Remembering Guido Westerwelle

On March 18th, 2026, partners, friends, and members of the international community gathered in Berlin to commemorate 10 years since the passing of Guido Westerwelle and honour values he stood for: freedom and responsibility.

The event brought together voices from across politics, international development, and entrepreneurship. Julia Klöckner, President of the German Bundestag, spoke on the enduring importance of freedom of expression and democracy. Dr. Johann Wadephul, Federal Foreign Minister, reflected on today’s increasingly uncertain global landscape and the case for close international partnerships. Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel (GIZ) and Steffen Saebisch (Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom) discussed how international cooperation and entrepreneurship can strengthen societies in a shifting geopolitical context.

Naom Monari, founder of Kenyan health startup BenaCare, shared what it looks like to build solutions that directly improve lives, a living example of what Guido believed in. Michael Mronz, Chairman of the Westerwelle Foundation, spoke with personal warmth about Guido and how his vision continues through the Foundation’s work.

The full recording is available below.