Gerhard Schröder still does not distance himself from Vladimir Putin. The Union parliamentary group is now preparing an application with which almost all of his former chancellor pensions are to be canceled.
The Union wants to almost completely eliminate the official appointments of former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder because of his contacts with Russia. According to information from the German Press Agency, the parliamentary group’s householders want to make corresponding applications this week in the last committee meetings for the 2022 federal budget. In addition to five staff positions, the budget for pension benefits and travel expenses are also to be cut. Schröder should only be allowed to keep personal security.
Schröder is a shame for the country and Germany’s international reputation, the budget holders justify the applications, which will be dealt with on Wednesday and Thursday in the so-called adjustment session of the budget committee. Despite the war in Ukraine, Schröder has still not distanced himself from Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, he is sticking to his posts in various Russian energy companies. “Retired Chancellor Schröder is thus on the wrong side of history,” write the householders.
Gerhard Schröder’s office had 400,000 euros in personnel expenses
Your motions are not the first attempts to cut state support for Schröder because of his close ties to Russia. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) called for his office to be deleted. Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) at least questioned the staffing of the office. Last year, 407,000 euros flowed from the state treasury for personnel expenses in the office of the former chancellor. There was also a push from the Union to take Schröder’s income from his work for Russian energy companies.
Schröder was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005. He then took on tasks for Nord Stream AG, the Russian Gazprom and the energy company Rosneft, among others. Because he did not distance himself from this after the beginning of the war, the SPD leadership asked him to leave the party. There are also motions for expulsion from the party.
