Roland Schäfer

PES Local mourns Roland Schäfer. Our Honorary President and friend Roland Schäfer has passed away unexpectedly on 1st of January 2026 at the age of 76. Roland was President of PES Local | Socialist Local Representatives in Europe from 2015 to 2018. Before that he was Vice President of our network from 2009 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2021.

Roland was Chief Executive of the City of Bergkamen from 1989 to 1998 and then first directly elected Mayor of Bergkamen from 1998 to 2020. Furthermore he also held the positions of President and of First Vice President of the Association of German Towns and Municipalities for more than 20 years. 

Roland Schäfer was a true European. May his spirit live on.

Christophe Rouillon
President of PES Local