Death of Horst Koehler, Former German President and IMF Head

SOURCE www.npr.org
Horst Koehler, former German president and head of the International Monetary Fund, has died at the age of 81. He was known for his outsider approach to politics and his focus on economic reforms and financial markets. He resigned abruptly after a controversy over comments about military deployments. He was praised for his attention to Africa and relations with Poland.

Key Points

  • Outsider approach to politics
  • Praised for economic diplomacy and negotiating German reunification
  • Attention to Africa and Poland in foreign policy

Pros

  • Focused on economic reforms and welfare state cuts
  • Praised for attention to Africa and relations with Poland
  • Transformation of the IMF in terms of transparency and crisis management

Cons

  • Abrupt resignation due to controversy over military deployment comments