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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix  = {{wp|The Right Honourable}}
|honorific-prefix  =  
|name        = Ludwig Ostermann
|name        = Ludolf Franz {{wp|Ritter|Ritter von}} Ostermann
|native_name  =
|native_name  =
|native_name_lang =  
|native_name_lang =  
|image      = Ludwig Ostermann.jpg
|image      = Helmut Schmidt at Andrews AFB 1981 (cropped).JPEG
|caption    = Official portrait of Ludolf Attema
|caption    = Official portrait of Ludolf Ostermann
|office      = 28th [[Chancellor of Werania]]
|office      = [[List of premiers of Werania|36th]] [[Premier of Werania]]
|monarch    = [[Otto XII of Werania|Otto XII]]
|monarch    = [[Otto X of Werania|Otto X]]<br>[[Charlotte II of Werania|Charlotte II]]
|term_start  = 12 April 1979
|term_start  = 8 March 1980
|term_end    = 16 May 1991
|term_end    = 16 July 1987
|predecessor = [[Albrecht Spaemann]]
|predecessor = [[Renatas Vinkauskas]]
|successor  = [[Wolfgang Löscher]]
|successor  = [[Adolf Stahl]]
|office2 = Federal Chairman of the [[Cooperative Party (Werania)|Cooperative Party]]
|office2 = Federal Chairman of the [[Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania]]
|term_start2 = 18 August 1979
|term_start2 = 4 June 1982
|term_end2 = 16 May 1991
|term_end2 = 16 May 1992
|predecessor2 = Gerhard Däubler
|predecessor2 = ''Postion established''
|successor2  = Wolfgang Löscher
|successor2  = Wolfgang Löscher
|office3 = [[Minister-President of Cislania]]
|office3 = Minister-President of Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken
|term_start3 = 14 March 1975
|term_start3 = 5 December 1972
|term_end3 = 12 April 1979
|term_end3 = 4 June 1982
|predecessor3 = Norbert Kassegger
|predecessor3 = Gustav Marek
|successor3  = Hans Karlsböck
|successor3  = Ernst Stemmler
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1922|11|14|df=y}}
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1927|11|14}}
|birth_place = [[Vöckdorf]], [[Cislania]], [[Werania]]
|birth_place = Gothberg, Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken, [[Werania]]
|death_date  =  
|death_date  =  
|death_place =  
|death_place =  
|signature  =  
|signature  =  
|party      = [[Cooperative Party (Werania)|Cooperative Party]]
|party      = [[Social Democratic Party of Werania|SPO]], [[Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania|SRPO]]
|spouse      = Wynske Tromp (1962-1995)<br>Hoitetsje Jelsma (1997-present)
|spouse      = Erika Spielmann (1952-1995)<br>Veronika Nesselrode (1997-2016)
|children    = 4
|children    = 4
|religion    =[[Solarian Catholic Church|Solarian Catholicism]]
|religion    =
|alma_mater  = Royal Arnwert University
|alma_mater  =
| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes
  |nickname=
  |allegiance= {{flag|Werania}}
  |branch= [[Air force of Werania|Air force]]
  |serviceyears= 1945–1950
  |rank={{Wp|Oberleutnant}}
  |unit=
  |commands=
  |battles=[[Valduvian-Weranian War]]
  |awards=
  |relations=
  |signature = }}
}}
}}
'''Ludolf Franz Ostermann''' is a [[Werania|Weranian]] politician who served as [[Chancellor of Werania]] and leader of the [[Cooperative Party (Werania)|Cooperative Party]] from 1979 to 1991, the longest tenure in Weranian history in both posts. He also served as [[Minister-President of Cislania]] from 1977 to 1979. He also sat in the [[Volkstag]] from 1979 to his retirement from active politics in 2000.  
'''Ludolf Franz Ostermann''' (November 14, 1927) is a [[Werania|Weranian]] politician who served as [[Premier of Werania]] form 1984 to 1992. He was also the leader of [[Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania]] (SRPO) from 1982 to 1992 and Minister-President of Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken from 1972 to 1982. Ostermann sat in the House of Deputies from 1984 to his retirement from active politics in 1992.  


Initially serving as the National Convener of the Shipbuilders Union, Ostermann in 1968 became a member of the Cislanian Landtag. In 1972 following the KOP's victory in the Cislanian regional election Ostermann became the Minister of Economic and Financial Affairs in the regional cabinet of Minister-President [[Norbert Kassegger]]. In 1975 following Kassegger's resignation Ostermann became Minister-President of Cislania, retaining the KOP's absolute majority in the Landtag at the 1977 election. As a result Cooperative federal leader Gerhard Däubler stated he would not serve as the party's Chancellor candidate in the 1979 election in favour of Ostermann. Ostermann subsequently won the 1979 election in a coalition with the then-still significant [[Communist Party of Werania]] beating the [[National Consolidation Party]] and forming the first non-NKP government in 39 years.  
Ostermann was born in a working class family in Gothberg joining the airforce in 1945 where he fought in the [[Valduvian-Weranian War]]. In 1956 he became a member of the Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken Landtag as a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Werania]]. Proving himself to be a popular and innovative Landtag member Ostermann became Minister-President in 1972. As Minister-President he proved himself to be an effective economic moderniser who also expanded social programmes. Ostermann pushed for a merger between the SPO and the Radical Party to form the Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania (SRPO) in 1977. Ostermann subsequently in 1982 was elected as SRPO leader and led the party to win the 1984 election in a coalition with the [[Weranic Section of the Workers' International]] (OSAI) beating the [[National Consolidation Party]].  


Being elected on a avowedly {{wp|socialism|socialist}} programme Ostermann implemented radical economic policies, {{Wp|nationalisation|nationalising}} key strategic industries and attempting to guide the economy through price and wage controls. These measures did not increase economic growth and saw the government become estranged from the [[Euclean Community]] worried about Werania's debt and inflation issues. As such in 1982, a year before the next federal election Ostermann undertook a radical u-turn in economic policy emphasising the {{Wp|privatisation}} of state-owned enterprise, deregulation of economic sectors especially banking and housing and liberalising labour laws. These policies are considered to have laid the groundwork of late 1980's economic recovery. The policies saw the KOP lose ground in the 1983 election as the Communists collapsed as a political force; as a result Ostermann formed a {{Wp|purple (politics)|purple government}} with the [[Modern Centre Party (Werania)|Modern Centre Party]].  
Being elected on a avowedly {{wp|socialism|socialist}} programme Ostermann implemented radical economic policies, {{Wp|nationalisation|nationalising}} key strategic industries and attempting to guide the economy through price and wage controls. These measures did not increase economic growth and saw the government become estranged from the [[Euclean Community]] worried about Werania's debt and inflation issues. As such in 1986, a year before the next federal election Ostermann undertook a radical u-turn in economic policy emphasising the {{Wp|privatisation}} of state-owned enterprise, deregulation of economic sectors especially banking and housing and liberalising labour laws. These policies are considered to have laid the groundwork of late 1980's economic recovery. The policies saw the SPRO lose ground in the 1988 election as the OSAI collapsed as a political force; as a result Ostermann formed a {{Wp|purple (politics)|purple government}} with the [[Modern Centre Party (Werania)|Modern Centre Party]].  


In his second government Ostermann proposed deeper Euclean integration and several pioneering socially liberal policies, decriminalising homosexuality and abortion and promoting more comprehensive women's rights. Ostermann maintained the coalition's majority at the 1987 election but in 1990 saw his popularity collapse as his Minister of the Treasury [[Wolfgang Löscher]] resigned due to differences in economic policy. In 1991 he was ousted as Prime Minister by party opponents led by Löscher. Ostermann retired to the Volkstag following the 1991 election retiring from politics in 2000.  
In his second government Ostermann proposed deeper Euclean integration and several pioneering socially liberal policies, decriminalising homosexuality and abortion and promoting more comprehensive women's rights. In 1990 his popularity declined as his Minister of Finance and the Economy [[Lothar Holzmeister]] resigned due to differences in economic policy. In 1992 he was ousted as premier by party opponents led by Westbrücken Mayor [[Wolfgang Löscher]]. Ostermann retired following the 1995 election. Ostermann has continued to comment on political issues.  


As Werania's longest serving Prime Minister, Ostermann is considered a controversial figure in Weranian politics. His supporters laud his economic reforms as having led to the prosperous Weranian economy of the 1990's and 2000's, that he was a crucial figure in supporting Euclean integration and that he was a pragmatic and shrewd politician. Ostermann's opponents meanwhile accuse his government of leading to greater inequality and social division, for overseeing the "neoliberalisation" of the left and later in his tenure be willing to turn back on his electoral promises to sponsor the coalition government. The ''Statesmen'' newspaper characterised Ostermann as "''undisputedly the most important Weranian Prime Minister since the [[Great War (Kylaris)|war]]''".  
As Werania's longest serving centre-left premier, Ostermann was considered a controversial figure in Weranian politics. His supporters laud his economic reforms as having led to the prosperous Weranian economy of the 1990's and 2000's, that he was a crucial figure in supporting Euclean integration and that he was a pragmatic and shrewd politician being one of the most successful social democratic leaders in history. Ostermann's opponents meanwhile accuse his government of leading to greater inequality and social division, for overseeing the "neoliberalisation" of the left and later in his tenure be willing to turn back on his electoral promises to sponsor the coalition government. The ''Statesmen'' newspaper characterised Ostermann as "''undisputedly the most important Weranian premier since the [[Great War (Kylaris)|war]]''".  
==Early life==
==Early life==
<div style="display:none;">
==Political career==
Ludolf Ostermann was born in 1940 in [[Arnwert]] the third of six children and the first son. His father Reilef Attema and mother Goikje Kramer both had middle class backgrounds with Attema's father being the owner of a tobacco shop. His family were supporters of the [[National Consolidation Party]] and its predecessor the [[Catholic Social Party (Ruttland)|Catholic Social Party]].
===Election as leader===
 
===1979 election===
Considered a bright child, he attended the Saint Thomas Grammar School where he was seen to excel in history, maths and Ruttish whilst his extracurricular interests included swimming and football. He was made a prefect from 1956-1958, but to his chagrin was passed over from the position of head boy.
==Premier==
 
Attema was given a scholarship to the Royal Arnwert Academy in 1958 to study for a bachelor degrees in politics. Whilst at the Royal Arnwert Academy Attema became involved with student politics, joining the National Consolidation Party. Attema was noted as being an "''intelligent but often lazy''" student by his tutor whilst possessing "''superb rhetorical skill''". Whilst at university he was made vice-president of the university's NKP association and was seen to be influenced by young radicals in the association that proposed {{Wp|economic liberalism}} and chaffed at the conservatism of the party leadership, then dominated by [[Jorgan Zijlstra]].
 
Attema moved to study for a bachelors degree in corporate law in 1961, wherein he further graduated in 1964 to subsequently join a law firm, Miedema & Sons as a {{Wp|barrister}}. Within Miedema & Sons Attema began to cultivate links with important businessmen most prominently Getse Posthuma, whilst also becoming more involved in local NKP politics in Arnwert. His history  In 1962 he was elected to the Arnwert ''Gemeenteried'' as a member of the NKP, and soon became a prominent fixture in local politics often working in poor areas of Arnwert to help ensure lower crime and efficient housing provision. Attema was soon regarded as a popular local politician as he was seen as being "in touch" with the local population.
 
In 1965 Attema was placed on the NKP's party list for the election that year. He was elected to the Folkskrammer being placed 104<sup>th</sup> on the party list. In his early years as a {{Wp|member of parliament}} Attema was noted for his frequent interventions in debates and general cordial attitude he cultivated with other MP's. He became close to party modernisers such as [[Rodolf Van Der Werf]]. Attema would soon tour the country in rural areas drumming up support for the NKP and talking with local councillors where he promised to sponsor plans for rural development. 
 
Attema supported a private members bill to legalise gambling; this led Prime Minister [[Buke Wagenaar]] to state he would never appoint Attema a cabinet minister. However following the 1967 protests Wagenaar was forced to resign and Van Der Werf ascended to the leadership; Van Der Werf soon appointed Attema as the junior minister for agriculture due to his strong support from farmer's association thanks to his frequent rural tours. As junior minister of regional affairs he rose his profile by spearheading through parliament several large increases in agricultural spending, further bolstering his standing by the party's grassroots.
</div>
==Cislanian politics==
===Minister of Finance and Economics===
<div style="display:none;">
In 1971 following the election that year prime minister Van Der Werf picked Attema to become Minister of Health Services. Van Der Werf regarded Attema as future prime minister materiel and a fellow moderniser. At the time Van Der Werf was attempting to spearhead a bill to legalise abortion, but the issue was regarded as divisive in the conservative Catholic nation. As Minister for Health Services Attema proposed several solutions to deal with "Option A" whilst minimising the political damage of the NKP.
[[File:Ruud Lubbers (1973).jpg|left|250px|Attema as Minister of Health Services in 1974|thumb]]
In March 1972 Attema proposed a radical abortion law that would have made the practice legal for cases of maternal life, mental health, health, rape, fetal defects, and socioeconomic factors within 24 weeks of pregnancy. The proposal - seen as radical at the time - was purposefully amended to make it more limited to remove cases of fetal defects and socioeconomic factors and limited to 12 weeks of the pregnancy. The amendment process enabled the government to marginalise hardline anti-abortion activists and court moderates on the issue onto the government's side. This shrewd strategy led to Attema being further praised as an effective moderniser and in 1973 be promoted to the position of Minister of the Economy following the assumption of the premiership by [[Ant Stellingwerf]].
</div>
===Minister-President===
<div style="display:none;">
As Minister of the Economy - where his portfolio included overseeing government expenditure, financial management, and the operations of government - Attema built a tense working relationship with Prime Minister Stellingwerf, who he had not supported for the party leadership. Stellingwerf unlike Attema was seen as a party traditionalist and sceptical of the party modernisers that were quickly rallying around Attema as party leader following the retirement of Van Der Werf.
 
During the 1970's the economy suffered from high inflation and unemployment ({{wp|stagflation}}) leading to party modernisers - especially those in the Centre of Economic Policy (SfEB), a leading NKP think tank - to start to embrace {{Wp|monetarism}} and {{wp|neoliberalism}} as answers to repair the flailing economy. Attema was initially not amongst this line of thought but soon started to associate with those within the SfEB that were criticising the Stellingwerf government for its continued corporatist, interventionist economic policy. 
 
As such during his time as Economy Minister Attema came to clash with Stellingwerf over the issue of government spending, with Attema calling for a reduction in government expenditure and exercising restraint over public finances. From 1973-4 the adverse economic situation meant Stellingwerf was persuaded to support Attema's tough public spending cuts, slashing housing benefits and cancelling the purchase of 24 {{Wp|Dassault Mirage 5}}'s in 1975.
 
The 1975 election however saw the electorate punish the NKP for failing to revive the economy with the party losing 5 seats and getting its worst result in its history with only 49.33% of votes. Attema's spending cuts were blamed for the poor results of the election and he was sidelined in cabinet; Stellingwerf would comment to his Minister of the Treasury Rouke Tigchelaar that he would sack Attema if not for the support he had in the parliamentary party and the party grassroots.
</div>
===1979 general election===
<div style="display:none;">
Stellingwerf's lacklustre leadership, poor handling of the economy and electoral setback in 1975 led to more open dissent within the party. A group of four high ranking MP's - Repke Roorda, Heike Zwart, Ljimme Talsma and Joege Van Der Meulen (known as the gang of four) - soon started to agitate for the removal of Stellingwerf as party leader and his replacement with Attema. The party traditionalists meanwhile were split between support for the prime minister and the Minister of Defence, Andrus Brandsma, who was seen as more electable than the increasingly unpopular prime minister.
[[File:Overleg tussen van Agt (links) en Lubbers, Bestanddeelnr 930-2343.jpg|Attema meeting Prime Minister [[Ant Stellingwerf]] in 1977, a week prior to his leadership challenge|250px|thumb]]
Support for Attema's allies was boosted when Van Der Werf in the Hearskrammer endorsed a "''fresh start''" within the party, which was interpreted as a tacit endorsement of Attema's leadership ambitions. Stellingwerf's position became more untenable after 54 NKP MP's crossed the floor to vote against a government bill to increase taxes on cigarettes on the 30<sup>th</sup> August 1975. With the parliamentary party in disarray Stellingwerf decided to call a leadership election on the 17<sup>th</sup> September to catch his opponents in the party off guard and shore up his own support within the parliamentary party.
 
Attema's supporters concluded that he did not have the numbers to win a leadership election. As such he instructed his supporters not to forward his name and to obscure the number of supporters he had. The election saw Stellingwerf re-elected party leader with 82 MP's supporting him and 25 abstentions against him. Defence Minister Brandsma stated that the overwhelming endorsement of Stellingwerf led to the leadership office to in hindsight "''lull itself into a false state of security...we were totally oblivious to the disquiet within the party''". Roorda later confirmed that over 20 pro-Attema MP's had voted for Stellingwerf in 1975.
 
As the economy worsened in March 1977 the Amalgamated Federation of Trade Unions announced a strike over the issue of wage controls. Whilst the government quickly came to a resolution support within the NKP for Stellingwerf's leadership evaporated as he was seen to give to many concessions to the trade unions. As such on the 6<sup>th</sup> April Attema after consulting potential supporters for his leadership launched a leadership challenge against Stellingwerf, arguing "''change is needed if we are to face the challenges of the 1980's''".
 
Stellingwerf believing his position was fundamentally strong did not heavily campaign whilst Attema lobbied backbenchers for their support. The election was seen to ignite divisions in the party that had long been simmering, with the older conservative wing that had dominated the party since its creation and defined by its consensus, cautious paternal to politics being challenged by young MP's frustrated with the dominance of the conservative wing and wanting to introduce a more ideologically focused, combative style of politics. Attema was seen by a large part of the parliamentary party as a charismatic moderniser, whilst the cabinet mistrusted his links to businessmen and his association with what was seen as radical economic liberals.
 
The election saw Attema win 69 MP's to Stellingwerf's 42. Stellingwerf resigned as prime minister and NKP on the 12<Sup>th</sup> April with Attema being sworn in as Prime Minister.
</div>
 
==Prime Minister==
===1983 election===
===1989 election===
===Economic policy===
===Economic policy===
===Social policy===
===Social policy===
Line 99: Line 67:
==Controversies==
==Controversies==
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
{{Template:Premiers of Werania}}
[[Category:Werania]]
[[Category:Werania]]

Latest revision as of 18:44, 22 February 2024

Ludolf Franz Ritter von Ostermann
Helmut Schmidt at Andrews AFB 1981 (cropped).JPEG
Official portrait of Ludolf Ostermann
36th Premier of Werania
In office
8 March 1980 – 16 July 1987
MonarchOtto X
Charlotte II
Preceded byRenatas Vinkauskas
Succeeded byAdolf Stahl
Federal Chairman of the Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania
In office
4 June 1982 – 16 May 1992
Preceded byPostion established
Succeeded byWolfgang Löscher
Minister-President of Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken
In office
5 December 1972 – 4 June 1982
Preceded byGustav Marek
Succeeded byErnst Stemmler
Personal details
Born(1927-11-14)November 14, 1927
Gothberg, Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken, Werania
Political partySPO, SRPO
Spouse(s)Erika Spielmann (1952-1995)
Veronika Nesselrode (1997-2016)
Children4
Military career
Allegiance Werania
Service/branchAir force
Years of service1945–1950
RankOberleutnant
Battles/warsValduvian-Weranian War

Ludolf Franz Ostermann (November 14, 1927) is a Weranian politician who served as Premier of Werania form 1984 to 1992. He was also the leader of Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania (SRPO) from 1982 to 1992 and Minister-President of Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken from 1972 to 1982. Ostermann sat in the House of Deputies from 1984 to his retirement from active politics in 1992.

Ostermann was born in a working class family in Gothberg joining the airforce in 1945 where he fought in the Valduvian-Weranian War. In 1956 he became a member of the Bonnlitz-Ostbrücken Landtag as a member of the Social Democratic Party of Werania. Proving himself to be a popular and innovative Landtag member Ostermann became Minister-President in 1972. As Minister-President he proved himself to be an effective economic moderniser who also expanded social programmes. Ostermann pushed for a merger between the SPO and the Radical Party to form the Social Democratic Radical Party of Werania (SRPO) in 1977. Ostermann subsequently in 1982 was elected as SRPO leader and led the party to win the 1984 election in a coalition with the Weranic Section of the Workers' International (OSAI) beating the National Consolidation Party.

Being elected on a avowedly socialist programme Ostermann implemented radical economic policies, nationalising key strategic industries and attempting to guide the economy through price and wage controls. These measures did not increase economic growth and saw the government become estranged from the Euclean Community worried about Werania's debt and inflation issues. As such in 1986, a year before the next federal election Ostermann undertook a radical u-turn in economic policy emphasising the privatisation of state-owned enterprise, deregulation of economic sectors especially banking and housing and liberalising labour laws. These policies are considered to have laid the groundwork of late 1980's economic recovery. The policies saw the SPRO lose ground in the 1988 election as the OSAI collapsed as a political force; as a result Ostermann formed a purple government with the Modern Centre Party.

In his second government Ostermann proposed deeper Euclean integration and several pioneering socially liberal policies, decriminalising homosexuality and abortion and promoting more comprehensive women's rights. In 1990 his popularity declined as his Minister of Finance and the Economy Lothar Holzmeister resigned due to differences in economic policy. In 1992 he was ousted as premier by party opponents led by Westbrücken Mayor Wolfgang Löscher. Ostermann retired following the 1995 election. Ostermann has continued to comment on political issues.

As Werania's longest serving centre-left premier, Ostermann was considered a controversial figure in Weranian politics. His supporters laud his economic reforms as having led to the prosperous Weranian economy of the 1990's and 2000's, that he was a crucial figure in supporting Euclean integration and that he was a pragmatic and shrewd politician being one of the most successful social democratic leaders in history. Ostermann's opponents meanwhile accuse his government of leading to greater inequality and social division, for overseeing the "neoliberalisation" of the left and later in his tenure be willing to turn back on his electoral promises to sponsor the coalition government. The Statesmen newspaper characterised Ostermann as "undisputedly the most important Weranian premier since the war".

Early life

Political career

Election as leader

1979 election

Premier

Economic policy

Social policy

Foreign policy

Fall from leadership

Post-premiership

Views

Controversies

Personal life

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