Germany Former German Parliament President Rita Süssmuth is dead
The former President of the German Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth, is dead. The CDU politician died at the age of 88, as announced by the Bundestag and confirmed by a CDU spokeswoman.
01.02.2026, 17:37
SDA
Süssmuth was a member of the German Bundestag, the German parliament, from 1987 to 2002 and was its president from 1988 to 1998. She was particularly committed to the equal participation of women in politics, work and society.
Süssmuth was honored across party lines as a great politician. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) called her a "guiding star for our democratic community", Bundestag President Julia Klöckner an "exceptional political phenomenon". SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said: "She was a role model across all party boundaries."
Unknown lateral entrant quickly became popular
Süssmuth came into politics as a lateral entrant. When the then Chancellor Helmut Kohl (CDU) appointed her to succeed Heiner Geissler (CDU) as Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health in 1985, she was largely unknown to the public. She had only joined the CDU four years earlier and until then had hardly made any public appearance. However, she quickly gained a high reputation in her ministerial office. She achieved high popularity ratings in opinion polls and was soon dubbed "lovely Rita".
Beginning of her professional career in the lecture hall
Süssmuth was born in Wuppertal on February 17, 1937, the daughter of a teacher. She studied Romance studies and history. She then went on to complete postgraduate studies in education, sociology and psychology. Süssmuth embarked on an academic career and became a professor of education, first in Bochum and later at the University of Dortmund.
Göttingen constituency won directly three times
After her appointment as Federal Minister, Süssmuth ran for the Bundestag for the first time in 1987. She immediately won the direct mandate in the Göttingen constituency, which she defended in 1990 and 1994. In 1998, she only managed one seat on the CDU state list for Lower Saxony.
Family image too modern for many in the CDU
With her modern view of family and women, Süssmuth was far ahead of many in the CDU. She caused a stir - even with Kohl. The conservatives in the CDU were suspicious of the fact that she did not want to focus family policy solely on married couples. Her commitment to the reform of abortion paragraph 218 brought her vehement criticism from within her own ranks. This also applied to her stance on the spreading immunodeficiency disease AIDS. "Fight the disease, not the sick" was her maxim.
Only the second woman to head the Bundestag
In 1988, the CDU politician Philipp Jenninger succeeded her at the head of the Bundestag, who had to resign due to a failed speech on the Pogrom Night. She was only the second female President of the Bundestag after Annemarie Renger (SPD). Under her leadership, the Bundestag became an all-German parliament after reunification and moved from Bonn to Berlin.
Campaigner for more women in politics
Süssmuth remained committed even after her retirement from the Bundestag and active politics in 2002. She resolutely campaigned for a quota for women in the CDU, which was dominated by older men. Süssmuth also considered the proportion of women in the Bundestag - 32.4 percent in the 21st parliamentary term - to be far too low and therefore fought for parity. Klöckner said: "Until the end, she campaigned with seemingly unlimited energy for more representation of women in parliaments." Klöckner referred to Süssmuth's "drive and perseverance", which had inspired countless people.
"An outstanding democrat"
According to a statement, Merz said: "Rita Süssmuth was committed to Germany throughout her life." She was a pioneer for equal rights and the political power of women. "She fought in an exemplary manner for a modern and open society and set standards for tolerance and openness to the world."
SPD leader Bärbel Bas said that Süssmuth had encouraged women to take on political responsibility. She herself had shown that leadership positions are naturally also held by women. "She was a role model, trailblazer and encouragement across party boundaries and leaves a big gap." SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch called Süssmuth "an outstanding democrat".
Green Party parliamentary group leader Britta Hasselmann expressed her gratitude for having known Süssmuth. "She was such an upright democrat and parliamentarian with great passion. Throughout her life, she stood up for women's rights, equal rights and parity."
"Her voice will be missed"
NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) described Süssmuth as "a true pioneer of equal opportunities and a great architect of a fair and open-minded society". Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) said: "Personally, I am losing a role model and an important source of inspiration." Women's Affairs Minister Karin Prien (CDU) also called Rita Süssmuth a "great role model". "Her voice will be missed."
