Macron Honors Late German Statesman Schäuble as Pillar of Europe at Berlin Ceremony
• French President Macron honored late German politician Wolfgang Schäuble, calling him a "great statesman" and "pillar of Europe" • Schäuble was a veteran of German politics, serving over 50 years as lawmaker and holding positions like finance minister and parliamentary speaker • Around 1,500 people including top German politicians attended memorial ceremony in parliament • Schäuble played key roles in German reunification, Eurozone crisis, and furthering Franco-German and European unity • Merz, new head of Schäuble's party, praised him as a "democrat," "European statesman," and major figure in recent German history