New elections at the European Taxpayers’ Association (TAE)

Michael Jäger (DE) new President, Dr Horst Heitz (CH) new Secretary-General
Rolf von Hohenhau appointed Honorary President for life

As part of the General Assembly of the European Taxpayers’ Association (TAE) on 18 July 2023 at the new TAE offices at 46 Rue d’Arlon in Brussels, elections for the Executive Board and governing bodies took place as scheduled. There were two significant changes to the Executive Board: the outgoing President of the TAE, Rolf Baron von Hohenhau, did not stand for re-election after more than 38 years in office. Michael Jäger, the former Secretary-General, was elected as the new President. His successor as Secretary-General is Dr Horst Heitz.

“It is time for a change at the top and to hand over the reins,” said Rolf von Hohenhau in his farewell speech. In Michael Jäger, they have found an outstanding successor who, thanks to his decades of service as TAE Secretary-General, not only knows the organisation inside out but also has excellent contacts across Europe. The fact that Dr Horst Heitz, head of the Brussels office, would be taking on the role of Secretary-General of the TAE was a real stroke of luck, von Hohenhau continued. Apart from these two changes, all existing TAE office-holders were unanimously re-elected to their posts.

In recognition of his decades of voluntary service, Rolf von Hohenhau was honoured, on the recommendation of the new President Michael Jäger, with the European Bull, the highest award of the European Taxpayers’ Association.

In his inaugural speech, the President of the Taxpayers’ Association, Michael Jäger, thanked his predecessor: “Throughout his life, Rolf von Hohenhau has worked tirelessly on behalf of taxpayers’ organisations and all taxpayers. Without him, there would be neither the European Taxpayers’ Association nor a World Federation. He is and remains the embodiment of the champion of taxpayers’ interests, of greater entrepreneurial freedom and of a Europe that enables future generations to live in prosperity and peace. I am delighted that Rolf von Hohenhau will remain on board as Honorary President and will continue to actively support the European Taxpayers’ Organisation.”

The TAE Executive Board is now composed as follows: Michael Jäger, Germany (President), John O’Connell, United Kingdom (Vice-President), Rolf von Hohenhau, Germany (Honorary President), as well as Vice-Presidents Reiner Holznagel (Germany), Dr Teemu Lehtinen (Finland), Christian Ekström (Sweden) and Grigol Katamadze (Ukraine). The Treasurer is Prof. Alfred Gerauer (Germany), and the Auditors are Larissa Apassova (Ukraine) and Nikolay Popov (Bulgaria). Rudolf G. Maier (Germany) was appointed Press Spokesperson. Dr Horst Heitz (Switzerland) has taken on the role of Secretary-General; he also heads the TAE office in Brussels. Johannes Maruschzik (Germany) holds the position of Head of Public Relations. The Coordinator for Eastern Europe is Dr Ralf Schneider (Germany).

Munich/Brussels, 18 July 2023