By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: German Former Leader, Helmut Kohl Is Dead
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
News

German Former Leader, Helmut Kohl Is Dead

Farouk Mohammed
By Farouk Mohammed
Published: June 16, 2017
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Germany’s longest serving post-war leader, Helmut Kohl, the father of German reunification and an architect of European integration, died Friday at the age of 87.

Kohl, a passionate European, helped long-divided Germany navigate the traumatic transition to a reunified country, and later worked with France’s Francois Mitterand to put Germany at the core of the European project.

Tributes poured in for the man US former president George H.W. Bush hailed as “one of the greatest” postwar leaders, and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker called the “very essence of Europe”.

“We are mourning. #RIP #HelmutKohl,” said his conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), on Twitter, with a photo of the former leader, who served as chancellor for 16 years.

- Advertisement -

Kohl died in his house in Ludwigshafen, in the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, said Bild daily, whose management had close ties with the conservative politician.

Juncker, mourning the loss of Kohl, “a great European and a very close friend”, said: “Helmut Kohl filled the European house with life – not only because he built bridges to the west as well as to the east, but also because he never ceased to design even better blueprints for the future of Europe.”

Also underlining his contributions, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called Kohl “a great statesman, a great German politician, and above all a great European, who did much not only to bring German unity but also for Europe to become one”.

“This is his great legacy. This is what we will remember him for. Our thoughts are with his family and children. A truly great German has died,” said Gabriel in a statement.

- Advertisement -

Chancellor Angela Merkel was due to speak around 1700 GMT in Rome. She learnt of the death of her one-time mentor while en route to Rome, on the eve of a meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday.

Born a Catholic on April 3, 1930 in the western industrial city of Ludwigshafen, Kohl rose quickly through the ranks of the CDU, his ever-smiling blonde wife Hannelore, with whom he had two sons, by his side.

He became chancellor of West Germany in 1982 and oversaw its reunification with the East.

As the Cold War ended with the Berlin Wall coming down in November 1989, he moved to “grab the mantle of history,” as he later said, forging a political stature commensurate with his towering height.

Former protegee Angela Merkel lauded Kohl’s contribution to German and European integration in 2012, on the 30th anniversary of his becoming chancellor, declaring that Europeans were “united in our luck” thanks to Kohl’s efforts.

Kohl, who served as chancellor for 16 years, considered Konrad Adenauer — West Germany’s visionary first chancellor, who allowed the nation to make a fresh start after World War II — as an ideological forefather.

Mentor to Merkel, Kohl was later ousted by his protege, who urged their party to drop the self-declared “old warhorse” when he became embroiled in a campaign finance scandal in 1999.

After retiring from politics, he suffered from health problems, and following a serious fall in 2008, was rarely seen in public in recent years.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:Helmut KohlWorld
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByFarouk Mohammed
Publisher
Follow:
Farouk Mohammed is a Head Editor at Okay Nigeria (Okay.ng). He has been publishing for 10 years and focused more on Local/World News on Okay.ng
Previous Article This Is Why I Snubbed PSG For Chelsea – Kante
Next Article FG Orders Investigation Into Educational Qualification Of NDDC Personnel

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 4 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Victor Osimhen Returns to Nigeria as Al Hilal Transfer Hangs in Balance Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
Sport
Tinubu Urged by PDP to Cut Fuel and Electricity Costs Amid Eid-el-Kabir Festivities
News
Mike Ejeagha
Mike Ejeagha, Nigerian Highlife Maestro, Dies at 95
News
Tinubu Welcomes Gov Eno to APC as Political Realignments Intensify Across States
Politics Top stories
Super Eagles Rally to Draw Against Russia in International Friendly
Sport
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

Sport

Manchester United Raises Annual Core Profit Forecast to Between £180m and £190m After Europa League Boost

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
Ange Postecoglou
Sport

Tottenham Hotspur Part Ways with Ange Postecoglou Despite Europa League Glory

Yusuf Abubakar
Yusuf Abubakar
June 6, 2025
News

Dangote Names Main Refinery Access Road “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in Honor of President

Muhammad A. Aliyu
Muhammad A. Aliyu
June 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?