Former German President and IMF Chief Horst Köhler Dies at 81

Horst Köhler, who led Germany from 2004 to 2010 and played key roles in global economic policy, passed away after a brief illness.

Horst Köhler, former German president and ex-managing director of the IMF, died in Berlin at 81 after a short and serious illness.
Köhler served as Germany's president from 2004 to 2010, becoming the first to ascend to the role without a prior political career, coming instead from economics and international finance.
He held prominent global roles, including leading the IMF from 2000 to 2004 and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1998 to 2000.
Köhler was instrumental in advancing dialogue on the Western Sahara conflict during his tenure as the UN envoy for the region from 2017 until his resignation in 2019 for health reasons.
Throughout his career, he championed financial reforms, criticized excessive executive pay, and emphasized partnerships with Africa, leaving a legacy of economic and political influence.