In the eyes of his critics, Gerhard Schröder missed the point in time to put himself on the right side of history. And is increasingly isolated. The SPD party executive could now draw tangible consequences.
When was the right time, when would it have been? Gerhard Schröder may have missed it. Even seven days after the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, after “Putin’s war,” as Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called it, the former chancellor is unable to distance himself from the Russian president.
So they distance themselves from him. close confidant. Former companions. Not least his party. Federal Chancellor, goodbye.
- SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil, who began his political career working in Schröder’s constituency office. Other top comrades – including Prime Minister Stephan Weil () and Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig () – joined the criticism.
- After more than 20 years, his longtime office manager and speechwriter Albrecht Funk Schröder is apparently turning his back, the news portal initially reported. Three other employees are also said to give up their jobs. With the farewell of the four employees, the office of the former chancellor would be deserted.
- Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, the German Football Association (DFB) is considering withdrawing its honorary membership.
- Schröder’s podcast “Die Agenda” is being put on hold in view of the current situation, as his former government spokesman Béla Anda confirmed to the German Press Agency, with whom the former chancellor had regularly recorded the contributions.
It is becoming increasingly lonely around Schröder, who, in the eyes of his critics, is on the wrong side of history. What follows?
“I expect that unequivocally”
The former chancellor is considered a longtime friend of Putin. Schröder is the head of the supervisory board at the Russian state energy company Rosneft and also has management positions in the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipeline projects.
Last Thursday, he declared: “The war and the associated suffering for the people in Ukraine must be ended as soon as possible.” This is “the responsibility of the Russian government.” But there was no talk of personal consequences, nor of Putin, whom he once referred to as and. A few weeks earlier, Schröder had, of all people,
SPD co-boss Klingbeil didn’t want to (and couldn’t) let that go. “You don’t do business with an aggressor, with a warmonger like Putin”, . “As a former Chancellor, you never act completely privately. Especially not in a situation like the current one.” The end of their business relationship is therefore “overdue”, according to Klingbeil. “I expect that unequivocally.”
But his expectations have not yet been met.
Schröder drew personal conclusions on Tuesday evening, although the motivation behind it raises questions. He resigned from his position as Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Herrenknecht. Its CEO had a day earlier.
Immediate measures against Gerhard Schröder?
Even before the Russian invasion, the actions of the former chancellor caused criticism and head-shaking among the Social Democrats, but after the invasion it took on a new urgency.
The Thuringian SPD called on Schröder to “immediately resign from all offices in Russian state-owned companies”. This is also what the SPD district association in Heidelberg demands, which has now even initiated an exclusion process – it has sent the corresponding application, . However, a party order procedure would probably drag on for weeks or months.
However, the former chancellor could already face trouble on Thursday.
In the morning, the SPD party executive and state council come together for an online meeting, as a party spokeswoman said star confirmed. At first it had . So-called immediate measures against Schröder could be decided there. According to information from the ARD capital studio, at least this possibility is being discussed in party executive circles.
Regarding the “imposition of immediate measures” it says in the :
In cases in which serious damage to the party has occurred or is to be expected with a high degree of probability and the party’s interests require rapid intervention, both the responsible district executive board and the party executive board can order the suspension of all or individual rights from membership for a maximum of three months.
It remains to be seen whether Schröder’s business relations with Russia will also be discussed. According to a party spokeswoman, “current developments relating to the war of aggression” are on the agenda star. When asked what possible immediate measures could look like in concrete terms, the spokeswoman did not go into detail.
Co-party leader Saskia Esken recently did not want to go into detail. On Wednesday she said on RTL and ntv that with Klingbeil she had asked the former chancellor to resign his mandates for Russian energy companies. For the party leadership, she left open further steps against him. “We have made it clear what we expect from him and we will now await his statement,” she said simply.
Meanwhile, criticism from the opposition is growing sharper. So, Schröder should no longer receive funds from the federal budget for his official equipment. The costs for the ex-chancellor’s office amounted to 407,000 euros last year, according to a response from the chancellor’s office to a request from the left-wing faction.
The CSU member of the Bundestag, Sebastian Brehm, also demanded that Schröder’s office be closed. “Mr. Schröder has gambled away all moral credit by holding on to the lucrative post by Putin’s grace. It is now time for the SPD to take action,” he explained. “In view of Schröder’s position in the war against Ukraine, now is the right time to close his former chancellor’s office.”
The SPD member of the Bundestag Sebastian Roloff made a similar statement. In principle, one should be careful not to withhold state privileges from former chancellors because of unwelcome decisions, . “In this particular case, however, I believe that Gerhard Schröder has forfeited his right to official appointments by not distancing himself from the warmonger and violator of international law Putin.”
Should Schröder make a U-turn in dealing with the Kremlin, the Social Democrats believe that it will at least come too late. His hesitation will remain a timeless blemish.
Source: Stern
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