter.
The telephone counseling service can help you with depression by calling 0800/111 0 111 free of charge