Known since 2005, now in a relationship
Karl Lauterbach and journalist Niejahr are a couple
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In 2021, Karl Lauterbach explains that he doesn't want to stay single for the rest of his life. Now his happiness seems complete. The minister reveals that he is in love again and taken. Professionally, he has known his new love for a long time.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is back in firm hands. The SPD politician confirmed to “Bild am Sonntag” that he was in a relationship with the journalist Elisabeth Niejahr. She is managing director of the “Strengthening Democracy” department at the Hertie School in Berlin and is known, among other things, as a participant in television talk shows. “I'm glad that Elisabeth Niejahr is in my life,” the 60-year-old told the newspaper.
The minister has five children from two women. According to the magazine “Bunte”, he told the magazine “Bunte” in 2021: “I actually don’t want to stay single for the rest of my life.” Fortunately, he lacks a loving wife.
Niejahr worked for 18 years in the Berlin office of the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, previously at “Spiegel”. The journalist, who studied economics, was most recently the chief reporter for “Wirtschaftswoche”. The 58-year-old has also written several books: about power techniques, demography and Ursula von der Leyen. Niejahr also has a child.
In Niejahr's Hertie podcast “Profession: Politics” she and Lauterbach used first names in 2020 – and reported that they had known each other since at least 2005. According to the report, the two have been seen at the same parties since last fall.
According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, Lauterbach's professional environment is also happy about his new love – the minister is now sending significantly fewer orders on weekends. Previously, Lauterbach was probably alone at home more. His 30-year-old daughter moved out of their shared apartment at the end of 2022.