Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July, has been criticized for his ties to Russia.
20:31•Updated 20:35
Former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schröder has been considered a burden to the social democratic party SPD.
However, the SPD’s Hanover district, to which Schröder belongs, decided today, Monday, that it will not fire Schröder.
Instead of the party leadership, Schröder’s dismissal had been demanded by local party activists in the Hanover region, according to whom Schröder’s statements about Russia and ties to the country would violate the party’s peace policy.
It would be against the SPD’s peace policy to demand or defend a war of aggression against another state, but according to the party body, Schröder is not guilty of that. You can still appeal the decision.
– It is clear to us that Gerhard Schröder is politically completely alone in the SPD, Klingbeil said.
Party activists in the Hanover district initiated the resignation are (you switch to another service) disagree on the matter. According to them, there are older active members of the SPD who still support Schröder.
Putin’s friend and Russian lobbyist
Even before the start of Russia’s large-scale war of aggression, Schröder has been visibly criticized for his close ties to Russia. Since February, criticism has also reached within the party.
The former chancellor has sat on the boards of several Russian state-owned oil companies, actively lobbied for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and fraternized with the Russian president Vladimir Putin with.
Because of the war, Schröder has temporarily withdrawn from Russian companies. However, he has not condemned Russia’s war of aggression.
At the end of July, Schröder visited Putin in Moscow. After the trip, Schröder told (you switch to another service) Russia being willing to find a negotiated solution to the war, which was interpreted as complicity with Russian propaganda.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi called Schröder’s actions last week “disgusting”.
In May, the German Bundestag decided to cancel Schröder’s tax-funded benefits, such as an office, staff and chauffeur. Schröder’s expenses had been reimbursed with 400,000 euros per year.