Klaus wowereit biography

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In December 1999, he was elected chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Abgeordnetenhaus.

Since June 2001 he served as Governing Mayor (Regierender Bürgermeister) of Berlin. On June 16, 2001, Wowereit was elected as the governing mayor of Berlin. Before him are Prince Wolfgang of Hesse (1896), Horst Köppel (1948), Hans Bauer (1927), Johann Walter (1496), Karl Valentin (1882), and Conrad II, Duke of Bavaria (1052).

This phrase became a well-known expression in Germany. Critics have accused Wowereit of being responsible for the various delays and cost overruns of the airport project. He was re-elected to this position in 2006. During his tenure, Wowereit actively worked in the fields of culture and tourism, including overseeing the hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the Berlin International Film Festival.

In coming out, prior to the 2001 mayoral elections, he coined the now famous German phrase "Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so." ("I'm gay, and that's a good thing.") In his autobiography, Wowereit states that his decision to come out in public was made because after his nomination as candidate to become the Mayor of Berlin, he felt that the German tabloids were already "on the right track".

Until 1973, Wowereit attended the Ulrich-von-Hutten-Oberschule in Berlin-Lichtenrade. As a result, Berlin became the third most visited European city after Paris and London. In 1999, he was re-elected and became the chairman of the city parliamentary faction. Before him are Hermann, Fürst von Pückler-Muskau (1785), Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1633), John Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (1677), Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1529), Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg (1479), and Prince Wolfgang of Hesse (1896).

After this election and following long-time negotiations, Wowereit finally started a coalition with the PDS.

In the elections held on 17 September 2006, Wowereit's SPD finished as the strongest party with a plurality of 30.8%. Also, he is said to have filled the board with political friends rather than professionals.

He announced his intention to resign at the end of 2014 due to the airport delays saying it was the "biggest failure" of his term in office, but that there were also other "several difficult times here."

Wowereit is youngest to two brothers and two sisters and grew up without a father.

Wowereit openly declared his homosexuality during the 2001 elections, famously stating, "I am gay, and that's a good thing!" (German: "Ich bin schwul und das ist auch gut so").

At the age of 30, he was, therefore, the youngest councilor in the city of Berlin.