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On This Day – October 1, 1982: Helmut Kohl Becomes Chancellor. He Will Reunify Germany

On 1 October 1982, Helmut Kohl replaced Helmut Schmidt as Chancellor of West Germany after a constructive vote of no confidence. This event marked the beginning of a new political phase, with Kohl leading the German reunification and the birth of the euro.

On This Day – October 1, 1982: Helmut Kohl Becomes Chancellor. He Will Reunify Germany

Il 1 October 1982 print bar is a historic date for Germany: Helmut Kohl, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took over from Helmut Schmidt, of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as Chancellor of West Germany, following a vote of no confidence constructive in the Bundestag. It was an event that marked thebeginning of a new political era not only for Germany, but for Europe as a whole.

Kohl, at the age of 52, took over the West Germany guide in a period marked by economic challenges and the tensions of the Cold War. A key figure in German reunification, he was also, together with French President François Mitterrand, one of the architects of the Maastricht Treaty, which gave birth to the European Union.

As Chancellor Kohl remained in office for 16 years, the second longest term in German history after that of Otto von Bismarck.

Despite his successes, his career was tarnished by the scandal of donations to the party, which forced him to give up the honorary presidency of the CDU in 2000. He subsequently devoted himself to lobbying, holding positions in the financial sector and founding a strategic consultancy firm.

The crisis of the Schmidt government

Il Helmut Schmidt's government, in office since 1974, was marked, despite the strong leadership of the Social Democratic Chancellor, by growing internal discontent, especially regarding economic management and foreign policy choices. The coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP) cracked in 1982, mainly due to differences on issues such as unemployment and NATO strategy for the positioning of missiles in Europe.

Helmut Kohl seized the opportunity, taking advantage of the discontent among FDP members. Liberal leader Hans-Dietrich Genscher broke the alliance with Schmidt and formed a new coalition with Kohl's CDU. The constructive mistrust of October 1, 1982 removed Helmut Schmidt from power, paving the way for Kohl's government.

Kohl becomes Chancellor: It's the beginning of a new political era

Helmut Kohl, an established figure in German politics, began his term in office with the intention of renewing West Germany's economy. One of his first acts was to start a “emergency program” to create jobs and stabilize the economic system. Kohl also had to deal with the criticism for some of its internal decisions, often accused of evading domestic problems in favor of international politics.

Despite this, Kohl implemented a series of important reforms: from extending unemployment benefits to introducing childcare and early retirement measures. These policies would contributed to social stability, although it does not solve all of the country's economic problems.

The Chancellor of reunified Germany

The real test of Helmut Kohl's leadership came with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Within a few months, Kohl managed to convince the Western Allies and the Soviet Union that the reunification of Germany would have been a vadvantage for the whole of Europe. He presented a ten point plan to integrate East and West Germany, ensuring a peaceful and stable transition.

Il October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunified, with Kohl at the helm of the new nation. The reunification of Germany cemented the Chancellor's position as one of the main architects of the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era of stability in Europe. his European policy, developed together with French President François Mitterrand, led to the creation of the Maastricht Treaty and the birth of the European Union in 1993.

Kohl: Successes and Controversies

Despite his political successes, the Kohl's government was not free from criticismHis long tenure in power was marked by some controversial episodes, such as his visit to the Bitburg cemetery with President Ronald Reagan in 1985, which sparked backlash for paying homage to the Waffen-SS soldiers buried there.

In the last years of his mandate, his popularity dropped dramatically due to growing unemployment and the CDU slush funds scandal, which emerged in 1999. Kohl was accused of receiving illicit funds to finance his party's election campaigns, a scandal that tarnished his political legacy. Kohl himself admitted to accepting donations, but refused to reveal the names of the donors, further aggravating his position.

Legacy and influence

Despite the controversies, theHelmut Kohl's legacy remains firmly rooted in the great historical changes he oversaw. German reunification and the building of the European Union are considered his greatest achievements, and he is remembered as a politician of vision and determination, capable of facing the most critical moments of modern history.

Kohl left the Chancellery on October 27, 1998., after being defeated by the SPD's Gerhard Schröder, thus ending one of the longest and most influential political careers of the 20th century. Angela Merkel, Germany's first female chancellor, also began her political career under his wing, demonstrating Kohl's impact on future generations.

Death and the European Homage

Helmut Kohl died on June 16, 2017 at the age of 87.i. His funeral, held in Speyer Cathedral, was an international event. For the first time in the history of the European Union, a formal act of mourning in his honor, recognizing his fundamental contribution to the construction of modern Europe. US Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton described Helmut Kohl as “the greatest European leader of the second half of the twentieth century”.

With his death, Germany and Europe said goodbye to a political giant whose name remains inextricably linked to the history of the end of German division and the birth of a new Europe.

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