Joschka Fischer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joschka Fischer
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Fischer in 2014
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| Vice Chancellor of Germany | |
| In office 27 October 1998 – 22 November 2005 |
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| President | Roman Herzog Johannes Rau Horst Köhler |
| Chancellor | Gerhard Schröder |
| Preceded by | Klaus Kinkel |
| Succeeded by | Franz Müntefering |
| Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 27 October 1998 – 22 November 2005 |
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| Chancellor | Gerhard Schröder |
| Preceded by | Klaus Kinkel |
| Succeeded by | Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
| Member of the Bundestag for Hesse |
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| In office 16 October 1994 – 1 September 2006 |
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| Constituency | Alliance 90/The Greens List |
| In office 6 March 1983 – 31 March 1985 |
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| Preceded by | The Greens List |
| Deputy Minister President of Hesse | |
| In office 5 April 1991 – 5 October 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | Hans Eichel |
| Preceded by | Wolfgang Gerhardt |
| Succeeded by | Rupert von Plottnitz |
| Hessian Minister of Environment and Energy | |
| In office 12 December 1985 – 9 February 1987 |
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| Prime Minister | Holger Börner |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Armin Clauss (Acting) |
| In office 5 April 1991 – 5 October 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | Hans Eichel |
| Preceded by | Karlheinz Weimar |
| Succeeded by | Rupert von Plottnitz |
| Hessian Minister of Federal Affairs | |
| In office 5 April 1991 – 5 October 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | Hans Eichel |
| Preceded by | Wolfgang Gerhardt (Agent of Federal Affairs) |
| Succeeded by | Rupert von Plottnitz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Martin Fischer
12 April 1948 Gerabronn, Württemberg-Baden, Allied-occupied Germany |
| Political party | Alliance 90/The Greens |
| Spouses |
Edeltraud Seifert
(m. 1967; div. 1984)Inge Peusquens
(m. 1984; div. 1987)Claudia Bohm
(m. 1987; div. 1998)Nicola Leske
(m. 1999; div. 2003)Minu Barati
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Joseph Martin "Joschka" Fischer (born 12 April 1948) is a German politician who used to be in charge. He was a member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party. From 1998 to 2005, he served as Germany's foreign minister and vice chancellor of Germany. He worked in the government led by Gerhard Schröder.
Fischer was a very important person in the German Green party starting in the 1970s. Many people liked him. For most of the time the Schröder government was in power, he was the most popular politician in Germany. After the election in September 2005, his government lost. He left his job on 22 November 2005.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joschka Fischer was born in Gerabronn, Germany, in 1948. He was the third child in his family. His family had lived in Hungary for many years. However, they had to leave Hungary in 1946. This was after the Soviet Union took control of the country. Many ethnic Germans were forced to leave by the authorities.
His nickname Joschka comes from the Hungarian name Jóska, which is a short form of Joseph. He grew up as a Catholic. As a child, he helped out at his church. Fischer left high school in 1965. He then started training to be a photographer, but he quit in 1966. He never finished high school or went to a university. He also did not serve in the military because of his poor eyesight.
Becoming a Green Politician
From 1983 to 1985, Fischer was a member of the Bundestag. This is Germany's main parliament. He was known for his direct and sometimes challenging way of speaking. In 1985, Fischer became the Minister for the Environment in the state of Hesse. This was part of the first "Red-Green coalition" government. This type of government was formed by the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the Green party working together.
Fischer caused a stir when he wore trainers (sneakers) to his swearing-in ceremony. This was unusual for a government minister. These trainers are now in a museum in Germany. Fischer also wrote openly in the Green party's newspaper. In 1989, he wrote an article that showed he was not sure about Germany becoming one country again.
From 1991 to 1994, Fischer was again the environment minister in Hesse. After that, he became a co-leader of the Green party's group in the Bundestag. People respected Fischer for how well he spoke and how charming he was. For much of the 1990s, many people saw him as the true leader of the opposition. He helped the Green party become more mainstream. This made it possible for them to join Germany's national government for the first time.
Serving as Foreign Minister
In September 1998, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) won the election. They were led by Gerhard Schröder. The SPD and the Green party decided to form a government together. On 27 October 1998, this new government took power. Joschka Fischer was made the Minister of Foreign Affairs. By 2005, he had served as foreign minister longer than almost anyone else in Germany's history after World War II.
Key Foreign Policy Events
In April 1999, Germany offered a peace plan for the war in Kosovo. Fischer suggested a plan that included Russia. It would have stopped the bombing if Yugoslavia started pulling its troops out of Kosovo. In May 1999, an anti-war protester threw red paint at Fischer. This happened during a party meeting about NATO's air attacks in Kosovo. Fischer was hurt in the ear.
In 2001, Fischer and another minister announced a large aid package for Afghan refugees. This was to help people who had to leave their homes. Later that year, Fischer hosted a conference in Germany. Delegates from different Afghan groups signed an agreement there. This agreement set up a temporary government for Afghanistan after the Taliban regime was removed. Germany was chosen to host the meeting because of its long history with Afghanistan.
In September 2001, Fischer called in the Iranian ambassador to Germany for talks. This was after several writers and thinkers in Iran were sent to prison. They had attended a conference in Berlin.
In 2005, some people criticized Fischer. They said that making it easier for people from Ukraine to get visas might let illegal immigrants into Germany. A special committee in parliament looked into this. Fischer's statement to the committee was shown live on TV and lasted twelve hours.
Fischer represented Germany at the funerals of important leaders. These included the Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003 and Pope John Paul II in 2005. He also attended the funeral of former UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in 2005.
After his government lost the election in 2005, Fischer said he would leave politics. He wanted his "freedom back" after 20 years in power. On 13 October 2005, Frank-Walter Steinmeier took over as foreign minister.
Western Balkans Policy
In 1999, Fischer supported Germany's military joining the Kosovo War. This was a very controversial decision. It went against the Green party's usual peaceful ideas. It was also the first time since World War II that German soldiers actively fought in a war. Fischer said this military action was needed because he believed Serbia was planning to harm the Kosovo Albanians.
Fischer also represented Germany at the funerals of the Prime Minister of Serbia in 2003 and the President of Macedonia in 2004.
Relations with the United States
Fischer often had different opinions than the US government under President George W. Bush. They disagreed on topics like the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto Protocol.
In 1999, Fischer asked for mercy for two German citizens sentenced to death in Arizona, USA. Germany said the brothers' rights were not protected. However, both were executed. After this, the European Union proposed a resolution against the death penalty at the United Nations.
Even though Fischer supported sending German troops to Afghanistan, he advised Chancellor Schröder not to join the war in Iraq. Fischer famously challenged US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2003. He questioned Rumsfeld's evidence that Iraq had dangerous weapons. Fischer said, "Excuse me, I am not convinced."
Middle East Policy
Fischer has faced some criticism for attending a conference in 1969. At this meeting, a Palestinian leader called for war against Israel.
During his time in government, Fischer and Chancellor Schröder were generally seen as supportive of Israel. In 1999, Fischer led a group to Jerusalem and Palestinian areas. They also visited other countries important for peace in the region. By 2001, he became a key person in trying to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He helped calm the violence after a bombing in June 2001. Fischer later helped arrange a meeting between the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Israeli foreign minister.
In July 2002, Fischer suggested that Arafat should appoint a temporary prime minister. He hoped this would lead to a Palestinian state by the end of 2003. Fischer represented Germany at Arafat's funeral in 2004. He also attended the opening of the new Holocaust Memorial Museum in Israel in 2005.
European Integration Efforts
In May 2000, Fischer suggested creating a "European federation." This would be a stronger union of European countries. He proposed that it should have a president and parliament chosen directly by the people. These leaders would have real power. France's President Jacques Chirac supported this idea. He wanted Germany and France to lead a group of EU countries to unite faster.
In October 2002, Fischer joined the Convention on the Future of Europe. This group worked on a new constitution for Europe. Fischer and the French Foreign Minister suggested that the constitution should include a promise for countries to defend each other. In 2004, he signed the treaty that aimed to create a constitution for Europe.
Relations with Russia
Fischer has often criticized Russia, especially about human rights. However, during his time as foreign minister, Germany's relationship with Russia was mostly guided by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. In 2004, Fischer asked Ukraine to recount its presidential election votes. This was after a candidate supported by Russia declared victory, even though there were big protests.
Life After Politics
After leaving politics, Joschka Fischer has been involved in different activities.
Non-profit Work
From 2006 to 2007, Fischer was a senior fellow and visiting professor at Princeton University in the United States. He also gave talks at other American universities about foreign affairs.
Fischer has joined several non-governmental organizations. These include the Arab Democracy Foundation and the European Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a member of the United Nations Association of Germany. In 2010, Fischer supported the Spinelli Group. This group was created to encourage European Union countries to unite more closely.
Business Activities
Since 2008, Fischer has worked as a Senior Strategic Counsel at Albright Stonebridge Group. This is a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He has advised large companies like Siemens and BMW. In 2009, Fischer also became an adviser for the Nabucco pipeline project.
Awards and Recognition
Joschka Fischer has received several honors:
- 2002 – Honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa
- 2003 – Buber-Rosenzweig-Medal
- 2004 – Gottlieb Duttweiler Prize
- 2006 – Honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University
- 2009 – Leo Baeck Medal
- 2012 – Honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan
- 2016 – Medal for Extraordinary Merits for Bavaria in a United Europe
Personal Life and Interests
Before 2005, Joschka Fischer was a very popular politician in Germany. Many people liked him. When he was Foreign Minister, his popularity grew even more when he spoke out against the Iraq War. People also liked him because he openly talked about his struggle with his weight.
Before 1996, Fischer enjoyed good food and wine. However, as he became Foreign Minister, he decided to lose weight. He changed his body by stopping alcohol and becoming a vegetarian. In 2000, he wrote a book about his weight loss journey called My Long Race Towards Myself. It became a very popular book in Germany.
He also ran marathons. He finished the Hamburg Marathon in 1998. He also completed the New York City Marathon in 1999 and the Berlin Marathon in 2000. Later, he reduced his training.
Fischer married Minu Barati, a German-Iranian film producer, in 2005. This is his fifth marriage. He has two children from a previous marriage. At the time of his wedding to Minu Barati, she had a young daughter. The couple lives with her daughter.
In 2004, he had a special coat of arms designed for him. It includes crossed axes and a fish. He describes himself as Catholic, but not very religious.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Joschka Fischer para niños
