Retirement as a "fountain of youth": Horst Seehofer learns C

It has long been known that the former interior minister, Seehofer, has a model railway in his basement.

Retirement as a "fountain of youth": Horst Seehofer learns C

It has long been known that the former interior minister, Seehofer, has a model railway in his basement. A year after leaving politics, he gives further insights into his private life as a retiree. It's about Schafkopf, computers and also the "One Love" bandage.

A year after leaving politics, former Interior Minister and Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer described his retirement as a new source of strength and a "fountain of youth". "I performed my political duties with great passion," emphasized the 73-year-old at an event hosted by the "Donaukurier" in Ingolstadt. A year ago, however, he left the Berlin "hamster wheel". And when you stop, you have to let go. "And I think I did it."

CSU member Seehofer named regular meetings and maintaining friendships, rediscovering natural and cultural treasures in and around his home town of Ingolstadt and other hobbies as the focal points of his life in retirement. He is in a dozen discussion groups, regulars' tables and Schafkopf groups - and chooses where he goes every day. "For me, that's a very important part of life: maintaining friendships," said Seehofer. Previously, this had been difficult for decades because of his political offices.

Seehofer named reading ("usually five books at the same time") and playing the keyboard as other hobbies. And: "You won't believe that I recently built a computer." From finished components, but: "It has been working for 14 days.". He is also learning the C programming language. He feels good, Seehofer summed up his life without politics and political top office. "I'm enjoying this - I'm enjoying this immensely."

Seehofer said almost nothing about his successors - Markus Söder as Prime Minister and Nancy Faeser as Federal Minister of the Interior. However, he said that he would not have appeared at the World Cup in Qatar with the "One Love" armband like Faeser - he believes that possible grievances should be named directly.

Seehofer called the German unity the best experience of his career - and the best office was the office of Prime Minister. It was therefore a "sad process" when he had to give up this post after the 2017 federal election. At that time he was urged "with all sorts of contortions, to put it very politely," to give up his post and go to Berlin. The transfer of office to his successor was done "decently".

After a number of top political offices, Seehofer was Prime Minister from 2008 to 2018. From 2018 to December 2021 he was Federal Minister of the Interior until the traffic light coalition took office.