Former Bundestag president Rita Süssmuth has died at the age of 88. The death was announced on Sunday by the current parliamentary president, Julia Klöckner. Klöckner said the news of the longtime Bundestag chair’s passing had deeply moved her. “In the name of the German Bundestag I bow to a political exceptionalism” she said. She described Süssmuth as one of the most significant politicians in the Federal Republic, adding that her energy and perseverance had impressed and inspired countless people in Germany. Klöckner recalled their conversation shortly after her own election as Bundestag president as one of the special, intense encounters that will remain in her memory.
Klöckner praised Süssmuth as a “passionate pioneer in women’s and family policy”. She had driven the advancement of gender equality and, with seemingly boundless energy, worked relentlessly for greater representation of women in parliament. The former president also highlighted Süssmuth’s groundbreaking work against AIDS. “She took a decisive stand against all forms of exclusion and laid the groundwork for successful HIV prevention in Germany” Klöckner added.
Klöckner noted that Süssmuth’s stance was consistently marked by empathy, respect for the individual, and neighborly love. “This attitude was rooted in her Catholic faith. Rita Süssmuth drew strength throughout her life from her special relationship with God” she said.
Süssmuth served as Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health from 1985 to 1988 and was President of the German Bundestag from 1988 to 1998.