Manfred Kanther

Manfred Kanther (born 26 May 1939) is a German conservative politician and was Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1993 to 1998. He has been a member of the CDU (since 1958).

Life and education Kanther was born in Schweidnitz, Silesia. After passing his Abitur in 1958, he studied law in Marburg and Bonn, finishing in 1966. During his studies, he became a member of the fraternity Corps Guestphalia Marburg (today called Corps Guestphalia et Suevoborussia Marburg). From 1967 to 1970, Kanther held the position of Stadtoberrechtsrat in Plettenberg.

Kanther is married and has six children.

Political life Kanther was a member of the Hessian state parliament from 1974 to 1993. In July 1993 he resigned from the Hessian Landtag and assumed as Minister of the Interior as the successor of Rudolf Seiters. The same year he ordered the prohibition of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for attacks against Turkish facilities. During his tenure he had to deal with violence of the Red Army Faction and opposed the dual citizenship. His sentence was subsequently reduced to a fine of €54,000.