Germany’s former president Horst Koehler, who served as head of state from 2004 to 2010, passed away on Saturday at the age of 81 after a brief illness, officials confirmed.
“With the death of Horst Koehler, we have lost a highly esteemed and extremely popular person who achieved great things –- for our country and in the world,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a letter to Koehler’s widow.
Koehler, an economist by profession, made history as the first German president who did not come from a career in politics. Prior to assuming the presidency, he served as the head of the International Monetary Fund in Washington.
He was appointed to the mostly ceremonial role of German president after being nominated by then opposition leader Angela Merkel, who later became chancellor. Koehler was elected for a second term in 2009 but resigned in May 2010 following criticism over his remarks regarding overseas German military missions.
According to the presidency, Koehler died early Saturday in Berlin after a short but serious illness, surrounded by his family.