"Poor, but sexy!" How Berlin became Europe's most exciting metropolis in the early 2000s.
Former Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit in a conversation at the Goethe-Institut.
Klaus Wowereit already had a remarkable career in Berlin local politics when he was elected Governing Mayor in 2001. During his tenure from 2001 to 2014, Berlin turned into a cosmopolitan, vibrant metropolis that attracted artists and creatives from all over the world: living and working conditions were favorable, the club scene became legendary, and the mayor himself became a symbolic figure for tolerance and diversity: he appeared at Christopher Street Day and in television shows and was one of the first top politicians in Europe to live openly as a gay man. His famous saying: "I am gay - and that's a good thing" encouraged many people to come out. Wowereit, as mayor of Berlin, had to steer a tough austerity course because of Berlin's catastrophic financial situation. He commented on this with the saying, which also became a catchphrase: "Berlin is poor, but sexy!”
We are honored to welcome Klaus Wowereit as a guest in our Alumni Talks series. In a conversation with Dr. C.K. Martin Chung, he gives an insight into the stages of his political career and describes what makes Berlin so special.
