Former German President Horst Köhler Dies at 81

Horst Köhler, the former President of Germany, has passed away at the age of 81 after a brief battle with illness, as confirmed by the German Federal President’s Office in Berlin on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Köhler, who served as Germany’s President from 2004 to 2010, made history as the first president of the country to hold office without a political party affiliation.

Köhler was first elected President in May 2004, and after securing re-election five years later, he unexpectedly resigned in May 2010.

His resignation came after a controversial interview in which he linked Germany's military involvement in Afghanistan to the country's economic interests.

This statement sparked criticism, and Köhler acknowledged that his position had been irreparably damaged, leading to his resignation.

In a message of condolence to Köhler’s widow, Eva Louise Köhler, current German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised Köhler’s contributions to the country, describing him as “a stroke of luck for our country.”

Steinmeier expressed deep gratitude for the leadership Köhler provided, emphasizing that he gave much to the nation during his time in office.

Born in 1943, Köhler began his career as a civil servant in the Ministry of Economics in 1976 after studying economics.

He later ascended to the position of State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in 1990. Köhler also played a critical role as Germany’s chief negotiator leading up to the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which established the Euro.

After leaving public service in 1993, Köhler moved to the private sector, serving as President of the German Banking Association and later as President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. 

He also served as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund in 2000.

During his presidency, Köhler made several controversial decisions, including refusing to sign certain pieces of legislation as required by Germany’s constitution.

His handling of the 2005 crisis, when Chancellor Gerhard Schröder sought to dissolve the Bundestag, was also contentious. However, Köhler remained a passionate advocate for Africa and served as the United Nations Special Envoy for Western Sahara from 2017 to 2019.

After his resignation, Köhler distanced himself from internal politics but continued to lead discussions on climate change as part of a special advisory board.