BERLIN: Wolfgang Schaeuble, who served as a member of the German parliament for over half a century, has died aged 81, ending one of Germany’s longest political careers in which he helped secure his country’s place at the heart of Europe.
Schaeuble, who spent much of his career devoted to re-unifying his country and later served as former chancellor Angela Merkel’s finance minister during the eurozone debt crisis, died peacefully late on Tuesday (Dec 27), said a spokesperson for the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) on Wednesday.
Schaeuble had been a member of the CDU since 1965 and a member of parliament since 1972.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz mourned Schaeuble’s death in a social media post on X: “Germany has lost a sharp thinker, passionate politician and pugnacious democrat.”
CDU leader Friedrich Merz shared his deep grief at Schaeuble’s death on X. “In Wolfgang Schaeuble, I lose the dearest friend and adviser I’ve ever had in politics,” Merz said.
Tributes also came in from France, where Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire voiced his “profound sadness” on X.
“He was a friend, a loyal and reliable partner, and a tireless craftsman of the friendship between Germany and France,” Le Maire wrote.
Schaeuble had been a member of the CDU since 1965 and a member of parliament since 1972.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz mourned Schaeuble’s death in a social media post on X: “Germany has lost a sharp thinker, passionate politician and pugnacious democrat.”
CDU leader Friedrich Merz shared his deep grief at Schaeuble’s death on X. “In Wolfgang Schaeuble, I lose the dearest friend and adviser I’ve ever had in politics,” Merz said.
Tributes also came in from France, where Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire voiced his “profound sadness” on X.
“He was a friend, a loyal and reliable partner, and a tireless craftsman of the friendship between Germany and France,” Le Maire wrote.