German Politican (CDU) found dead with headshot yesterday.

Dr. Walter Lübcke is dead. The Kassel district president died unexpectedly on the weekend in his home town of Istha. An obituary.

Dr. Walter Lübcke (CDU) is dead. The Kassel district president died completely unexpectedly on early Sunday morning in his home parish of Wolfhagen-Istha. Lübcke was 65 years old.

The public prosecutor's office in Kassel announced on Sunday that the circumstances of his death were unclear. Therefore, the State Criminal Investigation Office has started investigations. There was no further information. Lübcke, who holds a doctorate in economics, was regarded as down-to-earth and a man of the clear word. Lübcke leaves behind his wife and two adult sons with their families.

The news of Walter Lübcke's death spread quickly throughout northern Hesse on Sunday. She met with sympathy and dismay. And on disbelief.

Because Walter Lübcke was a man who stood in the middle of life. He knew what one thinks and feels in Northern Hesse. He was one whom people liked to meet on the many occasions a government president had to attend. One with whom it never got boring. He loved his homeland and his job.

Officially, his service ended on March 31. At the request of Prime Minister Volker Bouffier, Walter Lübcke (CDU) went into extra time. Initially for six months. He was just a "civil servant for life", he said, when we met him a few weeks ago. Nobody could have guessed or known that his life had ended so abruptly. For ten years, the economist with a doctorate was the head of the Mittelbehörde, which has around 1300 employees. Lübcke's term in office was thus the third-longest of all 28 Kassel district presidents. When he took over the post on 21 May 2009 at Roland Koch's suggestion, some people would not have believed him capable of doing so, recalls Lübcke. Because he is neither a lawyer nor an administrative expert.

Above all, Wolfhager was not a bureaucrat. Under his leadership, the authority between the state and the municipalities in northern and eastern Hesse was restructured in terms of structure and personnel. Today the RP Kassel is a digital model authority in the state and performs central tasks for the whole of Hesse, such as the fine office and the state aid department.

Lübcke told us in his perhaps last interview that he had been able to accompany, make, moderate or initiate many decisions for the regional council over the past ten years. As examples, he lists the procedures relating to the K+S mining group, the A 44 and A 66 motorways, the construction of Kassel Airport and the wind power plants.

During his term of office, the Regierungspräsidium had been given many new tasks. These included the initial reception facility at the former Calden airfield.

Refugees were also the topic that hit the headlines nationwide for Kassel's district presidents in October 2015. In a citizens' meeting, Lübcke responded to angry interjections that it was worth living in Germany and standing up for the values of the republic. "Those who do not represent these values can leave this country at any time if they disagree. That is the freedom of every German." Although this caused a great stir, Lübcke stuck to his statement. The RP was one who did not hide behind paragraphs. He came along rather directly and more often moody. Lübcke was perceived as a "down-to-earth doer and man of the clear word," according to a statement by the regional council on his ten-year term in office. And he continued: "Technocracy and legal weighing are not his strengths.

"I am a generalist," said Walter Lübcke about himself. His employees had made it easy for him. He knew that he could rely on them professionally. But he also knew how to assert himself. His summary: "Those were ten good years."

His family, his many friends, politicians and companions must now say goodbye to a great northern Hesse. Walter Lübcke embodied the region like no other.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator