KAS PARTNER WORKSHOP 2009
FAREWELL SPEECH
MR. KLAUS PRESCHLE
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE (2003-2009)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
GRAND BALLROOM, MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL

As a professional I have said goodbye several times in my life. I am not exactly the type of person who cannot let go. However, leaving the post as country representative to the Philippines has some bittersweet taste. I appreciated being here. I liked what I did. I enjoyed my stay in the Philippines. I love this country and its people. Salamat sa inyong pakikisama sa akin.

Running the office of a German political foundation abroad is a beautiful thing. One enjoys the benefits of an expat, the company of movers and shakers and the far beyond average independence concerning the day-to-day work. Having a job like this is indeed a privilege but it is an obligation too. This is especially true when the organization carries the name of somebody like Konrad Adenauer.

The man’s life symbolizes the values of Christian democracy and reflects everything we stand for including our passion for democracy and the rule of law. His rich political life covers the years of the first German democratic attempt after World War I and the second more successful attempt after World War II. As early as 1917 he was like a city administrator before he was elected as a mayor of Cologne, at a time when the German emperor was still around. He witnessed the political turmoil of the 1920’s as a local government official and saw weak political institutions incapable to defend themselves against the enemies of democracy. He witnessed the extreme right and left to mobilizing the people and challenging a weakly designed parliamentary democracy. Opposed to the Nazis in 1927 he got re-elected, but was ousted in 1933 immediately after Hitler took complete control of the German government. He had to go partly underground and got imprisoned twice before the war was over in 1945. When the Americans assigned him to continue as mayor of Cologne in 1945 and made him Chairman of the constitutional commission in 1946 he became a most powerful player in the design of a new German democracy.

The basic law was approved in May 1949 and Konrad Adenauer’s party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), got the most seats in the election a few months later. At the age of 73 he became the first chancellor of the newly founded Federal Republic of Germany. He stayed 14 years in office. These years stand for the renewal of Germany, the so-called German economic miracle, the so-called west integration and the foundation of the European Union.

Exceptional personalities like Konrad Adenauer teach us to claim responsibility for our future, the loved ones around us, our groups and institutions, and yes, it is true that the fate of our nation depends on our well doings as leaders. Exercising good leadership requires courage, loyalty to the people, the capability to do what is right, and a strong commitment to principles.

Stressing the importance of excellence in leadership, we see at the same time that a political environment, the political system we are in, may encourage and promote good leaders or make it rather difficult for them to succeed. This is why we need both: excellence in leadership and structural reform.

If we want the Philippines to succeed: your leadership skills, my friends, will be urgently needed. But you might be more effective if your attempts go along with structural reforms that transform weak democratic institutions into stronger democratic institutions which may help the rule of law prevail. This is why many of the KAS supported programs in the Philippines focus on institutional reform. Strengthening democracy means strengthening the democratic institutions.

We have helped the advocates of further decentralization and even federalism. We think it is the right idea to bring government closer to the people. Many governors and mayors have proven that they are champions of good governance. They are the real political heroes and helping them is the right thing to do.

We have supported the movement for economic and social reform and agree that the huge gap between rich and poor is not acceptable. We have to narrow the gap as a precondition for sustainable development and a just and peaceful society. This will be achieved much easier if real economic freedom prevails and is linked to the values and regulations of what the Germans call a social market economy.

We agree that the root causes of conflict which are basically marginalization and underdevelopment have to be addressed. We are deeply convinced that Christians, Muslim and indigenous people can live peacefully together. We are proud that the KAS partners have been at the forefront for strategic interventions in the peace process. We are honored that the Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung got invited to be part of the international contact group. This request will be passed on to my successor. However, whether you are in or out, an IMT or an ICG is one thing. What counts is that they address the root causes of conflict and that we engage the different parties involved in a serious dialogue to pursue peace in Mindanao.

We have helped the advocates of political party reform. We believe that political parties belong to the most relevant institutions in a democracy. We agree that they have to be more independent from large amounts of money. If you really want that, you have to continue to struggle for a political party law with a campaign finance reform that is able to bring election-related corruption down.

There is one thing left you have not learned how to dance the Cha-Cha. We agree that the discussion on structural change cannot exclude the constitution. I believe that in the near future the right moves will be done and then it will be advantageous to be prepared. The time of the charter change advocates is near.

I thank all the friends in the German and international community for good cooperation and companionship. I would like to thank all the friends of foundation for your support and loyalty. I would like to thank my staff for good work, flexibility and the ability to adjust to a particular style. This is Margo, Theresa, Tina, Fritzie and William. And there are former staff members who helped me a lot earlier, especially Jullah, Bianca, and Mans.

My journey with KAS in the Philippines ends. Having been with the political party before I joined KAS, I am now moving on to the private sector. After 6 years and 7 months I do not seek another extension. My term becomes part of the history of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the Philippines which already started in the early 60’s.

We welcome Dr. Peter Köppinger who will continue the work in the Philippines.

I wish him luck, a good hand, and great success. I am sure that he, his wife and the two kids with them will enjoy their stay in Manila. Please support him as you have supported me.

Maraming Salamat. I will not forget you. Hindi ko kayo makakalimutan.