German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle faces accusations of blurring the lines between his office, party politics and his private life. He has taken his partner Michael Mronz, an entrepreneur, on an official trip to South America this week along with several former donors to his pro-business FDP party.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is openly gay, has rejected criticism of his decision to take his partner, Michael Mronz, on an official trip to South America with him.

Mronz is an event manager who organizes sports events. Critics have accused Westerwelle and Mronz of failing to keep their professional and private lives separate.

Asked to comment on the criticism, Westerwelle said: "I am pleased that Herr Mronz is taking the time to accompany me at his own expense to inform himself about social projects in the region and get involved in them. We want to continue that, and we will."

Westerwelle is currently on a week-long trip to South America with a delegation of business people including Mronz. They are touring Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, and they made a short stop in earthquake-shaken Chile.