Wolfgang Schäuble is paid his last respects. The long-time President of the Bundestag died on December 26th at the age of 81. He had fought cancer but could not beat it. He kept the diagnosis to himself; only his closest friends and family are said to have known about it. His funeral will take place today – the memorial service is already in full swing. Schäuble is so touchingly remembered there.
In addition to his relatives, such as his widow Ingeborg and his children, numerous top politicians also attended the funeral service in the Protestant town church of Offenburg. In the audience are, among others Jens Spahn (43), Armin Laschet (62), Julia Klöckner and Friedrich Merz (68) can be seen. The latter had already given an emotional speech. “He has not left us, he has preceded us,” were his words about the former Federal Minister of the Interior, as seen in the ARD live stream. “In German politican (81), our country is losing a great political personality,” emphasized Winfried Kretschmann, the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg. After the event, there will be a funeral procession that will lead to the Waldbach cemetery, where Schäuble will ultimately be buried.
Apparently even French President Emmanuel Macron (46) was supposed to come. However, he has not yet arrived in Offenburg. He gave a speech at the funeral service of former EU Commission President Jacques Delors, who died just one day after Schäuble. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (69) and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (68) are also missing. However, he ordered an act of mourning on January 22nd.
