Henriette Reker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henriette Reker
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Reker in 2019
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| Mayor of Cologne | |
| Assumed office 20 November 2015 |
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| Deputy | Elfi Scho-Antwerpes |
| Preceded by | Jürgen Roters |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1956 Cologne, West Germany |
| Political party | Independent |
Henriette Reker (born 9 December 1956) is a German lawyer and an independent politician. This means she doesn't belong to a specific political party. She is known for supporting policies that help people from other countries settle in Germany.
In 2015, she was the victim of a serious attack. Just one day after the attack, Reker was elected mayor of Cologne. She won with 52.66% of the votes. She is the first woman to be elected mayor in Cologne's history. Reker was elected again in 2020.
Early Life and Career
Henriette Reker was born in Cologne, Germany. From 1992 to 2000, she worked as a lawyer for a health insurance group in Münster.
Political Journey
From 2000 to 2010, Reker served as a deputy mayor in Gelsenkirchen. In this role, she helped manage city services like social support, health, and consumer protection.
In 2010, she became a deputy mayor for the city of Cologne. Here, she helped manage services related to social issues, helping new residents, and protecting the environment.
In October 2015, Reker ran for Mayor of Cologne. She had support from several major political parties. She was re-elected as mayor in September 2020.
A Difficult Moment
On 17 October 2015, the day before the mayoral election, Henriette Reker was seriously hurt. A man attacked her with a knife. He was shouting about his anger towards people from other countries. Prosecutors later said the attack was politically motivated. The attacker was angry about Reker's work helping refugees. Refugees are people who seek safety in another country.
As part of Cologne's city government, Reker was in charge of finding homes and helping refugees settle in. Her assistant was also hurt in the attack. Three other people who tried to stop the attacker were also injured.
Reker's main opponent in the election stopped his campaign after the attack. Even though Reker was in the hospital's intensive care unit, she still won the election. The attacker was later sentenced to fourteen years in prison. Reker recovered and even spoke at the trial.
Other Activities
Henriette Reker is involved in several other important organizations. She serves on the advisory boards of groups like 1. FC Köln, a famous football club. She also helps with the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and the Technical University of Cologne. These roles show her commitment to different parts of her community.
See also
In Spanish: Henriette Reker para niños
