Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) paid tribute to the late former Bundestag president Rita Süssmuth, calling her a “great politician” and a “beacon for our democratic community”.
He said on Sunday that Süssmuth had devoted her entire life to Germany. As a federal minister and later as President of the Bundestag, she was a role model and a pioneer-particularly in advocating for gender equality and amplifying women’s political power. She fought tirelessly for a modern, open society and set high standards for tolerance and world‑openness. The country owes her much, Merz added, and the federal government will preserve an honorable remembrance of her legacy.
Süssmuth, a CDU figure, passed away at the age of 88. She served as Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health from 1985 to 1988 and as President of the Bundestag from 1988 to 1998.
