Merkel honors pastor Schmidt

- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday night her Social Democratic predecessor Helmut Schmidt honored as a " political institution ". Germany Schmidt is very much indebted, Merkel said.

Tuesday at the age of 96 deceased former Chancellor of the Federal Republic, which at the time included only West Germany, with his fortitude by severe trials, said the Christian Democrat Merkel.

She comes from communist East Germany, the GDR (1949-1990), and recounted to 1962, when Schmidt was responsible for the Interior of the West German state of Hamburg, which was ravaged by floods. " I remember very well that I did as a little girl, and of course with my parents, in the GDR literally glued to the radio was because we were so worried about the fate of my grandmother and aunt in Hamburg. It was especially Helmut Schmidt in whom we trusted to get the situation back under control. " In all the years there has been a great affection for the former chancellor has grown, Merkel said.