Former German President Horst Köhler has passed away at the age of 81. Köhler, who served as the head of state from 2004 to 2010, died on Saturday after a brief illness, according to officials in the presidency. He was surrounded by his family in Berlin at the time of his passing .
Before becoming president, Köhler held several prominent international positions, including serving as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2000 to 2004. His tenure as president was marked by controversy, particularly surrounding his remarks on Germany’s military engagements, which led to his resignation in 2010.
Köhler was born on February 22, 1943, in Skierbieszów, Poland, to a family of German descent. He grew up in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, and studied economics and political science at the University of Tübingen, earning a doctorate in economics in 1977. Throughout his career, Köhler was known for his commitment to global cooperation and his efforts to promote economic development and stability.
