Heide Simonis made history. In 1993, the social democrat was the first woman to take over the leadership of a state government in Germany. Now she is dead.
Germany’s first head of government of a federal state is dead. The social democrat Heide Simonis, until 2005 prime minister in Schleswig-Holstein, died a few days after her 80th birthday at home in Kiel, according to SPD state leader Serpil Midyatli.
Politicians and parties reacted to the news of death with sadness and great respect. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recognized Simonis as a role model for many in politics. “With her assertive manner, she convinced me as a young member of the Bundestag – including me,” wrote Scholz on Twitter.
“Never lost her humor, wit and directness”
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens), who comes from Schleswig-Holstein, told the German Press Agency that “Heide Simonis made history as the first female Prime Minister, and as a representative of my state, she was an icon”. The fact that Simonis was missing a vote in her planned re-election as prime minister in 2005 was a heavy blow for her. Nevertheless, he always experienced Simonis as a strong, charismatic woman afterwards. “She never lost her humor, her wit and her directness.”
Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) said, “I mourn the loss of a great politician and a passionate woman from Schleswig-Holstein”. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family. Heide Simonis made Schleswig-Holstein even more lovable with her personality, her commitment, her humanity and her straightforwardness.
Former Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Björn Engholm (SPD) spoke of a great loss. “Heide Simonis was one of the most outstanding women in post-war German politics,” the 83-year-old told the “Lübecker Nachrichten” (Thursday edition). “She had professional competence, an incredible wit and tremendous power of speech.” In her time, Simonis was far superior to all men who were skeptical about her, said Engholm.
Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki praised Simonis as a strong personality, a great prime minister, an extraordinary social democrat and a friend. With her many years of political work, she shaped Schleswig-Holstein and significantly increased the state’s weight in federal politics.
Her political career ended spectacularly
Simonis was elected Prime Minister on May 19, 1993 in Kiel. Initially, she led a one-party SPD government, then from 1996 to 2005 a red-green coalition. Her political career ended spectacularly: in the prime ministerial election on March 17, 2005, a dissenter refused her vote in four rounds; because of this her re-election in the state parliament failed. Back then, after a close state election, Simonis wanted to continue governing with a red-green minority government – supported by the South Schleswig Voters’ Association (SSW), the party of the Danish minority.
After this failed, the then CDU state chairman Peter Harry Carstensen took over the helm in Kiel at the head of a grand coalition with the SPD. It is still unclear who prevented Simonis’ re-election – the votes were secret.
Occasionally also rubbed shoulders with his own party leadership
Simonis, who was born in Bonn, completed her studies in Erlangen, Nuremberg and Kiel in 1967 in the city on the Förde as a qualified economist. In 1969 she joined the SPD, for which she was elected to the Kiel Council in 1971. In 1976 Simonis moved to the Bundestag, where she later became a spokeswoman for the budget committee. In 1988 Engholm brought her into the Kiel cabinet as finance minister.
With often pointed statements on various political topics, Simonis often attracted attention in the media, but also occasionally offended his own party leadership. After her fall as Prime Minister in 2005, Simonis took over the honorary chairmanship of the children’s charity Unicef Germany. At the beginning of 2008 she resigned from this post. On June 30, 2014, Prime Minister Torsten Albig (SPD) awarded Simonis honorary citizenship in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. She was the first woman to be honored. In recent years, Simonis has increasingly suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
On the occasion of Simonis’ death, Schleswig-Holstein’s Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) ordered half-mast flags to be displayed in the official buildings of all authorities and departments in the state on Thursday and Friday.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
