Guido Westerwelle

User talk:Edgar181 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Chasaren aus Wikipedia, der freien Enzyklopädie Wechseln zu: Navigation, Suche

Die Chasaren (auch Khasaren, heb. Kuzarim כוזרים; türk. Hazarlar; griech. Χάζαροι; russ. Хазары; tatar. Xäzärlär; persisch ‏خزر‎; lat. Gazari oder Cosri) waren ein ursprünglich nomadisches und später halbnomadisches Turkvolk[1] in Zentralasien.

Im 7. Jahrhundert nach Chr. gründeten die Chasaren ein unabhängiges Khaganat im nördlichen Kaukasus an der Küste des Kaspischen Meeres. Ab dem 8. bis frühen 9. Jahrhundert wurde die jüdischen Religion zur Staatsreligion. Ob nur eine dünne Oberschicht oder auch die übrige Bevölkerung die neue Religion annahm und praktizierte, ist umstritten. Auf der Höhe ihrer Macht kontrollierten sie weite Teile des heutigen Südrusslands, den Westen des späteren Kasachstans, die Ostukraine, Teile des Kaukasus sowie die Halbinsel Krim. Die Chasaren waren wichtige Bundesgenossen des Byzantinischen Reichs gegen das Sassanidenreich und waren auf der Blüte ihrer Machtentfaltung eine bedeutende Regionalmacht. Sie führten eine Reihe erfolgreicher Kriege gegen die arabischen Kalifate, wodurch sie möglicherweise eine arabische Invasion Osteuropas verhinderten. Am Ende des 10. Jahrhunderts wurde ihre Macht durch die aufstrebende Kiewer Rus gebrochen und die Chasaren verschwanden weitgehend aus der Geschichte.

Einige Historiker, u.A. an israelischen Universitäten, wie Shlomo Sand und Israel Bartal, halten es für möglich, dass ein großer Teil der Chasaren im osteuropäischen Judentum aufgegangen ist. Dem widersprechen genetische Untersuchungen, nach denen die aschkenasische Bevölkerung überwiegend nahöstlicher Herkunft ist, sodass die Chasaren entweder nur einen kleinen oder keinen Anteil an der Vorfahrenschaft der Aschkenasim haben können.[2] [3] Inhaltsverzeichnis [Verbergen]

  * 1 Ausdehnung
  * 2 Ursprünge und Vorgeschichte
  * 3 Stämme
  * 4 Aufstieg
        o 4.1 Entstehung des chasarischen Staates
        o 4.2 Die Chasaren und Byzanz
        o 4.3 Zweiter chasarisch-arabischer Krieg
  * 5 Religion
        o 5.1 Türkischer Schamanismus (Tengrismus)
        o 5.2 Hinwendung zur jüdischen Religion und Beziehungen zum Judentum
        o 5.3 Andere Religionen
  * 6 Der Staat
        o 6.1 Das chasarische Königtum
        o 6.2 Armee
        o 6.3 Andere Amtsträger
        o 6.4 Gerichtswesen
  * 7 Wirtschaft
        o 7.1 Handel
        o 7.2 Chasarisches Münzwesen
  * 8 Chasarischer Einfluss
        o 8.1 Chasarische Städte
        o 8.2 Tributpflichtige und unterworfene Nationen
  * 9 Niedergang und Zerfall
        o 9.1 Der Aufstieg der Rus
        o 9.2 Die kabarische Rebellion und die Auswanderung der Magyaren
        o 9.3 Feindschaft mit der Rus und Byzanz
        o 9.4 Chasaren außerhalb des Chasarenreichs
  * 10 Späte Berichte über die Chasaren
        o 10.1 Jüdische Quellen
        o 10.2 Islamische Quellen
        o 10.3 Berichte aus der Kiewer Rus
        o 10.4 Byzantinische, georgische und armenische Quellen
        o 10.5 Westliche Quellen
  * 11 Strittige Fragen
        o 11.1 Zeitpunkt und Ausmaß der Konversion zum Judentum
        o 11.2 Spekulationen über mögliche historische Nachfolger der Chasaren
  * 12 Siehe auch
  * 13 Literatur
  * 14 Weblinks
  * 15 Referenzen

Ausdehnung [Bearbeiten] Reich der Chasaren

Im 9. Jahrhundert erstreckte sich das Chasarische Khaganat über die gesamte südrussische Steppe zwischen Wolga und Dnepr bis an den Kaukasus. Es umfasste die heutigen Gebiete von Georgien und Armenien. Die nördliche Grenze befand sich nord-östlich des späteren Moskau am Oberlauf der Wolga. Damit war das Chasarenreich auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Macht mindestens dreimal so groß wie das Frankenreich Mitteleuropas. Sein Gebiet wurde jedoch weniger straff beherrscht und zentral organisiert. Über Jahrhunderte kontrollierten die Chasaren vor der Jahrtausendwende den Handel mit Gewürzen, Textilien und Sklaven auf Teilen der Seidenstraße und auf den Handelswegen zwischen Konstantinopel und dem Baltikum. An der Ostgrenze und teilweise innerhalb des tributpflichtigen Gebietes lebten Magyaren. Weitreichende Handelsbeziehungen unterhielten sie zudem nach Westen bis ins Kalifat von Córdoba. Ursprünge und Vorgeschichte [Bearbeiten]

Der Name Chasaren könnte von einem türkischen Wort für „Umherziehen“ (gezer in modernem Türkisch) abgele 82.113.121.103 (talk) 12:08, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

Please read before editing:

  1. Please add new comments to the bottom of the page. You can use the "new section" button above to start a new topic.
  2. In general, I will respond here to comments, rather than on your talk page, so that the conversation isn't scattered.
  3. If you want to know why I blocked an IP address, you have to let me know what IP address you are referring to.
  4. If you want to know why I deleted an article, you have to let me know what article you are referring to.

Archive

Archives

   * Oct 2005 - May 2006
   * Jun 2006 - Sep 2006
   * Oct 2006 - Feb 2007
   * Mar 2007 - May 2007
   * Jun 2007 - Sep 2007
   * Oct 2007 - Dec 2007
   * Jan 2008 - Mar 2008
   * Apr 2008 - Jun 2008
   * Jul 2008 - Sep 2008
   * Oct 2008 - Dec 2008
   * Jan 2009 - Mar 2009
   * Apr 2009 - Aug 2009
   * Sep 2009 - Dec 2009

Contents [hide]

   * 1 Nitric acid/Agenothree
   * 2 AdacoRevisionVA
   * 3 Page deletion
   * 4 Deletion of Page:Juthiasm
   * 5 Octagon Credit Investors
   * 6 Wetware Hacker
   * 7 Deletion of "A.K.A.C.O.D."
   * 8 Goodbye
   * 9 Editing
   * 10 Deletion of the Larry and Carol Leve Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice
   * 11 expw: consulting
   * 12 Anon vandalizing Planned Parenthood
   * 13 Deletion
   * 14 Diego Morales

[edit] Nitric acid/Agenothree

I'm not a particularly prolific editor, but I do have a bit of information regarding this minor debate.

Having read the Pern books, I happen to know that the comment about nitric acid being known as "agenothree" in those books is correct for two reasons:

First off - and this really should have been mentioned in the original reference - "agenothree" is used as a component in the fuel used by Pernese flamethrower teams when combating Thread infestations (Thread being a highly voracious organism which is extremely susceptible to incendiary attack). Having compared the properties of nitric acid (HNO3) and silver nitrate (AgNO3), it would be more likely that nitric acid is the chemical in question, as it is the only chemical of the two that would work as a flamethrower-fuel component (probably in combination with a substance akin to turpentine). The name "agenothree" is a classic case of elision.

Secondly - if memory serves - several of the more recent books deals with the discovery of equipment belonging to the original settlers, and in one of those books it is explicitly stated that agenothree is nitric acid.

Just thought I'd let you know, as I've re-added the reference. (I, personally, believe it's relevant, as the Pernese flamethrowers are a good example of how a hypergolic reaction between nitric acid and certain organic compounds - e.g., turpentine - can be beneficial.)

--Special Operative MACAVITYDebrief me 16:06, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

   Personally, I think this reference is completely irrelevant to the article about nitric acid and that entirely fictional uses of a chemical compound do not make good examples of real-world usefulness. But, in any case, I won't remove what you have added to the article. Cheers, -- Ed (Edgar181) 16:23, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] AdacoRevisionVA

The article was deleted for copyright infringement (you referenced information from Adaco's website). Acting under the request of President of Adaco, we are attempting to publish this article. Please let me know what we need to do in order to successfully post the article. I'm sure the President will verify his desire for the article to be published here by us. Also, it appears it was deleted earlier for Advertising or Promotion. Please let us know what to do in order to correct this also. We do not wish to violate any of Wikipedia's policies. Lastly, the article should just be entitled "Adaco" not AdacoRevisionVA, however I believe that is my assistant's fault. Thank you very much.

   Since it is possible for anyone to claim online that published material is their own, whether it is true or not, Wikipedia has a verification process. You can read about it at this link: Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials. You can follow the directions there to make your published text available to Wikipedia. However, an article about the company Adaco should be written from a neutral point of view, rather than from Adaco's point of view, as you would find on the company's own website, which naturally comes across as advertising or promotional material. Also, you might want to first have a look at Wikipedia's notability guidelines for corporations (at WP:CORP), to see if it meets inclusion criteria. Finally, Wikipedia's conflict of interest guidelines (WP:COI) seem to apply here as well. I hope this helps. -- Ed (Edgar181) 23:55, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Page deletion

Hi Edgar,

A quick follow up on your recent page deletion. This is a global brand and I considered it to be very non-promotional. Could we discuss how it could be edited? Since Wiki is translated it would be great to have the extra visibility in other countries.

Content not all that different from this in terms of relation to a larger brand (this is Pepsi whereas that page was a brand within Life Technologies). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaj3276 (talk • contribs) 23:42, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicana_Products

Thanks,

Jason —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaj3276 (talk • contribs) 23:22, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

   Assuming that you are talking about the articles GIBCO™ and GIBCO which I deleted, with phrases such as "worlds leading manufacturing organizations", they both appeared promotional to me, and therefore met one of Wikipedia's criteria for deletion (see Wikipedia:CSD#G11). Also, it seems that information pertaining to this brand would probably be better suited to the article about the company Invitrogen anyway. Some brands may have notability independent of the company that owns them, but in general I think that is an exception. -- Ed (Edgar181) 00:11, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

I guess a better example would be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipore_Corporation and their listing of "Milli-Q" (industry specific). In terms of notability I am showing over 3,000 references to this brand in pubmed.com. The only reason I posted it was because I saw others in this industry setting up similar articles. Do you think there is a way I could customize the article to be less promotional and allow it to stay? I would be happy to put another version together and request your approval before posting.

Invitrogen has some 400 brands associated with it so I am afraid this would be lost and it really is a well known name globally.

Thanks,

Jason —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaj3276 (talk • contribs) 00:50, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

   If you think GIBCO meets Wikipedia's notability guidelines, please feel free to recreate it. I would recommend make the tone more neutral, or it may end up being deleted again. I have copied the deleted article temporarily to User:Jaj3276/GIBCO where you can work on it, then it can be copied back to an appropriate title. -- Ed (Edgar181) 13:16, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion of Page:Juthiasm

Hey Edgar, I am a huge follower of Juthiasm. My name is Steve by the way. I would like to know why you had labeled my page as a "hoax". Juthiasm is actually a true belief, and I have no idea why anyone would think it is a hoax. I created the page so that people would understand Juthiasm and its context a little bit better. This religion has over 1000 followers, and if you would like me to bring them into this, I'm pretty sure I could get a petition or something going. I truly do not want to sound like a complete utter jerk, but I am a little angry that you deleted my page...but I won't take my anger out on you. And I will say, that I know for a fact that this Religion is NOT a hoax...its a belief. And we all have our beliefs, and just because some are a little out there, doesnt mean that they are considered a "hoax". Like Christianity, is that a hoax too? I dont think it is. But please, I would like to know what you think about this is a hoax. -Steve Johannan —Preceding unsigned comment added by JuthiesmReligiousCenter (talk • contribs) 04:33, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

   If you want to claim that Juthiasm (or is it Juthiesm?) is not a hoax, you will need to provide some evidence that distinguishes it from something you just made up. -- Ed (Edgar181) 13:16, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Octagon Credit Investors

Hi there. Just wanted to let you know that the article which you deleted a few minutes ago is back again. Amsaim (talk) 16:03, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

   I have deleted it again. Thanks for letting me know. -- Ed (Edgar181) 16:06, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

       The article is back the third time within 40 minutes. :). This seems to be a persistent editor, who desperately wants to use Wikipedia as a promotional platform. Amsaim (talk) 16:15, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

           I generally don't like to randomly stick my nose in other people's business but I saw this conversation on my watchlist and thought I would let the parties involved know that I've asked for this page to be deleted again and salted at RfP. Bmg916 (talk) 16:40, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

               Deleted once again. Thank you, both. -- Ed (Edgar181) 18:09, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Wetware Hacker

Hey, wait!! Just happened upon this page. Don't know the specifics. But, am raising the questions, just for the record. That is, the discussion page is empty.

What is the underlying argument for deletion? Legalities? Fear of the truth? Some ideologically oriented backlash?

Consider, many authors have stressed the 'neuropeptidergic' natures of ourselves. One example: 3-lb Universe (c 1980s). That street activity related to the altering chemicals is dangerous and not to be condoned does not require that professional study and research be thwarted. In fact, a survey would show that many under-the-radar projects have continued since the time of Leary and have shown very important results. Some of this research is encouraging in offering ways to get out of deep dodo.

Okay, there are problems with potential inalterable physical damage. That is taken into consideration and such research is not, by necessity, harmful. As an aside, a generation altered with things like anti-depressants and suppressants was done, not as an experiment, but rather as a means for control. That is science?

It could be that the stated work is more autodidactic than not. Absence of an institutional backdrop is not evidence of any lack of potential coming from research.

Okay, a rename (it is a little provacative) and rewrite (showing sources to related research - other than hacking, it would be a research/subject relationship) may be in order. Other pages may be covering the topic. But, without showing that such is the case, the page more needs improvement than suppression. 69.155.44.184 (talk) 15:07, 17 January 2010 (UTC) Caught by a session timeout. jmswtlk (talk) 15:09, 17 January 2010 (UTC)

       Clarification, I didn't see this vote page before and just voted there. Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Wetware_hacker. It's an important subject from several viewpoints. Apologies Edgar, but your link seemed to be prominent on the original page. Comments here stand albeit subject to reconsideration as facts unfold. Thanks. jmswtlk (talk) 16:08, 17 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion of "A.K.A.C.O.D."

I wish to recreate the article on one of Boston's most unusual and notable bands. Could you please explain the reason for deletion of the page and suggest whether or not recreation of the page would be a useful idea? --Nmatavka (talk) 23:40, 17 January 2010 (UTC)

   The version of A.K.A.C.O.D. that I deleted three years ago contained no information that suggested the band was notable; therefore, it met Wikipedia's criteria for deletion (WP:CSD#A7). I see that you have recreated the article, which is fine with me, but please keep in mind that if the content of the article does not demonstrate that the band meets Wikipedia's inclusion criteria (see WP:BAND), it may end up being deleted again. -- Ed (Edgar181) 12:49, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Goodbye

As it has become painfully obvious, my contributions are no longer welcome or needed here. In light of this situation, I am leaving this screwed up bureaucracy for the conceivable future. Good luck, my friend and keep fighting the good fight. ILLEGITIMUS NON CARBORUNDUM WuhWuzDat 02:40, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

   I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope you find something more satisfying to do with your time, and of course you're always welcome back here when the time is right for you. Cheers, -- Ed (Edgar181) 12:51, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Editing

If I make an edit to a page, how am i supposed to know whether or not it got deleted days after I made the edit? Will i get notified or something like that?

P.S. is this the right place for me to be asking questions? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.249.27.247 (talk) 17:26, 20 January 2010 (UTC)

   You won't necessarily get notified if others undue an edit you made. However, as you have found out, if you make unconstructive edits to an article, you will generally be warned to stop. At any time, if you would like to see what changes have been made to an article, to check if a change you made has been undone or not, you can click on the "history" tab at the top of that page. I don't mind answering questions like this, but you'll probably get faster (and perhaps more helpful) answers at the help desk: Wikipedia:Help desk. -- Ed (Edgar181) 18:00, 20 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion of the Larry and Carol Leve Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice

Hi, I'm a new user and I'm not totally clear on protocol, but I won't argue with your deletion based on the idea that the page I wrote was "advertising". I would, however, like the content back so that I can re-work it and hopefully put it back up in a way that you and your colleagues find appropriate for Wikipedia (I am an intern and this is an assignment that needs to be completed). Is it possible for you to return the content to me and, in the future, alert me before you delete a page so that I can save the content?

Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Aspenlj (talk • contribs) 23:03, 22 January 2010 (UTC)

   OK, I have restored the content to User:Aspenlj/The Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice. You may also want to have a look at Wikipedia's conflict of interest guidelines, which seem to apply here. -- Ed (Edgar181) 12:28, 23 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] expw: consulting

Hi, could you please let us know how the entries for bigger consulting firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, Bain & Company etc do not go against your page guidelines and why are they not treated as advertisements? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Webwyse (talk • contribs) 15:27, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

   I haven't looked at those other articles. If you think they also violate Wikipedia's guidelines against advertising, please feel free to nominate them for deletion. -- Ed (Edgar181) 16:33, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Anon vandalizing Planned Parenthood

See [1]. Multiple reverts - same editor, different IP. Mattnad (talk)

   It looks like another admin has already protected that page. If you find that the problem moves to another page, please let me know. -- Ed (Edgar181) 17:16, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion

You deleted my page on manufism and stated that it was a hoax. Manufism is certainly not a hoax. Why did you delete it? 74.93.118.125 (talk) 19:21, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

   If you want to know why I deleted an article, you have to let me know the name of the article you are referring to. There has never been an article titled manufism. -- Ed (Edgar181) 20:04, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

[edit] Diego Morales

Hi, can you remove "Elvira" from his name please? I'm not 100% positive, but I don't think it belongs. Thanks. 72.65.205.49 (talk) 02:23, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

   I'm sure you're right. I have removed it. Thanks for catching that. -- Ed (Edgar181) 02:25, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

       Thanks!72.65.205.49 (talk) 02:26, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Edgar181" Views

   * User page
   * Discussion
   * Edit this page
   * New section
   * History

Personal tools

   * Try Beta
   * Log in / create account

Navigation

   * Main page
   * Contents
   * Featured content
   * Current events
   * Random article

Search

Interaction

   * About Wikipedia
   * Community portal
   * Recent changes
   * Contact Wikipedia
   * Donate to Wikipedia
   * Help

Toolbox

   * What links here
   * Related changes
   * User contributions
   * Logs
   * Upload file
   * Special pages
   * Printable version
   * Permanent link

82.113.121.103 (talk) 12:09, 26 January 2010 (UTC)

Guido Westerwelle
Westerwelle arriving at Hamm, during the 2009 campaign.
Vice-Chancellor of Germany
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 October 2009
Chancellor	Angela Merkel
Preceded by	Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Foreign Minister of Germany
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 October 2009
Chancellor	Angela Merkel
Preceded by	Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Chairman of the FDP
Incumbent
Assumed office 2001
Preceded by	Wolfgang Gerhardt
Personal details
Born	(1961-12-27) 27 December 1961 Bad Honnef, Germany
Political party	FDP
Domestic partner	Michael Mronz
Residence(s)	Berlin, Bonn
Occupation	Politician, Lawyer

Dr. Guido Westerwelle (born 27 December 1961) is a German liberal politician, currently serving as the Foreign Minister (and as such, the head of the Foreign Office) and Vice Chancellor of Germany in Second Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel (since 28 October 2009). He is the first open homosexual to hold either of those positions. Since 2001, he has been chairman of the Free Democratic Party of Germany. A lawyer by profession, he has been a Member of Parliament since 1996.

Early life and education

Guido Westerwelle was born in Bad Honnef in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. After graduating from Gymnasium in 1980, he studied law at the University of Bonn from 1980 to 1987. Following the First and Second State Law Examinations in 1987 and 1991 respectively, he began practicing as an attorney in Bonn in 1991. In 1994, he earned a doctoral degree in law from FernUniversität Hagen.

Career in the FDP

Westerwelle joined the FDP in 1980. He was a founding member of the Junge Liberale, the youth organization of that party, and was its chairman from 1983 to 1988.

Having been a member of the Executive Board of the FDP since 1988, he first gained national prominence in 1994, when he was appointed Secretary General of the party. As such, he was a notable proponent of an unlimited free market economy and took a leading part in the drafting of a new party programme.

In 1996, Westerwelle was first elected a member of the German Bundestag, filling in for Heinz Lanfermann, who had resigned from his seat after entering the Ministry of Justice. In 1998, Westerwelle was re-elected to parliament.

In 2001, he succeeded Wolfgang Gerhardt as party chairman, who however remained chairman of the FDP's parliamentary group. Westerwelle, the youngest party chairman at the time, emphasized economics and education, and espoused a strategy initiated by his deputy Jürgen Möllemann, who as chairman of the North Rhine-Westphalia branch of party, had led his party back into the state parliament, gaining 9.8% of the vote. This strategy, transferred to the federal level, was dubbed Project 18, referring both to the envisioned percentage and the German age of majority. Leading up to the 2002 elections, he positioned his party in equidistance to the major parties and refused to commit his party to a coalition with either the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. He was also declared the FDP's candidate for the office of chancellor. Since the FDP had never claimed such a candicacy (and hasn't done since) and had no chance of attaining it against the two major parties, this move was widely seen as flippant political marketing alongside other moves, such as driving around in a campaign van dubbed Guidomobile, wearing the figure 18 on the soles of his shoes or appearance in the Big Brother TV show. Eventually, the federal elections yielded a slight increase of the FDP's vote from 6.8% to 7.4%. Despite this setback, he was reelected as party chairman in 2003.

In the federal elections of 2005, Westerwelle was his party's frontrunner. When neither the Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Social Democrats and Greens nor a coalition of Christian and Free Democrats, favoured by Angela Merkel and Westerwelle, managed to gain a majority of seats, Westerwelle rejected overtures by Chancellor Schröder to save his chancellorship by entering his coalition and preferred to become one of the leaders of the disparate opposition of the subsequently formed Grand coalition of Christian and Social Democrats under Chancellor Angela Merkel. Westerwelle became a vocal critic of the new government. In 2006, according to an internal agreement, Westerwelle succeeded Wolfgang Gerhardt as chairman of the parliamentary group.

Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany

In the federal elections of 2009, Westerwelle committed his party to a coalition with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU, ruling out a coalition with Social Democrats and Greens, and led his party to unprecedented 14.6%. In accordance with earlier announcements, he formed a coalition government with CDU/CSU. On October 28 he was sworn in as Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor, becoming the head of the Foreign Office.

His deputies at the Foreign Office are Werner Hoyer and Cornelia Pieper as Ministers of State. Hoyer previously held the same office in the Cabinet Kohl V.

Positions

Westerwelle is a staunch supporter of the free market and has proposed reforms to curtail the German welfare state and deregulate German labor law. In an interview in February 2003, Westerwelle described trade unions as a "plague on our country" and said union officials were "the pall-bearers of the welfare state and of the prosperity in our country". He has called for substantial tax cuts and smaller government, in line with the general direction of his party.

His chairmanship has also seen considerable controversy. Critics inside and outside the FDP have accused him of focusing on public relations, as opposed to developing and promoting sound public policy, especially in the election campaign of 2002. Westerwelle himself, who was made party chairman particularly because his predecessor Wolfgang Gerhardt had been viewed by many as dull and stiff, has labeled his approach as Spaßpolitik (fun politics) in the past.

Personal life

On 20 July 2004, Westerwelle attended Angela Merkel's 50th birthday party accompanied by his partner, businessman Michael Mronz, thereby tacitly acknowledging that he was gay. It was the first time that he attended an official event with his partner. The move generated little controversy among the German public.

Bibliography

• Guido Westerwelle, the Liberals' Top Gun Profile in Deutsche Welle, 20 July 2005

External links

• Westerwelle's personal website (in German)
• Westerwelle's website as member of the Bundestag (in German)