When the politician Michael Fuchs talked about the economy, he knew what he was talking about - after all, the trained pharmacist had worked successfully as a foreign trader, first as a businessman and later as an association representative.
At the age of 52, he set his sights on the Bundestag. In 2002, the CDU member immediately won the direct mandate in his hometown of Koblenz.
Manfred Schäfers
Business correspondent in Berlin.
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With his courage to have his own opinion, his blunt manner and his regulatory understanding, he quickly became an audible voice in the Union faction when it came to economic policy issues.
In 2009 he consequently became deputy chairman of the Union faction, he was responsible for the economy, small and medium-sized businesses and tourism.
After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, in March 2011, he openly opposed Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) by advocating the continued use of the nuclear power plants.
But those who were allowed to accompany him in his political work have often seen that he supported decisions for party reasons that he himself was not really convinced of, not least in the financial and euro state crisis.
After four legislative periods, the committed campaigner for the social market economy left the Bundestag in order to regain personal freedom and to be able to enjoy life a little more, for example on pleasant trips abroad.
He has now died at the age of 73.
"I'm losing a loyal friend and companion," wrote the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz.