SPD board calls on Schröder to renounce his mandate

In a letter, SPD chairmen Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken issued an ultimatum to former party leader and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, calling on him to resign from his post at Russian state-owned companies. A “prompt” answer is expected, said Klingbeil on Thursday at a joint digital press conference with Esken after a meeting of the party executive. He did not name a specific date.

If Schröder does not comply with the request that was made last Saturday, advice will be given on how to proceed. Schröder was “completely isolated in social democracy,” said Klingbeil. There is no longer anyone on the party executive who “even remotely approves or justifies” Schröder’s behavior, according to the party leader. “It is not justifiable with the attitude of social democracy that he continues to hold mandates from Russian state-owned companies.”

Specifically, it is about Schröder’s posts at the Russian energy companies Nord Stream 1 and 2 and the oil company Rosneft, where he is the head of the supervisory board. In addition, Schröder is to take on a supervisory board position for Gazprom.

The former chancellor has long been criticized for his ties to Russia. He is considered a longtime friend of President Vladimir Putin, who launched a war of aggression against Ukraine last week.

Schröder is increasingly isolated with his attitude towards Russia. Four employees in his office fired him. Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund revoked his honorary membership. The German Football Association (DFB) also called on the chancellor to either give up positions in Russian state-owned companies or give up his honorary membership.

In the SPD there is a first application for Schröder’s expulsion from the party, which was made by the local association in Heidelberg. The arbitration will be carried out by the Hanover sub-district, said Klingbeil. (dpa)