It is difficult to capture a whole life in a few words. This is all the more true for a life like that of Dr Wolfgang Schäuble, one of my predecessors in office. Despite all the differences between myself, a social democrat from Hesse, and him, a conservative from Baden, his achievements in his many years of service to our country deserve our utmost respect. Wolfgang Schäuble once described himself as “inconvenient but loyal”. To the social democrats in the recent grand coalition governments, he was indeed both an inconvenient and a loyal partner. I personally remember him as someone with a keen sense of responsibility. Time and again, he assumed responsibility – not least because he was deeply convinced that it is not good for our democracy if we grow complacent, if we make ourselves too comfortable.

"Fortunately, immortality is a gift not given to us”, Schäuble wrote in 2021 in his book “Grenzerfahrungen” (Borderline Experiences). In his view, the inevitably finite nature of human life was an invitation or indeed an obligation for everyone to live responsibly, actively and consciously.   He certainly lived up to this ambition – in his capacity as chairman of his party, the CDU, and its parliamentary group; as a member of the Federal Cabinet under Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel; and in his most senior office as President of the German Bundestag.

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His political career spanned more than half a century of the Federal Republic’s history. As a 30-year-old lawyer, Wolfgang Schäuble was first elected member of the German Bundestag in 1972.  At the time, there was a highly controversial discussion in the Federal Republic about the social-liberal coalition’s new Ostpolitik, a policy aimed at normalising relations with the East. Eighteen years later it was Wolfgang Schäuble who, in his capacity as Federal Minister of the Interior, ended the division of Germany by signing the Unification Treaty whose drafting he had pushed tirelessly, clearing the way for the GDR’s accession to the territory covered by our constitution, the Basic Law. This was an endeavour with no precedent and no dress rehearsal. Although a huge number of issues needed to be settled, Schäuble managed to conclude the negotiations within a matter of seven weeks. This was a political masterpiece and a historic moment which is immortalised in a large-format photo that is on display in my ministry. It shows the handshake between Schäuble and his GDR counterpart Günther Krause, immediately after they signed the document at the Kronprinzenpalais Unter den Linden.

German unity became a reality on 3 October 1990 and was a “historic godsend for the German people at an epochal moment in global history”, as Schäuble later described this era. Only days later, this stroke of good luck for the German people was followed by the harshest personal blow in Schäuble’s life, when a mentally deranged man shot and critically wounded him.

By dint of iron discipline, Wolfgang Schäuble fought his way back into life and politics. As far as his personal limitations and health were concerned, he showed himself time and again to be merciless, even with himself, sharp-minded, and sometimes cutting. An avowed proponent of moderation and of a sense of proportion, he never allowed himself any mediocrity. He was aware of his abilities and sometimes enjoyed demonstrating them. At the same time, he stood up for his convictions even if they were inconvenient or controversial. And he had the ability to persuade others: To name just one example, when the German Bundestag discussed whether Bonn or Berlin should be the future federal capital, Schäuble’s rhetoric tilted the balance in favour of Berlin, a decision which has left its imprint on Germany to the present day.

In the course of his life, Wolfgang Schäuble initiated many debates, he influenced many events and he took many decisions, often in the face of fierce headwinds. This is true not least of his second term as Federal Minister of the Interior from 2005 to 2009. During that time, he raised the ministry’s profile to ensure maximum public security, despite strong objections from the political arena and from civil society. Schäuble vehemently advocated a new Aviation Security Act providing for the option to shoot down highjacked airplanes as a means of last resort to prevent them from being used as terrorist weapons like on 9/11. The Federal Constitutional Court stopped this legislation. Whenever Schäuble canvassed support for enhancing the technical capabilities and legal powers of the security agencies to boost their efficiency, many people took this as an affront. From today's perspective, I must say that I understand his decisions very well.

While he admitted to being conservative, he never regarded himself as a custodian of the status quo; instead, he very much considered himself to be a policy designer and a defender of order and stability.  He consistently warned against a republic succumbing to apathy, calling for more dynamism and stressing the importance of European integration for peace and prosperity. While he did not shirk confrontation, he knew that consensus and dialogue are also required in politics. For this reason, the German Islam Conference was initiated under his watch to establish a forum for ongoing exchange between the German government and the Muslim community in Germany. This is yet another initiative which is still having an impact today.

Wolfgang Schäuble once said that "life is all about movement, not about standstill". Leaving apart all his political achievements, he moved the hearts and minds of many people. This is evidenced by the numerous entries in the book of condolence which we set out in the ministry’s lobby.

Dr Wolfgang Schäuble will be remembered as an individual and as a figure of contemporary history; as a wise, cultivated and resolute fighter for a strong Europe, strong government and strong democracy. I am happy to carry on this part of his legacy. More than ever before, we need to assume responsibility and to stand up for the things that make us strong: for security, cohesion and democracy in the 21st century.

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