Bernhard Vogel, the former Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, has passed away at the age of 92, as confirmed by the CDU on Monday, following earlier media reports.
“The CDU mourns Bernhard Vogel. With him, the Union loses a deserving Christian Democrat and exceptional politician, who shaped the face of the Federal Republic” wrote CDU leader Friedrich Merz on “X” on Monday morning, adding, “As Minister-President in two federal states, bridge-builder between East and West and long-time chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, he leaves a lasting legacy.”
The CDU politician Vogel served as Minister-President of Thuringia from 1976 to 1988 and of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1992 to 2003. Additionally, he held the position of chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation from 1989 to 1995 and again from 2001 to 2009.