A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8).

<h2>What we know about the attack</h2>

The incident took place on Tuesday (May 7) afternoon when the suspect came up behind Giffey to slug her in the head and neck at a library in Berlin before running away, said the police in a statement.&nbsp;

The former mayor and member of Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was slightly injured and taken to hospital for a short time to treat the pain.&nbsp;

The police, on Wednesday, said that they have arrested a 74-year-old suspect, who was previously known to them for hate crime and unspecified incidents against state security. The person was also believed to have mental health issues, according to the police.&nbsp;

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The Berlin public prosecutors office said that an investigation into the motive of the alleged perpetrator was ongoing and will examine if the man should be placed under psychiatric care.&nbsp;

In a series of posts on X, Giffey said after the “initial shock, I can say that I am fine.”&nbsp;

Giffey, in one of the posts, noted that she is “concerned and shocked about a growing ‘free wild culture’ in which people who are engaging politically in our country are increasingly exposed to attacks that are supposedly justified and acceptable”.&nbsp;

She added, “We live in a free and democratic country, in which everyone can be free to express his or her opinions…but there is a clear line – and that is violence against people.”&nbsp;

<h2>Attacks against German politicians</h2>

The attack on Tuesday came amid a growing concern in Germany about a spate of attacks against politicians ahead of&nbsp;June’s European Parliament election.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, a German politician who was identified as a 47-year-old from the Greens party was threatened and spat upon as she hung up campaign posters for the upcoming EU elections in the German city of Dresden.&nbsp;

The incident was caught on camera by German public international broadcaster DW.&nbsp;

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A man, 34, and a woman, 24 have been arrested and are under investigation for their suspected involvement, said the police. The duo was standing with a group which reportedly begun making the banned Hitler salute as the politician was hanging up the posters.&nbsp;

The attack on Tuesday came days after the attack on another SPD member in Dresden.&nbsp;

On Friday (May 3) evening, Matthias Ecke, 41, a member of the European Parliament for the SPD was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was kicked and beaten to the ground while putting up posters for the EU election.&nbsp;

Four German teenagers, aged between 17 and 18, are being investigated over the attack. According to German media reports, all four belong to a far-right group known as “Elblandrevolte”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8).

A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8). What we know about the attack The incident took place on Tuesday (May 7) afternoon when the suspect came up behind Giffey to slug her in the head and neck at a library in Berlin before running away, said the police in a statement. The former mayor and member of Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was slightly injured and taken to hospital for a short time to treat the pain. The police, on Wednesday, said that they have arrested a 74-year-old suspect, who was previously known to them for hate crime and unspecified incidents against state security. The person was also believed to have mental health issues, according to the police. Also Read | Natalie Elphicke, second UK lawmaker defects to Labour in fresh to Conservatives The Berlin public prosecutors office said that an investigation into the motive of the alleged perpetrator was ongoing and will examine if the man should be placed under psychiatric care. In a series of posts on X, Giffey said after the “initial shock, I can say that I am fine.” Giffey, in one of the posts, noted that she is “concerned and shocked about a growing ‘free wild culture’ in which people who are engaging politically in our country are increasingly exposed to attacks that are supposedly justified and acceptable”. She added, “We live in a free and democratic country, in which everyone can be free to express his or her opinions…but there is a clear line – and that is violence against people.” Attacks against German politicians The attack on Tuesday came amid a growing concern in Germany about a spate of attacks against politicians ahead of June’s European Parliament election. On Tuesday, a German politician who was identified as a 47-year-old from the Greens party was threatened and spat upon as she hung up campaign posters for the upcoming EU elections in the German city of Dresden. The incident was caught on camera by German public international broadcaster DW. Also Read | US halts bomb shipment to Israel amid signs of full-scale Rafah invasion A man, 34, and a woman, 24 have been arrested and are under investigation for their suspected involvement, said the police. The duo was standing with a group which reportedly begun making the banned Hitler salute as the politician was hanging up the posters. The attack on Tuesday came days after the attack on another SPD member in Dresden. On Friday (May 3) evening, Matthias Ecke, 41, a member of the European Parliament for the SPD was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was kicked and beaten to the ground while putting up posters for the EU election. Four German teenagers, aged between 17 and 18, are being investigated over the attack. According to German media reports, all four belong to a far-right group known as “Elblandrevolte”. (With inputs from agencies)

Berlin senator struck on head amid concerns over rise in violence against German politicians

Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the most important figures in German politics for decades and an icon of budgetary rigour in the eurozone, has died aged 81, the German parliament said Wednesday.

Schaeuble, who was a minister under chancellors Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel, and played a key role in German reunification in 1990, died peacefully in the night, the Bild daily reported.

The current Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Schaeuble had "shaped our country for more than half a century".&nbsp;

"Germany has lost a sharp thinker, passionate politician and pugnacious democrat," Scholz wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Merkel also paid tribute to Schaeuble in a statement shared by her office, describing him as "an outstanding personality... who shaped our country in many ways."

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As finance minister for several years under Merkel, Schaeuble carved out a reputation as the guardian of German budgetary rigour, particularly during the Greek debt crisis.

Describing himself as "pitiless" in his management of Germany's public purse, he showed the same exactitude towards his euro partners, campaigning for tight fiscal discipline and insisting on stringent conditions for any bailout contribution by Berlin.

<h2>'Destructive policies'</h2>

His harsh stance made him unpopular with many Greeks in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the ensuing eurozone debt crisis.&nbsp;

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who clashed with Schaeuble during the crisis, on Wednesday accused his erstwhile counterpart of having contributed to "the impoverishment of Greece".&nbsp;

"History will judge him harshly, but not more harshly than those who succumbed to his destructive policies," he wrote on X.&nbsp;

Watch | Germany ends e-vehicle subsidy | World Business Watch

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Born in Freiburg in 1942, Schaeuble was the longest-serving member of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, where he had sat since 1972.

It was under former conservative leader Kohl that the pro-European Schaeuble forged his career, rising through the ranks to eventually become chief of staff for the chancellor, to whom he was long seen as the heir apparent.

Together they oversaw Germany's national reunification, before personal tragedy struck Schaeuble -- an assassination attempt by a deranged man in 1990 left him badly injured and forced him to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The son of a conservative politician, Schaeuble was known for his biting wit and unerring sense of duty. He was married with four children.

His biographer Peter Schuetz described him as the "most honest man" he knew, "even if he's not always the most charming".

<h2>'Commitment to Europe'</h2>

After a slush-fund scandal shattered Kohl's reputation in the 1990s, Schaeuble spent a period in the political wilderness before making a comeback in 2002.

While Merkel refused to back him two years later for the role of federal president -- instead picking former International Monetary Fund chief Horst Koehler -- he became interior minister in 2005.

Schaeuble was criticised by civil liberties groups for curbing rights in response to the threat of extremist attacks.

However, Merkel rewarded him in 2009 when she tapped him for the more high-profile finance ministry.&nbsp;

Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, hailed Schaeuble as "one of the most influential European leaders of his generation".&nbsp;

"I personally witnessed his commitment to Europe, his intellectual rigour and his statesmanship," she wrote on X. 
Schaeuble subsequently served as president of the Bundestag from 2017 until 2021, and remained a member of parliament up until his death.

He had been suffering from cancer for several years, according to Bild.

In a recent interview with Der Spiegel magazine, Schaeuble admitted he felt "lonely" as most of his peers were no longer around, but it did not appear to bother him.&nbsp;

"I can now observe my life as it comes to an end," he said. "I find it exciting to observe myself."

Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the most important figures in German politics for decades and an icon of budgetary rigour in the eurozone, has died aged 81, the German parliament said Wednesday.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the most important figures in German politics for decades and an icon of budgetary rigour in the eurozone, has died aged 81, the German parliament said Wednesday. Schaeuble, who was a minister under chancellors Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel, and played a key role in German reunification in 1990, died peacefully in the night, the Bild daily reported. The current Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Schaeuble had "shaped our country for more than half a century". "Germany has lost a sharp thinker, passionate politician and pugnacious democrat," Scholz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Merkel also paid tribute to Schaeuble in a statement shared by her office, describing him as "an outstanding personality... who shaped our country in many ways." Also Read | Lufthansa's $9 bn aircraft bonanza: German airline orders 80 planes from Boeing and Airbus As finance minister for several years under Merkel, Schaeuble carved out a reputation as the guardian of German budgetary rigour, particularly during the Greek debt crisis. Describing himself as "pitiless" in his management of Germany's public purse, he showed the same exactitude towards his euro partners, campaigning for tight fiscal discipline and insisting on stringent conditions for any bailout contribution by Berlin. 'Destructive policies' His harsh stance made him unpopular with many Greeks in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the ensuing eurozone debt crisis. Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who clashed with Schaeuble during the crisis, on Wednesday accused his erstwhile counterpart of having contributed to "the impoverishment of Greece". "History will judge him harshly, but not more harshly than those who succumbed to his destructive policies," he wrote on X. Watch | Germany ends e-vehicle subsidy | World Business Watch × Born in Freiburg in 1942, Schaeuble was the longest-serving member of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, where he had sat since 1972. It was under former conservative leader Kohl that the pro-European Schaeuble forged his career, rising through the ranks to eventually become chief of staff for the chancellor, to whom he was long seen as the heir apparent. Together they oversaw Germany's national reunification, before personal tragedy struck Schaeuble -- an assassination attempt by a deranged man in 1990 left him badly injured and forced him to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The son of a conservative politician, Schaeuble was known for his biting wit and unerring sense of duty. He was married with four children. His biographer Peter Schuetz described him as the "most honest man" he knew, "even if he's not always the most charming". 'Commitment to Europe' After a slush-fund scandal shattered Kohl's reputation in the 1990s, Schaeuble spent a period in the political wilderness before making a comeback in 2002. While Merkel refused to back him two years later for the role of federal president -- instead picking former International Monetary Fund chief Horst Koehler -- he became interior minister in 2005. Schaeuble was criticised by civil liberties groups for curbing rights in response to the threat of extremist attacks. However, Merkel rewarded him in 2009 when she tapped him for the more high-profile finance ministry. Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, hailed Schaeuble as "one of the most influential European leaders of his generation". "I personally witnessed his commitment to Europe, his intellectual rigour and his statesmanship," she wrote on X. Schaeuble subsequently served as president of the Bundestag from 2017 until 2021, and remained a member of parliament up until his death. He had been suffering from cancer for several years, according to Bild. In a recent interview with Der Spiegel magazine, Schaeuble admitted he felt "lonely" as most of his peers were no longer around, but it did not appear to bother him. "I can now observe my life as it comes to an end," he said. "I find it exciting to observe myself."

Wolfgang Schaeuble, veteran of German politics, dies at 81

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Berlin senator struck on head amid concerns over rise in violence against German politicians

Wolfgang Schaeuble, veteran of German politics, dies at 81