Nord Stream 2: Schröder plans to testify by video before the committee of inquiry

Despite a burnout disease, ex-Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is now willing to testify to the climate and environmental protection foundation before the Schwerin state parliament committee committee-but only by video count. This was announced by lawyer Schröders, Hans-Peter Huber, the committee chairman Sebastian Ehlers in a letter that the German Press Agency first reported on the “Spiegel”.

Afterwards, Schröder is to be connected to the committee by his office in Hanover on October 17th. In his letter, however, Huber puts conditions: “The transfer takes place without publicity,” it says. He himself would participate as a witness support and Schröder had to be given the opportunity to take breaks in between.

“If Mr. Schröder asks you for a break, this will not be acknowledged again immediately with the demand for the medical officer, but you will be discussed together from a general human point of view when to continue the interrogation will be reasonable.”

Consideration against the exclusion of the public

Committee chairman Ehlers, who is also the chairman of the CDU parliamentary group on the committee, reacted skeptically to the demand for the exclusion of the public. “The public is a central principle of parliamentary investigation committees and particularly protected by constitutional law.” A deviation from it presupposes that it is understandable why a public questioning for the witness should be a special risk. This reasoning has not yet been found.

“The reference to health restrictions alone is not sufficient to justify such a procedure. According to the current status, there is therefore no reason to refrain from a public survey,” said Ehlers. The committee will advise promptly how to proceed.

Hannes Damm from the Greens said that a non -public questioning of Schröder was unacceptable for his faction. “We understand that the health status of the former chancellor must be taken into account – so we expressly admitted the possibility of a video survey in our proposal. However, this should not lead to the fact that such a significant witness to be avoided,” emphasized Damm, referring to Schröder, with north stream 2 and his contacts with Russia President Wladimir Putin.

Burnout diagnosis at Schröder in spring

In spring, Schröder had been diagnosed with the diagnosis of burnout to a clinic and registered for the hearing in Schwerin at the time. The committee did not accept this and called for an official medical certificate until August 31. As a compromise, Schröder now suggests the interrogation by video.

After leaving politics, Schröder was active for Russian energy companies for many years, including as President of the Nord Stream 2 AG board. The committee, among other things, is about the pipeline between Russia and Germany, which is now being disused and partially destroyed.

Opposition wants information about the possible influence of Russia

The opposition parties in Schwerin, on the initiative of which the special committee had been set up, hope for Schröder’s direct interrogation on the possible influence of Russia on decisions by the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

This was founded at the beginning of 2021 the MV climate and environmental protection foundation to secure the completion of the Russian-German Gaspipeline Nord Stream 2, which was endangered by threats of sanctions by the United States.

In response to Russia’s aggression war against Ukraine, the foundation should be dissolved, but this failed for legal reasons. The foundation, which had been equipped by Nord Stream 2 AG with 20 million euros, is now managed by a new board. The country as the foundation founder wants to withdraw completely from the foundation.