German state finance minister commits suicide over coronavirus concerns

• The German authorities have suspected that Schaefer, who was the finance minister for the state of Hesse has taken his own life in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
• Germany's federal government has just introduced a relief package for those affected by the lockdown caused by the spread of COVID-19.

German state’s finance minister died by committing suicide as his body was found on train tracks near Wiesbaden.

The German authorities have suspected that Thomas Schaefer, who was the finance minister for the state of Hesse has taken his own life in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. According to Hesse State Chief Volker Bouffier, Schaefer was very disappointed with the crisis.

"His main concern was whether he could manage to fulfill the huge expectations of the population, especially in terms of financial aid," Bouffier, quoted DW. "For him, there was clearly no way out. He was disappointed and so he had to leave us. That has shocked us, has shocked me."

Bouffier added that he thought these worries probably surrounded Schaefer so much that, 'He left us in this despair.'

Germany's federal government has just introduced a relief package for those affected by the lockdown caused by the spread of COVID-19.

According to state media, 54-year-old Schaefer has been seen regularly in several programs in recent days, where he giving details of his government’s aid package.

Police and authorities said that after reviewing all the incidents, talking to eyewitnesses and examining the scene, they came to the conclusion that Thomas Schaefer had taken his own life.

Thomas Shaffer belonged to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union "CDU" party. He has been active in state politics for the past two decades and has been the provincial minister of finance for nearly ten years.

Police found Thomas Schaefer’s body on high-speed train tracks near Wiesbaden. The town is located between Frankfurt and Maine.