Rudolf Wiefelspütz
Rudolf Ritter von Wiefelspütz | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait of Rudolf Wiefelspütz | |
| 32nd Premier of Werania | |
| In office 5 May 1963 – 22 April 1969 | |
| Monarch | Otto X |
| Preceded by | August von Münstermann |
| Succeeded by | Sigmar Welskopf-Henrich |
| President of the House of Deputies | |
| In office 17 May 1971 – 14 June 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Eugen Rösler |
| Succeeded by | Ludwig Busemann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 May 1914 Burge, Cislania, Werania |
| Died | 14 June 1977 (aged 63) Burge, Cislania, Werania |
| Political party | KSP, NKP |
| Spouse | Renate Kassebaum |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Westbrücken |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Werania |
| Service/ | Army |
| Years of service | 1933-1935 |
| Rank | Gefreiter |
| Battles/wars | Great War |
Other offices held
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Rudolf Ritter von Wiefelspütz (20 May 1914 - 14 June 1977) was a Weranian politician who served as Premier from May 1963 to April 1969. He served in various roles in centre-right governments from 1955 to 1963 and as President of the House of Deputies from 1971 to his retirement in 1976.
Born in the city of Burge in 1914, Wiefelspütz attended the University of Westbrücken during the Great War. He joined the Catholic Social Party (KSP) and was elected to the House of Deputies in 1942 at the age of 28. Wiefelspütz would be promoted to the cabinet by Konstantin Vogel in 1955 when he became Minister of Social Services from 1955 to 1960 and Minister of the Economy from 1960 to 1963. Considered to be the leader of the moderate Sotirian democratic faction that supported a social market economy and a pro-Euclean foreign policy within the National Consolidation Party (NKP) in 1963 Wiefelspütz became Werania's 32nd premier after his predecessor August von Münstermann resigned.
Wiefelspütz was premier during the height of the so-called wirtschaftswunder (miracle economy), a period of sustained economic growth. His government implemented new social programmes and a modernisation of infrastructure and industrial production as incomes rapidly increased. Due to this Wiefelspütz emerged as one of Werania's most popular premiers leading the NKP to victory in both the 1963 and 1967 elections. During his term Wiefelspütz became integral for the development of the NKP towards a dominant party state setting up a formidable patronage system bringing together big business, Catholic lay organisations and the federal bureaucracy. As a result his government became associated with popular infrastructure projects often considered to be corrupt.
In foreign policy Wiefelspütz spearheaded a shift towards realpolitik supporting economic diplomacy over the use of armed interventionism. Under Wiefelspütz Werania increased support for several right-wing dictatorships abroad alongside an expansion of commercial interests. Wiefelspütz is often considered to have been a key supporter in Euclea for Zorasani Unification as a bulwark against socialism in the region.
Wiefelspütz's government however came under attack due to patronage scandals surrounding the NKP and a decline in the economy leading to him to find it difficult to pass the 1969 budget through the House of Deputies. As a result Wiefelspütz did not run for a third term as NKP leader being replaced by the more conservative Sigmar Welskopf-Henrich.
Following the 1971 election Wiefelspütz became the president of the House of Deputies. He remained a prominent powerbroker within the NKP, sponsoring the career of future premier Renatas Vinkauskas. Wiefelspütz would continue to advise Euclean centre-right politicians as well as work for various foundations and think tanks promoting Euclean integration. He retired at the 1976 election due to poor health and died a year later after suffering from respiratory problems.
Wiefelspütz has been recognised as one of Werania's most influential politicians in the mid-20th century and a key figure in the 29-year long rule of the NKP from 1955 to 1984. He is credited as a noted contributor to the social market economy and one of Werania's foremost advocates of Euclean integration.
