The boards of both the Association of Debating Societies at Universities (VDCH, Verband der Debattierclubs an Hochschulen) and the German Debating Society for alumni (DDG, Deutsche Debattiergesellschaft) offer their condolences to former federal chancellor Helmut Schmidt over the passing of his wife. Loki Schmidt passed in the night of Oct. 21st at the age of 91. The couple had been married since 1942. Helmut Schmidt is a long-term supporter of German debating, and in 2007 became the patron of the ZEIT-DEBATTEN-series, organized by the VDCH.

The VDCH board wrote on the VDCH website: “We wish Helmut Schmidt the energy to overcome his loss, and every possible support in this time of mourning.”

The DDG board wrote on the DDG website: “Our thoughts, our deep sympathy and our compassion are with chancellor Helmut Schmidt.”

glx / jef