Former European Parliament President Klaus Hänsch Dies at 87

Klaus Hänsch, a veteran German Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician, died on 4 August 2026 at the age of 87. He served as a Member of the European Parliament for 30 years, including a term as its President from 1994 to 1997, and later participated in the European Constitution Convention.

Hänsch was a long‑time member of the SPD in Erkrath, North Rhine‑Westphalia, where he first joined the party in 1964 and held local leadership positions. Local SPD leaders praised his commitment to both grassroots politics and European integration, noting that “political roots at home and responsibility for Europe belong together.”