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Elisabeth Niejahr and Karl Lauterbach at the premiere of “Small Things Like These”
Photo: Sebastian Reuter / Getty Images
It was a memorable statement that Karl Lauterbach gave to the magazine “Bunte” two years ago: “I actually don’t want to stay single for the rest of my life,” he said at the time. In January, the Federal Health Minister confirmed his relationship with journalist Elisabeth Niejahr. Now the two have appeared in public as a couple for the first time.
Lauterbach and Niejahr walked the red carpet at the premiere of the film “Small Things Like These” at the Berlinale and held hands.
“I’m glad that Elisabeth Niejahr is in my life,” Lauterbach told “Bild am Sonntag” in January. The 58-year-old Niejahr worked for 18 years in the Berlin office of the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, previously also at SPIEGEL, and most recently at “Wirtschaftswoche”. The journalist, who studied economics, also wrote several books: about power techniques, demography and Ursula von der Leyen. She now manages the business for the “Strengthening Democracy” department of the Hertie Foundation in Berlin.
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Holding hands on the red carpet
Photo: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
Lauterbach has four children with his first wife, but he says he has not had any contact with her for years. Lauterbach has another child from a subsequent relationship with a journalist.
According to his own statements, he and Niejahr have known each other since 2005. Since last fall, both have been taking part in the same social events.
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