Former Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble (1942-2023) is dead. The CDU politician died on Tuesday evening at the age of 81 at home with his family. German politics is mourning the loss of its longest-serving parliamentarian – he only celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member of the German Bundestag on December 13th. The world of politics bows to the native of Freiburg (Breisgau).
In his letter of condolence to the widow Ingeborg Schäuble (80), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (67) writes: “With Wolfgang Schäuble we have lost a great person and passionate politician who achieved historic things for our country.” He was a “stroke of luck for German history” and visionary. In addition, he never lost sight of what was important.
“Politics was his lifeblood,” it continues. Schäuble enjoyed the greatest respect across all party lines – “whether as party or faction leader, whether as Chancellor’s Office Minister, Interior Minister, Finance Minister or President of the German Bundestag.” Steinmeier praised Schäuble as a “very sought-after advisor” and “outstanding statesman.”
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (69) expressed great dismay at the news of the death of her party colleague in a statement. “With him, Germany is losing an outstanding personality with political and programmatic foresight,” writes Merkel. “I mourn the loss of a politician who shaped our country in many ways. He was one of the architects of German unity.” As a young minister, Schäuble was her “political teacher.” “Conversations with him were always intellectually enriching for me.” Germany will miss his voice, she will miss his advice personally.
Angela Merkel’s successor, the current Chancellor Olaf Scholz (65, SPD), also praised Wolfgang Schäuble’s “impressive and very long political career” in his letter of condolence. Scholz further wrote: “Germany is losing a formative Christian Democrat who liked to argue and yet never lost sight of what politics is about: making the lives of its citizens better.” On
CDU leader and Union parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag Friedrich Merz (68) expressed his sadness in a statement via with his family, especially with his wife Ingeborg.”
Other political voices expressed their condolences to Schäuble’s family. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (43) expressed her “deep sympathy” via , Finance Minister Christian Lindner (44, FDP), Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (53, SPD) and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (65). “Wolfgang Schäuble’s death is a serious loss for Germany and Europe. Through his actions and his example, he shaped German democracy like no other. He always thought big and far ahead,” she wrote at X.
Wolfgang Schäuble leaves behind Ingeborg Schäuble, with whom he was married since 1969, as well as their four children and four grandchildren.
