Klaus Wowereit
Klaus Wowereit (1 October 1953 – ) is a German politician (SPD), best known for serving as the Governing Mayor of Berlin from 2001 to 2014. He also held the position of deputy federal chairman of the SPD from 2009 to 2013. His tenure left a lasting imprint on Berlin’s politics and public image.
After studying law at the Free University of Berlin, Wowereit worked in the Berlin Senate administration before entering politics. He became a member of the Berlin House of Representatives and later led the SPD parliamentary group. In 2001, he was elected Governing Mayor and served as President of the Bundesrat in 2001/02. His slogan “Berlin is poor, but sexy” (original: „Berlin ist arm, aber sexy“) became emblematic of his vision for the city. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2011, reflecting his political standing in the capital.
During his time in office, Wowereit faced criticism particularly for the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) project, which experienced severe delays and cost overruns. He was also one of the first high-ranking German politicians to publicly come out as homosexual, famously declaring in 2001, “I’m gay – and that’s a good thing!” His openness earned him both attention and respect. Among his honors is the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit with Star and Sash of the Federal Republic of Germany.
After stepping down from active politics in 2014, Wowereit continued to engage in public life through moderation, discussion formats, and writing. His publications include … und das ist auch gut so. Mein Leben für die Politik, Mut zur Integration – Für ein neues Miteinander, and Sexy aber nicht mehr so arm: Mein Berlin.
It's easy to see in the press that Klaus Wowereit is left-handed. There are many reports addressing this. Barack Obama's visit to Berlin is a particularly popular topic. When he wanted to sign the city's Golden Book, he had to swap seats with Wowereit. He was left-handed, he said. They tried to get him to stop being left-handed when he was eight or nine years old, but it didn't work. "It didn't work for me either," Klaus Wowereit replied.
After studying law at the Free University of Berlin, Wowereit worked in the Berlin Senate administration before entering politics. He became a member of the Berlin House of Representatives and later led the SPD parliamentary group. In 2001, he was elected Governing Mayor and served as President of the Bundesrat in 2001/02. His slogan “Berlin is poor, but sexy” (original: „Berlin ist arm, aber sexy“) became emblematic of his vision for the city. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2011, reflecting his political standing in the capital.
During his time in office, Wowereit faced criticism particularly for the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) project, which experienced severe delays and cost overruns. He was also one of the first high-ranking German politicians to publicly come out as homosexual, famously declaring in 2001, “I’m gay – and that’s a good thing!” His openness earned him both attention and respect. Among his honors is the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit with Star and Sash of the Federal Republic of Germany.
After stepping down from active politics in 2014, Wowereit continued to engage in public life through moderation, discussion formats, and writing. His publications include … und das ist auch gut so. Mein Leben für die Politik, Mut zur Integration – Für ein neues Miteinander, and Sexy aber nicht mehr so arm: Mein Berlin.
It's easy to see in the press that Klaus Wowereit is left-handed. There are many reports addressing this. Barack Obama's visit to Berlin is a particularly popular topic. When he wanted to sign the city's Golden Book, he had to swap seats with Wowereit. He was left-handed, he said. They tried to get him to stop being left-handed when he was eight or nine years old, but it didn't work. "It didn't work for me either," Klaus Wowereit replied.