“You can’t isolate a country like Russia in the long run, either politically or economically,” Schröder said. “German industry needs the raw materials that Russia has. It is not just oil and gas, but also other raw materials. And you simply cannot replace them, “the former chancellor continued. “When the war is over, we will trade with Russia again,” he added.
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Gerhard Schröder is damaging our country, our international reputation and especially the SPD
Michelle Müntefering, Member of the SPD
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In the interview, he confirmed that, despite massive criticism, he will remain in his positions in Russian energy companies and that, despite the offensive war against Ukraine, he does not want to break his close ties with Russia.
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The interview literally called SPD MP Michelle Müntefering, who claims that the German Social Democracy must get rid of Schröder.
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“Gerhard Schröder is damaging our country, our international reputation and especially the SPD,” the MEP wrote on Twitter. According to her, the former chancellor should be expelled immediately. Müntefering also recommended that the SPD “no longer accept a cent of its membership fees. It’s dirty money. “
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On the wrong side of history
SPD leader Schleswig-Holstein Thomas Losse-Müller told Spiegel that Gerhard Schröder no longer played a political role. When he performs, he speaks like a paid lobbyist for Russian companies.
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“That is why his actions have no impact on the Schleswig-Holstein election campaign,” said Losse-Müller, adding: “Everyone in the SPD wants Schröder to resign from his posts in Russian companies. He’s on the wrong side of history. He damaged Germany’s reputation in the world and ruined his success as Federal Chancellor. “
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Thomas Kutschaty, head of the Social Democrats in North Rhine-Westphalia and the party’s leader for the upcoming provincial elections, proposes that Schröder resign.
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Either the SPD or Putin
“I do not think that Gerhard Schröder’s behavior is compatible with the basic values of the SPD,” Kutschaty told the t-online news portal. According to him, the ex-chancellor should consider “whether he still wants to be a member of the SPD or a supporter of Putin.”
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Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil called Schröder’s stance on the war in Ukraine a disappointment. “I would very much like Gerhard Schröder to draw the right conclusions after two months of experience with this terrible war and to return his mandates from the Russian energy companies.”
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Social Democrat co-chairwoman Saskia Esken has previously recommended Schröder to leave Russian companies. “He should save the reputation of the former and once successful chancellor. Unfortunately, he did not follow this advice, “Esken told Deutschlandfunk radio.
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Some time ago, Esken attacked Schröder in an interview with Spiegel. “Schröder has been a businessman for many years, not a senior statesman. He earns his money by working for Russian state-owned companies. “
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Schröder is chairman of the supervisory board of Russian state energy giant Rosneft and chairman of the Nord Stream pipeline shareholders’ committee. He is also still registered in the Commercial Register as Chairman of the Board of Nord Stream 2 AG.
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