Erik Tautenbach

Erik Tautenbach
Tautenbach in 1997
11th Prime Minister of Besmenia
In office September 21, 1992 – October 1, 2001
Preceded by	Kurt Stöger
Succeeded by	Laura Kummstein
Leader of the Besmenian People's Party
In office June 15, 1985 – October 9, 2002
Preceded by	Michael Jackul
Succeeded by	Frank Bauer
Vice Prime Minister of Besmenia
In office September 15, 1980 – September 22, 1983
Preceded by	Helmut Attland
Succeeded by	Andreas Schneider
Federal Minister for Health
In office Septemper 15, 1980 – September 22, 1983
Preceded by	Frank Tregoz
Succeeded by	Anna Fischer
Member of the Federal Chamber
In office 1972–2005
Personal details
Born	Erik Herbert Tautenbach February 8, 1937 Apolda, Trissia, East Besmenia
Died	September 27, 2019 (aged 82) Apolda, Trissia, Besmenia
Nationality	Besmenian
Political party	Besmenian People's Party
Spouse	Annette Liffung
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Apolda

Erik Tautenbach (February 8, 1937 – September 27, 2019) was a Besmenian politician who was Prime Minister of Besmenia from 1992 to 2001. Previously Tautenbach was from 1980 to 1983 Minister of Health in the First Beiter cabinet and from 1985 to 2000 the Leader of the Besmenian People's Party.

After the federal election 1992, Tautenbach formed between 1992 and 2000 the first blue-green coalition between the Besmenian People's Party and the Green Party of Besmenia. It was the first time in Besmenia that the GPB was involved in the federal government.

Political career

BVP leadership (1985-2002)

At the BVP party convention on June 15, 1985, Tautenbach was elected as the new BVP party chairman. Even before that, a large majority preferred Tautenbach as a possible party chairman. After taking office, Tautenbach's aim was to give the BVP a new image, as the party was still in some difficulties due to the Gleitzmann scandal back in September 1983. Under his leadership, BVP distanced itself completely from Gleitzmann and his politics. A new party logo was also introduced in October 1985.

Prime Minister (1992-2001)

First term (1992-1993)

Tautenbach with the actress Lena Franitzky at an event during the 1997 election campaign.

When the BVP became the strongest party again in the 1992 Besmenian federal election, Tautenbach was commissioned by President Otto Schulz to form a government in mid-August 1992. The FBBP rejected a coalition with the BVP. This made a coalition with the SDU more likely. However, after lengthy coalition negotiations with the SDU, the BVP formed a minority government with the GPB. It is speculated to this day that Tautenbach had this goal from the start and that negotiations with the SDU were only pretend.

Second term (1993-1997)

When, after the 1993 Besmenian federal election, the BVP and GPB both had an absolute majority in the Federal Chamber, the blue-green coalition was continued.

On April 15, 1994, Tautenbach signed the Abarrakesh Agreement, as representative of Besmenia, together with 100 other nations, with which Besmenia became a founding member of the Coalition Trate Organization on January 1, 1995.

As a result of the Treviso Nuclear Crisis in January 1992, Tautenbach advocated a nuclear phase-out for Besmenia during the 1992 and 1993 election campaigns. The Besmenian nuclear phase-out officially began in August 1994 with the signing of a contract between the federal government and the energy suppliers. During Tautenbach's tenure, 3 nuclear power plants were shut down.

Third term (1997-2001)

Tautenbach while congratulating soldiers who were convened in the Second War in Vulkaria. (July 2000)

Last years

After the end of his time as Prime Minister Tautenbach remained party chairman of the BVP until October 2002. In December 2002 he announced that he intended to retire from politics after the end of the 21st Federal Chamber legislature. This happened after the 2005 Besmenian federal election.

Personal life

Tautenbach died in the early morning of September 27, 2019 at the age of 82. A state funeral for Tautenbach was held on 27 September in Laitstadt.

Legacy

Today, Erik Tautenbach is considered to be the founder of the blue-green coalition. When he set up the first blue-green coalition in Besmenia in 1992, opinions differed. Especially many BVP politicians, who at that time still saw skepticism in the green party. In the later 1990s a positive opinion arose in the population and in domestic politics about a blue-green coalition, which led to such coalitions appearing frequently in regional state governments since the beginning of the 2000s.

Tautenbach enjoys great recognition within the BVP to this day. He is admired by the fact that during his time as party chairman he brought the BVP forward again after the Gleitzmann scandal and its consequences and gave the party a new image.