Horst Köhler: Merkel and other politicians appreciate him after his death

The death of former Federal President Horst Köhler triggered dismay in politics. Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised him as “a committed politician who campaigned for a fairer world throughout his life”, as the SPD politician announced on the X platform.

Köhler died early Saturday morning at the age of 81 after a short, serious illness, as the Federal Presidential Office in Berlin announced. He was elected head of state on May 23, 2004 and was confirmed in office five years later. On May 31, 2010, he surprisingly resigned.

Scholz continues: “His commitment to the dialogue between the nations shaped his term. After that, he remained a respected voice in politics. His legacy as a committed advocate for a fairer world will remain.”

“I mourn Horst Köhler,” it says. “Since the early 1990s, he has always impressed me with his vigor, his confidence and ideas.” Köhler encouraged her and others to “always look at our own box in our political action. His cheerful, optimistic and fearless approach often helped me to find solutions for difficult problems.” The deceased Köhler was “in the best sense of the word, a headstrong person” that he had “made” a deserved one. I will be missing his voice. “

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Köhler’s wife Eva Luise, 78, among other things: “Many people in our country will mourn with them. Because with Horst Köhler we lose a very valued and extremely popular person who has done great-for our country and in the world. […] As much as he was able to inspire many people with his sometimes unconventional and relaxed, appealing way, he made it easy for himself. He was a very conscientious person, and what he said and did was usually long and deep reflections and discussions. So it was very serious to him when he kept warning not to forget the help and solidarity, even real care, the most needed, whether in the world or in our own country. “

Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt that Köhler “put herself in the service of our country”. “Always empathetic, always ingenious, sometimes arguable. Not only in his time as Federal President. I thank him from the bottom of my heart. My sincere condolences of his wife and family. May he rest in peace.”

Friedrich Merz, candidate for chancellor of the Union, that Köhler had served “with decency, clarity and great passion”. “He gave important impulses throughout his life – in financial policy, in international cooperation, the responsibility of Germany in the world. With it we lose a clever head, a sincere democrat and a statesman who shaped our country. His foresight And we will be missing his commitment. “

Köhler were central residents and dialogue, said Bärbel Bas, President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas in a condolence letter. “Anyone who spoke to him felt that he was serious about it.” At the same time, she paid tribute to his commitment to climate change and in Africa.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) emphasized Köhler’s closeness to the citizens and his fine feeling for the concerns of the citizens and worries. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) called Köhler’s “Use for Social Justice and International Responsibility Beyond his office – especially for Africa and a just global economy” his legacy.

FDP boss Christian Lindner praised Köhler’s view of economic policy. He had occurred for free world trade and safe trade routes. “At that time he was defamed for this. Today we recognize his foresight,” said Lindner.

Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder that the news of Köhler’s death was very affected: “Horst Köhler was characterized by seriousness, high empathy and clarity. He was always honest and honorable and not always comfortable. But he always had the best for land and People in view.

At the international level, Köhler mainly dealt with Africa, as a IMF boss and even more afterwards as Federal President. He persistently campaigned for an equal partnership with the neighboring continent. He remained loyal to this even after leaving the highest state office-including as a UN special representative for the Western Sahara conflict from 2017 to 2019.

After his resignation, Köhler said about current domestic questions. In 2021, he showed that climate protection was an important concern for him when he took over the patronage for the first nationwide citizens’ council for climate policy.