Lothar Späth, German politician, Died at 78

Lothar Späth was born on November 16, 1937, in Sigmaringen and died on March 18, 2016.

He was a German politician of the CDU.

Späth was the 5th Minister President of Baden-Württemberg from August 30, 1978, to January 13, 1991, and chairman of the CDU Baden-Württemberg, serving as the 36th President of the Bundesrat in 1984/85.

Following his leave from politics, Lothar Späth headed the Jenoptik company, one of the several former Eastern German state-owned enterprises, who survived the transformation into a market economy in a united Germany up until 2003.

After that he became president of the Industrie- und Handelskammer East-Thuringia in Gera.

During 1989, he sponsored the publication of an art portfolio called Kinderstern, featuring original drawings by Sol LeWitt, Jörg Immendorff, Sigmar Polke, Max Bill, Heinz Mack, Keith Haring and Imi Knoebel, to benefit children cancer patients.

Rupert Neudeck and himself were also patrons of the “German Economic Foundation for Humanitarian Help”.

Lothar Späth was awarded the title of Royal Norwegian Honorary Consul General for Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, in September 1992.

Lothar Späth hosted a TV talk show broadcast in Germany called “Späth am Abend”, (1998–2001) delivering weekly political commentaries beginning in 2002.

Lothar Späth passed away at 78 yrs old.