In memoriam: Rita Süssmuth, former President of the German Bundestag and EPC Strategic Council member

News of the passing of Rita Süssmuth, former President of the German Bundestag and member of the EPC’s Strategic Council, will be received with deep sadness by her loved ones, former colleagues and the wider European political community she served with distinction.  

Rita Süssmuth passed away on 1 February 2026 at the age of 88. She leaves a legacy as a passionate European and a defining political figure of modern Germany. Widely admired for her independence and commitment to equality and dialogue, she embodied the values essential to democratic life. 

From 1994 to 1998, she served as President of the European Movement Germany, championing civic participation and Europe’s political integration. As a valued member of the EPC’s Strategic Council, she was a trusted advisor and keynote speaker, helping to shape policy debates in Brussels and beyond. Her political career in Germany culminated in her decade‑long tenure as President of the German Bundestag (1988–1998).  

The European Policy Centre extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends.