Kristina Köhler - Newsmaker 2009

Kristina Köhler in Parliament, Photo: (C) picture-alliance / dpa

At the age of 14 you generally don't know what you are going to do later in life – at least most people don't. Not so Kristina Köhler, who on her 14 birthday handed in her application for the Young Christian Democrats (Junge Union) – the youth organisation of the conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDU).

Making a name for herself

Köhler was born in the city of Wiesbaden, Hesse. Had she been born in the neighbouring state of Rheinland-Pfalz, just a few kilometres away, she wouldn’t be Minister today. Fortune had it that Franz Josef Jung took his bows and resigned as Minister. To ensure internal party discipline, a replacement from the same state was necessary – enter Kristina Köhler.

This stroke of luck should not detract from the merits of Köhler's nomination. Her political drive that became evident at an early age initially saw her climb the ladder within the Junge Union, and then of the CDU. Positions at the local, district and state levels steeled her in political life and earned her bipartisan respect. Her potential was spotted and, in 2002, earned her a nomination from the CDU Wiesbaden as a candidate for German Parliament.

In parliament she quickly made a name for herself as meticulous, hard-working and well-prepared. She distinguished herself in opposition by grilling members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in a hearing on the alleged involvement of the Federal Intelligence Agency (BND) in the Iraq war.

Notwithstanding her credentials the nomination was greeted with scepticism. Newspapers and conservative voices raised their doubts about Köhler – unmarried and childless – to lead a Ministry devoted to family affairs. The recent announcement that she is planning to marry her fiancee in February 2010 has been described as a concession to public pressure.

A modern minister

Though Köhler is a consummate politician, she also pursues other interests. Building on her first degree in sociology she completed a doctorate in political science at the University of Mainz during her time as a parliamentarian in the Bundestag.Balancing the heavy demands of her job as a parliamentarian with the time-consuming doctorate is no mean feat. Using her time skilfully, Köhler makes use of Web 2.0 applications such as Facebook and twitter to keep people abreast of her work during the day. Asked if she was going to continue doing so as Minister she replied: “Of course!”

In her spare time Köhler likes to spend time jogging and listening to music – the German band Rosenstolz is a particular favorite. While her new duties as Minister are unlikely to provide her with more spare time, it is clear that Köhler revels in challenges. She is unlikely to have missed commentators picking up on the fact that current Chancellor Angela Merkel once began in the same position – as Minister of Family Affairs.

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