Former German President and IMF leader Horst Kohaler dies at the age of 81

Horst Kohler, who became the President of Germany after being one Financial engineer behind the renovation of Germany and the construction of Euro currency several decades laterHe died on Saturday in Berlin. He was 81 years old.

German President’s Office, In a statement On behalf of Mr. Kohalar’s family, he said that he died after a minor illness.

Despite serving as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Kohaler was very rarely known in Germany before becoming President of the country in 2004. Still she increased popularity after taking over, serving with Chancellor Angela Merkel in nearly six years.

Mr. Kohlar advocated to convert Germany into “a land of ideas”, which would shape his future and serve as a force for good on the global platform. He called for boulder domestic economic reforms, and a more confident situation at the international level. In the acceptance speech in May 2004He said that “Germany will have to fight for its place in the 21st century.”

But their bold statements, such as asking whether uneven living standard of living in East and West Germany can be excluded at any time, Forbidden The German political establishment came to a cost.

In 2010, one year in his second term, Mr. Kohler Suddenly resigned Amid criticism on comments about German soldiers serving in Afghanistan and on peace campaigns. His comments made during the visit to Afghanistan deployed German soldiers to protect German economic interests, attracted to political opponents, calling for the return of his country’s forces from Afghanistan.

This was the first time in four decades when a German President left the post – although his successor, Christian Wolf will also resignIn his case on allegations of inappropriate relations for businessmen after less than two years in the office.

Mr. Kohlar’s exit from the political field was a political shock for Ms. Merkel, her colleague and close friend. Mr. Kohaler was re -elected, his Christian Democratic Union party member, a year ago. Party is considered a performance of solidarity As Ms. Merkel faced her own election in a fragmented political place.

Horst Kohlar was born on 22 February 1943 in Screebizo, Poland. According to his official biography, he was the seventh of eight children. During World War II, his family escaped from Soviet soldiers, settling in a city near Leapzig, Germany. Nine years later, they Run away again After 1953 East German Revolt, An Anti-Soviyat RebellionHe lived in several refugee camps before settling in Ludwigsburg, West Germany.

After completing school and military service, Mr. Kohalar studied economics at the University of Tubbing, graduating in 1969. He went to get PhD. In 1977 from the university to economics. A year ago, he began working as a civil servant in the Ministry of Economics in Bon, which was then the capital of West Germany.

As Germany held its reunion in the early 1990s, Mr. Kohaler took over a senior position in the country’s Finance Ministry. During that time, that was One of the main negotiators The 1992 Mastrich Treaty, which created the Euro.

From 1993 to 1998, he led the German Savings Bank Association, a umbrella organization that oversees a network of German banks. He then led the European bank for reconstruction and development, which helped Germany and other countries to transition to an open market at the end of the Cold War. They also served a consultant Chancellor Helmut Kohal.

Started in May 2000, Mr. Kohler Worked for four years as Managing Director of International Monetary FundWhere he supported an approach to globalization which was more inclusive in developing countries.

Still, he remains Relatively unknown For the German public, and in 2004 he became the President of Germany despite making a career as a party politician.

Following his chairmanship, he focused his focus on human work, through a foundation with his wife, Eva Luis Kohlar, focusing on development and climate change in Africa.

Mr. Kohlar is alive by his wife; His daughter, Ulrik; A son, joke; And four grandchildren.