GERMANY (AFP)-THE partner of the first openly gay foreign minister in Europe, and perhaps the world, knew defining his unique role could present a few challenges. But sporting event manager Michael Mronz, the long-time companion of minister Guido Westerwelle, has walked into a political firestorm just over four months since the new government took office in Germany.
The mild-mannered Mr Mronz, 43, opted to accompany Mr Westerwelle, who is also Germany's Vice-Chancellor, on a tour of Latin America as an official guest of the delegation last week following a swing through Asia together in January.
Despite opposition attacks over potential conflicts of interest and the obvious discomfort of some conservatives in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition, Mr Mronz said he had no intention of dropping out of the ministry's frequent flyer club.
"Mr Westerwelle and I travelled together regularly before the election," Mr Mronz said. "I don't see why we should stop now."
But this month he was hit by accusations he was piggybacking on official government business to scoop up new business deals.
But this month he was hit by accusations he was piggybacking on official government business to scoop up new business deals.
Mr Westerwelle was in Brazil for political talks, but also to lure contracts for German firms as the South American powerhouse gears up to stage the soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
Mr Mronz denied he held a single business meeting while in Brazil, and as Mr Westerwelle met the organising committees of the two events in Rio de Janeiro, Mr Mronz visited a children's charity in a poor village a 90-minute drive from the city.
The hobby sailor was elected this month to the board of A Heart for Children, a charitable foundation.
"Due to our life circumstances, we won't be able to have kids of our own so I am doing what I can to help the poorest of poor children," Mr Mronz said, explaining his commitment to the charity.
"In countries like these, a little money goes a long way."
"In countries like these, a little money goes a long way."
Mr Westerwelle had his coming-out at Ms Merkel's 50th birthday in 2004 with Mr Mronz at his side. Asked if he saw himself in a historic role as half of a world-class gay power couple, Mr Mronz demurred.
"We do not define ourselves by it," he said of their homosexuality. "I was simply raised to respect every person for who he is."
A few of Mr Westerwelle's defenders have pointed to homophobia behind what his entourage sees as personal attacks but Mr Mronz took the long view.
"Things have a way of working themselves out -- the accusations that are out there will clear themselves up."
The couple wear gold wedding bands on their left-hand ring fingers but Mr Mronz said they had not entered into a "registered partnership".
Asked whether they might tie the knot, Mr Mronz said: "Those are issues that are not on the table and even if they were, we wouldn't discuss them in public."
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