CALD congratulates new FNF Chair

(June 1, 2006) CALD extended its congratulations to the new Chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Hon. Wolfgang Gerhardt, MP.

In his letter, Philippine Senate President and CALD Chairman Franklin Drilon noted that “Ever since CALD’s inception in 1993, FNF has stood side by side with CALD in its quest to promote liberal democracy in Asia. Such a partnership has made CALD what it is today. To this day, FNF remains as our most important partner. It is a partnership that is characterized by parity, mutual respect and accountability, and synergy.”

CALD expressed its confidence that with Mr. Gerhardt’s vision and leadership, the alliance between our FNF and CALD will continue and even flourish.

Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt is the former leader of the German Free Democrat Party (FDP) and the recent leader of the FDP Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag. Born 31 December 1943 in Ulrichstein-Helpershain (state of Hesse), Dr. Gerhard studied political science, German studies and education at the University of Marburg and obtained his Doctorate degree in 1970. From 1970 to 1978 he was the personal advisor to the Minister of Interior of the State of Hesse. From 1978 until 1994, he was a member of the State Parliament (Landtag) in Hesse. From 1983 until 1987, Dr. Gerhard was Chairman of the State Parliamentary Group of the FDP. He became Minister for Science and Art of the State of Hesse and Deputy Chairman of FDP in 1987 and kept this position until 1991. Since 1994, he has been a Member of the Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag). From 1995 until 2001 he served as the Leader of the FDP. From 1998 to 2006 he was the Leader of the FDP Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag. Dr. Gerhardt was elected Vice-President of Liberal International at the Budapest Congress in 2002. He was re-elected at the 52nd Congress in Dakar in 2003, and the 53rd Congress in Sofia in 2005.

Mr. Gerhardt will be attending the meeting of CALD-ALDE-LI in Manila, Cavite Province and Tagaytay City from June 21 to 24, 2004.

In another letter, CALD expressed its appreciation to former FNF Chairman, Count Otto Lambsdorff. Senator Drilon noted that Count Lambsdorff has “personally witnessed CALD’s challenging early stages when it was trying to create a name and a niche for itself.  (The Count) and Countess Alexandra were with CALD during its 10^th Anniversary last December, 2003 in Bangkok.”

During this occasion, no less than H.E. Kim Dae Jung noted that “CALD has been the venue for various discussions related to democracy, and has developed as one of the epicenters in promoting democracy in Asia.”

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