Horst Köhler - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Horst Köhler is a German politician who served as the ninth President of Germany from 2004 to 2010.
- 2. Köhler was born on February 22, 1943 in Skierbieszów, Poland, which was then part of Germany.
- 3. He studied economics and politics at the University of Tübingen and later received a doctorate in economics from the University of Frankfurt.
- 4. Köhler began his career in the civil service, working for the German Ministry of Economics and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- 5. He joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in 1981 and held various positions in the government, including Minister of Finance and Chancellor Angela Merkel's personal representative for Africa.
- 6. Köhler was elected President of Germany in 2004, succeeding Johannes Rau. He was re-elected for a second term in 2009.
- 7. As President, Köhler focused on issues such as globalization, development aid, and climate change. He was known for his commitment to human rights and democracy.
- 8. Köhler resigned from office in 2010, citing criticism of his comments on German military involvement abroad. His resignation was a rare move in German politics.
- 9. After leaving office, Köhler continued to be involved in international development and served as a special envoy for the United Nations Secretary-General on Western Sahara.
- 10. Köhler is married and has two children. He remains active in public life, advocating for global development and democracy.