Former German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, one of the country's most prominent openly gay politicians, died Friday, aged 54, after a long battle with leukaemia, his charity foundation said. "We mourn our leader Guido Westerwelle," said his foundation on its Facebook page. "He died on March 18, 2016 at the Cologne University Clinic of complications from leukaemia treatment."
The former head of the liberal, pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) was diagnosed with the disease in June 2014, half a year after he left his post as Germany's top diplomat. His foundation published a photo of Westerwelle with his husband, businessman Michael Mronz, and the message: "We fought. We had the goal within our sights. We are grateful for an incredibly wonderful time together. The love remains." Westerwelle, a trained lawyer and gifted parliamentary debater, had been a fixture in German politics for decades, initially in opposition.