Farewell to Hans Butzen: Krefeld's social fighter goes on board!

Farewell to Hans Butzen: Krefeld's social fighter goes on board!

The Krefeld SPD politician Hans Butzen has died, a loss that can be felt painfully in the political landscape of Krefeld. Stella Rütten, chair of the SPD, paid tribute to his life's work and his commitment to social justice. Butzen entered the party in 1975 and was an active member of the SPD for over 50 years, which underlines his deep commitment to social democratic values. His political engagement began in the 1980s and shaped Krefeld's urban policy.

Butzen was a member of the city council of Krefeld and experienced a total of three term. From 1984 to 1991, again from 1999 to 2014, and most recently from 2015 to 2024 he was a formative figure in the city council. In his role as a specialist in administrative and budgetary questions, he was particularly committed to finance and administration. In addition, he was chairman of the committee for administration until November 2024 and an active member of the city's integration committee.

a committed local politician

The district council of Hüls was another field of activity for Butzen. From 1979 to 1991 and from 1999 to 2024 he was a member of the district council, in which he served as district head from 2014 to 2020. During this time, he campaigned for the interests of his citizens and was stylized as "King of Hüls". This demonstrated its popularity and influence within local politics.

Although his career was shaped by challenges, Butzen showed courage. An incident in the city council, in which he appeared as an aggressor, caused a conversation - even among party colleagues. Nevertheless, he held on to his position and cleverly navigated through political turbulence, even when the SPD pursued a new strategy of cooperation with the CDU.

a legacy for social democracy

Butzen was not only an active member of the SPD Krefeld, but also an important player on their board members. His commitment was recognized in 2010 with the Willy Brandt medal, which rewarded his services to social democracy. Stella Rütten expressed the deeply felt condolences of the SPD Krefeld to the family of Butzen and emphasized his tireless striving for social justice and solidarity.

With Hans Butzen, Krefeld loses a city council, which is over 30 years of active city council, whose life's work is deeply rooted in the history of the city. His political heir will continue to remain alive through the work of the SPD and the structures that he has helped.