Who Governs Cologne? Understanding The City's Leadership Structure

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, is led by a mayor rather than a president. The incumbent mayor of Cologne is Henriette Reker, who has been in office since 2015 and was re-elected in 2020. Reker is Cologne's first female mayor and is known for her pro-immigration stance.

Cologne's mayor

Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, is led by Mayor Henriette Reker, the first female mayor in the city's history. Reker was born in Cologne in 1956 and is a lawyer and independent politician known for her pro-immigration stance.

Reker was elected mayor of Cologne in 2015, a day after surviving a politically-motivated assassination attempt. She was re-elected in 2020. Reker previously served as the deputy mayor of Gelsenkirchen for Social Affairs, Health, and Consumer Protection from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, she was selected as Cologne's mayoral deputy for social affairs, integration, and the environment.

Under Reker's leadership, Cologne has become an open city with a strong focus on climate protection, sustainability, and innovation. The mayor has also been recognised for her dedication to promoting human rights, equality, and tolerance. In 2020, she launched two major initiatives to establish Cologne as one of Germany's most progressive and sustainable cities. The first, titled "Cologne 21 – Smart City," brought together various sectors to design an ambitious and liveable future vision. The second initiative focused on leveraging creative ideas and digital technology in municipal government.

Reker's efforts to promote diversity and integration were recognised with the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award, named after the mayor of Gdansk, who was assassinated in 2019. Reker was chosen as the first winner of this award for her daring and dedication to making Cologne a diverse and inclusive city.

The city's governance

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest city in the Land (state) of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is governed by a city council (Kölner Stadtrat) and led by a mayor. The incumbent Lord Mayor of Cologne is Henriette Reker, who has been in office since 2015 and was re-elected in 2020. Reker is Cologne's first female mayor and is known for her pro-immigration stance.

The city council governs the city alongside the mayor and serves a term of five years. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, with Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) receiving the most votes, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Cologne is divided into nine boroughs (Stadtbezirke) and 85 districts (Stadtteile). It is the seat of a university and the see of a Roman Catholic archbishop. Its cathedral, the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 and is the city's major landmark.

Cologne's commercial importance stems from its position at the intersection of the Rhine River and a major land route between western and eastern Europe. In the Middle Ages, it also became an important ecclesiastical, artistic, and educational centre.

Cologne has a rich and varied history, dating back to its founding in the 1st century CE as a Roman colony. It was later occupied by the Franks in 462 and became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The city was heavily bombed during World War II, resulting in the destruction of the Inner City (Innenstadt) and a significant loss of its millennia-old city centre.

Today, Cologne is a major cultural hub, hosting more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. It is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with several nightlife centres and a diverse range of music venues.

Population and demographics

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany by population, with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne-Bonn urban region. It is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the largest city on the Rhine. The metropolitan area of the Cologne-Bonn region is home to 3,573,500 people.

Cologne's population has grown steadily in recent years, with the 2016 population increasing by 1.9% compared to the previous year. The city's population was estimated to be 1,149,014 in 2024, representing a 0.46% annual change. Cologne's population density is 2,700 per square kilometre.

The city has a diverse population, with 40.5% of residents having a migrant background. There are over 90,000 people of Turkish origin in Cologne, making it the second-largest German city with a Turkish population after Berlin. Other large migrant groups include people from Italy, Poland, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, and Iran.

Cologne also has a significant religious population, with 35.5% of the population belonging to the Roman Catholic Church and 15.5% to the Protestant Church. The city has one of the oldest and largest Jewish communities in Germany, with 0.3% of the population being Jewish in 2011.

The population of Cologne is relatively evenly split between men and women, with 551,528 women and 527,773 men as of 2021. The population is spread out across different age groups, with 16.3% under the age of 18 and 17.8% aged 65 or older.

Cologne has a rich history that dates back to the 1st century CE when it was founded as the Roman Colonia Agrippina. It was a significant trade centre during the Middle Ages and was a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. The city has undergone various occupations and was heavily bombed during World War II, resulting in the evacuation of 93% of its population.

Cologne's history

Cologne, Germany, has a rich history that spans over 2,000 years. The city was founded in the 1st century CE as a Roman colony called Colonia Agrippina, named after Agrippina, the wife of Emperor Claudius. It was established in Germanic Ubii territory on the west bank of the Rhine River and became the provincial capital of Germania Inferior in 85 CE.

During the Middle Ages, Cologne flourished as an important trade centre, benefiting from its location on major trade routes between eastern and western Europe. It was a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire and a prominent member of the Hanseatic League, a trade union. The city's growth was driven by enhanced merchant activities, with its merchants having extensive connections and varied trade. Crafts also contributed to its prosperity, including textile manufacturing, bookmaking, leatherworking, enamelling, and metalworking.

In the early modern period, Cologne continued to be a significant European city, though it faced competition from other emerging trade centres. The shift of trade routes from the Rhine to sea routes diminished its influence on long-distance trade. Despite this, Cologne remained an influential centre of pilgrimage, housing relics of the Three Wise Men, Saint Ursula, and Albertus Magnus.

In the 19th century, Cologne lost its status as a free city during the French period and was incorporated into the French Republic. Later, in 1815, it became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. The city underwent industrialisation, with vehicle and engine manufacturing being particularly successful.

Cologne suffered extensive damage during World War II, with around 80% of its millennia-old city centre destroyed. Post-war rebuilding efforts resulted in a mixed cityscape, combining modern architecture with the restoration of historic landmarks.

Today, Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany, known for its cultural significance, vibrant economy, and diverse population. It is a major centre for media companies and insurance industries, with a thriving startup scene. The city is also recognised for its universities, sports, and cultural events, including the famous Cologne Carnival.

The city's economy

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a major cultural centre for the Rhineland and is known for its famous cathedral, the Kölner Dom. The city is also part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, the second-biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union.

Cologne's economy is primarily based on insurance and media industries, with several large insurance companies based in the city, including Central, DEVK, DKV, Generali Deutschland, Gen Re, Gothaer, HDI Gerling and national headquarters of Axa Insurance, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group and Zurich Financial Services. The city is also home to Westdeutscher Rundfunk, RTL Television (with subsidiaries), n-tv, Deutschlandradio, Brainpool TV and publishing houses like J. P. Bachem, Taschen, Tandem Verlag, and M. DuMont Schauberg.

Cologne is also an important centre for the automotive industry, with Ford Europe having its European headquarters and a factory in the city. Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Toyota's official motorsports team, is also based in Cologne. The city has a significant chemical industry, and Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline, has its main corporate headquarters there.

The city is a major hub for trade fairs and is home to the Cologne Trade Fair, which hosts a number of large trade shows every year. Cologne is also the second-largest inland port in Germany and one of the largest in Europe.

Cologne's diverse economy also includes a focus on aerospace, with the German Aerospace Centre and the European Astronaut Centre headquartered in the city. The city is also a major research hub, with three Max Planck science institutes located there.

Cologne's mayor, Henriette Reker, has stated that the city has a responsibility to address the issues of the 21st century, with a particular focus on climate protection, sustainability and innovation.

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