Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1976, West German chancellor (prime minister) 1982-90. He oversaw the reunification of East and West Germany 1989-90 and in 1990 won a resounding victory to become the first chancellor of reunited Germany. His miscalculation of the true costs of reunification and their subsequent effects on the German economy led to a dramatic fall in his popularity, but as the economy recovered, so did his public esteem, enabling him to achieve a historic fourth electoral victory 1994. Kohl studied law and history before entering the chemical industry. Elected to the Rhineland-Palatinate Land (state) parliament 1959, he became state premier 1969. After the 1976 Bundestag (federal parliament) elections Kohl led the CDU in opposition. He became federal chancellor 1982, when the Free Democratic Party (FDP) withdrew support from the socialist Schmidt government, and was elected at the head of a new coalition that included the FDP. From 1984 Kohl was implicated in the Flick bribes scandal over the illegal business funding of political parties, but he was cleared of all charges 1986, and was re-elected chancellor Jan 1987, Dec 1990, and Oct 1994.
