A Single Young Female for Germany's New Minister of

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FRANKFURT 003222 SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/CE (HODGES, SCHROEDER) LABOR FOR ILAB (BRUMFIELD) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ELAB GM SUBJECT: A Single Young Female for Germany's New Minister of Families, Women, and Youth ¶1. SUMMARY: (SBU) Germany's new Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is Kristina Koehler, a 32-year old unmarried, childless Christian Democratic Union (CDU) representative of the German parliament from Hesse. Koehler was a surprise pick for the post, which became vacant when the previous Family Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, moved to the Labor Ministry following the sudden resignation of Labor Minister Franz Josef Jung. Koehler's qualifications for her new post are not immediately evident. Unlike von der Leyen, who managed to combine the responsibilities of a large family (seven children) with a successful career as a doctor and politician, Koehler was apparently chosen because of her appeal to youth and her Hessen origins. What she will do in the position is unclear. She made a name in politics due to her performance in the investigation committee on the German Federal Intelligence Service in 2006 and for her ability to use both Facebook and Twitter. END SUMMARY -------------- New German Family Minister: Kristina Who? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Chosen as Family Minister in the wake of a reshuffle, Kristina Koehler is a fresh face in the German cabinet. At age 32, she is the youngest cabinet minister alongside fellow CSU Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (38),and FDP Health Minister Philipp Roesler (36). Koehler hails from Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse, and her origins in that state, as well as her youth, appear to be the most obvious reasons for which she was named the new Family Minister. Former Labor Minister Jung came from Hesse, too, and Chancellor Merkel needs to maintain the federal state proportion in the cabinet. The Hessen CDU is also one of the most powerful CDU state organizations in Germany. However, while Jung was close to MP Koch, Koehler's base lies primarily with the party's youth organization, which provided her a political springboard. A close advisor to MP Koch told Consulate representatives that Koch did not play a role in the appointment and that Koehler's independent standing within the Hesse CDU makes her an ideal candidate for Merkel, who may be better able to control Koehler in the future. ¶3. (SBU) Koehler has spent most of her life in politics, aside from recently finishing her PhD in Sociology. Koehler joined the CDU's youth wing at age 14, citing her admiration for former Chancellor Kohl. At 25, she became a member of the German parliament, first from the CDU list (in 2002) and in the last Bundestag elections, winning a direct mandate from her opponent, former Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD). Koehler is known for being an active user of Facebook and Twitter in a German political world that remains wary of the internet. With this selection, Chancellor Merkel no doubt also aims to improve the CDU's profile among younger voters. -------------- A LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Koehler became nationally known when she served as a member of the investigative committee of the German Intelligence Service in 2006 (which looked into the role that German Intelligence played in assisting the US in Iraq.) She gained some fame for the determined way in which she questioned former Minister for Internal Affairs, Otto Schily and former Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Her work as a rapporteur for the CDU caucus on extremism, gained her a reputation as a conservative hardliner. She insists that the observation of the Left Party through the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is justified. She also enforced the prohibition of the two right-wing extremist organizations, Collegium Humanum and Heimattreue Jugend. Despite being anti-extremist, Koehler has takes pains to publicly state that she supports a multicultural society and that she encourages the integration of immigrants. ¶5. (SBU) For Thorsten Schafer-Guembel, chair of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Hesse, both Koehler's conservatism and determination should not be underestimated. Schafer-Guembel posited that some may erroneously do so based upon Koehler's petite stature, soft voice and immaculate physical appearance. Professor Juergen Falter of the University of Mainz, Koehler's former advisor, has labeled her a "liberal conservative." He describes her as an intellectual with an analytical mind, a strong sense of discipline, and a preference for serious conversations over small talk. -------------- FAMILY MINISTER WITHOUT A FAMILY (OR...?) -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Ministry of Family Issues is important in Germany, FRANKFURT 00003222 002 OF 002 given the country's low birth rate and aging population. Former Minister Ursula von der Leyen was frequently in the media voicing support for increased child incentive money and as well as subsidies for part-time work after a baby's birth. Koehler has not yet said much about her agenda, with the exception that she would like to promote the role of fathers in the family and raise the amount of money families with children receive (which is currently part of the new federal government's platform.) While some critics have noted that Koehler's unmarried and childless family status is ironic given her new position, as per a December 2 announcement, Koehler will marry her boyfriend, Ole Schroeder, a 38-year-old parliamentary representative and State Secretary in the Interior Ministry, in January. The media is already abuzz with speculation as to whether Koehler may also try to have a child sometime while in office. ¶7. COMMENT: (SBU) Koehler has big shoes to fill. Ursula von der Leyen was popular and successful at liberalizing family policy even against the resistance of her own party members. Once gaining strength in her new office, however, Koehler may be able to further von der Leyen's work and represent a younger generation of German women who has never questioned the right to have both a career and a family at the same time, and who demands access to childcare. She also offers hope to the CDU, who is in need of a new generation of politicians and members. END COMMENT. ¶8. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Berlin. ALFORD