Wolfgang Schäuble, historic German finance minister and former President of the Bundestag, has died. The CDU politician died yesterday evening, his family said, as the Tagesschau and other German media reported.
Schäuble was born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1942 and was 81 years old. From 1972 until his death last night, no German parliamentarian was a member of the Bundestag for a long period of time.
In 1990, the Christian Democratic politician suffered a serious attack by a madman who shot him three times: Schäuble was saved and recovered, but since then he has lived in a wheelchair. As finance minister, Schäuble became known as a hawk in Angela Merkel's government during the euro crisis, advocating comprehensive austerity measures and a very tough stance towards Greece. In addition to Finance Minister and President of the Bundestag, Schäuble has also been Interior Minister, Special Minister, Chairman of the CDU and Chairman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary group over the years. As Interior Minister between 1989 and 1991 in the Helmut Kohl government, Schäuble was one of those who led the treaty on German unification after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Scholz: “We are losing a passionate politician and a combative democrat”
With the death of Wolfgang Schäuble, “Germany is losing a sharp thinker, a passionate politician and a combative democrat,” wrote German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in “, Minister and President of the Bundestag”.
Merkel, Schäuble were a “political master” for me
“As a young minister, Wolfgang Schäuble was a political master for me. As Minister of the Interior and Finance, he was one of the anchors of my first three government cabinets.” Angela Merkel said this in a statement, as reported by Dpa.
“With him, Germany is losing an outstanding personality with political and programmatic vision,” the former Chancellor continued, adding: “In Germany we will miss the voice of Wolfgang Schäuble. Personally, I will miss his advice.”
Merkel also emphasizes that the CDU politician was one of the architects of German reunification, a pioneer of Franco-German friendship and a passionate European. “I admired his discipline, even towards himself, which he maintained despite and with
his paraplegia after a seizure. “He has become a role model for millions of people,” says Merkel.
Weber, “A crucial figure in German and European politics”
“Wolfgang Schäuble was a crucial figure in German and European politics for decades. He was a synonym for seriousness, solidity and openness.” A
A Christian Democrat with heart and soul.” This is what the chairman and group leader of the EPP, Manfred Weber, writes in X, reminiscent of the former German finance minister.
“I am sad, but also grateful for the many very nice and intensive conversations,” added the Bavarian CSU MEP.
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