Roland Koch

Roland Koch (born March 24, 1958) is a German jurist and former conservative politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He served as the 7th Minister President of Hesse from April 7, 1999, and also became the 53rd President of the Bundesrat. Koch completed the term begun by his predecessor, Hans Eichel, until his resignation on August 31, 2010. Koch was considered one of Chancellor Angela Merkel's main rivals within the CDU. Born in Frankfurt am Main, Koch studied law and graduated in 1985. He became the youngest person to hold the office of chairman of the CDU in Main-Taunus district in 1979.