The Greek economist and former Finance Minister of the Hellenic country Yanis Varoufakis, whose positions clashed head-on during the months that he held the position in 2015 with those defended by his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has stated that the German, who died at the age of 81, will be judged “harshly” by history.
“History will judge him harshly, but not harsher than those who succumbed to his destructive policies,” Varoufakis said in a publication this Wednesday on his account on the social network X after learning of the death of the former president of the Bundestag and German minister of Finance with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“Wolfgang Schäuble personified political support (through violent austerity and the destruction of democratic institutions) for a monetary union in which he himself did not believe,” notes the Greek economist.
In this sense, for Varoufakis, who was his main antagonist during his time as Finance Minister of Greece in 2015, “he personified the explosive contradiction that gave rise to the euro crisis and the (inevitably failed) policies to address it that led, on the one hand , to the impoverishment of Greece and, on the other, to the current deindustrialization of Germany and the rest of Europe.
This Wednesday the death of Wolfgang Schauble, one of the most relevant figures during the eurozone crisis and one of the most recognizable members of Angela Merkel’s Government, was confirmed at the age of 81, although his last position in the political front line He was president of the Bundestag – the Lower House of Parliament – between 2017 and 2021.
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, has expressed his “sadness” at the news on social networks. “I have lost the best friend and advisor I have ever had in politics. My thoughts are with his family, especially his wife, Ingeborg,” he declared.
For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pointed out that Schauble has shaped Germany for more than half a century: as a deputy, minister and president of the Bundestag. “With him, Germany is losing a sharp thinker, a passionate politician and a controversial democrat. My thoughts are with his family today,” he said.
Christian Lindner, who currently serves as Germany’s Finance Minister, believes that with Schaeuble’s death we lose a statesman and passionate European, who impressed many with the strength with which he faced his destiny.
Likewise, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, who coincided with Schaeuble during part of her period as French Minister of Finance, as well as during almost all of her presidency of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has expressed her sadness for the death of the former German minister.
“He was one of the most influential European leaders of his generation. I personally witnessed his commitment to Europe, his intellectual rigor and his political skill. My thoughts are with his family,” he says.
Luis de Guindos, who met Wolfgang Schaeuble between 2011 and 2017 “in countless Eurogroups, Ecofines, and international meetings” during his time as Minister of Economy, prior to his move to the vice presidency of the ECB, has expressed his condolences and highlighted the great intellectual honesty and firm commitment to the German European project.
“I am convinced that one of your greatest satisfactions in recent times has been seeing the good performance of the Greek, Portuguese, Irish and Cypriot economies, reflected in their fiscal stability and the containment of risk premiums, as well as the solvency achieved by the Spanish banking system. Europe has lost a first-class public servant. Rest in peace,” he stated.
