Herbert Mertin, the Minister of Justice for Rhineland-Palatinate and a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), has passed away at the age of 66. A spokesperson for the FDP Rhineland-Palatinate regional association confirmed the news to the German Press Agency on February 21, 2025.
Born on April 29, 1958, in Temuco, Chile, to German emigrants, Mertin and his family returned to Germany in 1971. He completed his secondary education at the Martinus-Gymnasium in Linz am Rhein in 1978. Mertinâs political career began in 1983 when he joined the FDP. He served as a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament from 1996 to 2011, holding the position of Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2006. After a brief hiatus from politics, he returned to the role of Minister of Justice in 2016, serving until his death. Mertin is survived by his wife and four adult sons.
Tributes have poured in for Mertin, with Prime Minister Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) and Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt (FDP) recognizing him as a champion of democratic values and a significant figure in the politics of Rhineland-Palatinate. Schweitzer described Mertin as “a solid pillar of our democracy,” commending his dedication to freedom, justice, and the rule of law, which had a lasting impact on the state.
Schmitt praised Mertinâs reliability and wisdom, noting that he was a trusted partner and advisor during their time in the extra-parliamentary opposition. “His loss is a heavy oneâfor our country and for all who valued him,” she added.
source:https://www.bild.de/politik/rheinland-pfaelzischer-justizminister-gestorben-herbert-mertin-66-ist-tot-67b8a3435cbd13341d0e2929
