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Candidacy for the Gazprom supervisory board: Malu Dreyer distances himself from Gerhard Schröder

2022-02-05T21:55:53.340Z


In the middle of the conflict over Ukraine, gas lobbyist Gerhard Schröder wants to become a member of the supervisory board of a Russian state-owned company. Union, Greens and FDP criticize the ex-chancellor. Even social democrats are moving away from him.


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Gas lobbyist Gerhard Schröder: "I don't know anyone in the party who shares his views"

Photo:

Jens Schicke / IMAGO

After his nomination as a candidate for the supervisory board of the Russian state-owned company Gazprom, Gerhard Schörder has been criticized.

In the meantime, prominent social democrats are also moving away from him.

»Gerhard Schröder is an ex-Chancellor and holds no office in the party.

I don't know anyone in the party who shares his views," said Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer of the "Rheinische Post".

The SPD is discussing its position on Russia internally, "but there is a very clear idea that is shared by all leading social democrats who have something to say and are active in the party".

"It's very clear that the aggression comes from Russia." If the situation worsens, sanctions against Russia would be necessary.

Schröder spoke of Ukrainian "saber rattling"

The Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Friday that Schröder had been nominated for the supervisory board of the state-owned company.

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for June 30th.

Schröder is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and recently claimed that Ukraine was engaged in "saber rattling" in the conflict with Russia.

Schröder is already Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee of Nord Stream AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nord Stream 2 AG.

Both gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea connect Russia and Germany.

Schröder also works as the head of the supervisory board at the Russian state energy company Rosneft.

more on the subject

  • Literature Nobel Prize Winners Alexievich and Müller: »The German politicians embarrass us in front of the whole world« A conversation by Susanne Beyer

  • Ex-chancellor and gas lobbyist: Gerhard Schröder is to move into the Gazprom supervisory board

  • Germany's despondent foreign policy: The SPD has a problem with RussiaA comment by Mathieu von Rohr, head of SPIEGEL's foreign department

It is once again becoming clear whose interests Schröder is representing – “those of the Russian oligarchy surrounding Putin.

That should have consequences," said the Greens member of the Bundestag, Claudia Müller, of the "image".

"Stirrups for Putin's interests"

Former chancellors and former federal presidents are entitled to offices and staff in Berlin.

After Schröder's nomination became known, there were immediate demands that he be deprived of this equipment.

The Association of Taxpayers (BdSt) recommended a waiver: "I appeal to Mr. Schröder to give up his state-provided office, employees and company car," said BdSt Vice President Michael Jäger of "Bild".

"He lobbies for Russian economic interests with tax-financed German infrastructure." The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann made a similar statement.

The deputy general secretary of the CSU, Florian Hahn, said that a former chancellor “cannot cash in on Gazprom and the German state at the same time”.

"Anyone who dwindles to serving Putin's interests harms Germany and is unworthy of his office."

The CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter interprets Schröder's nomination as "Russia's move".

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a potential means of sanction by the West.

The German government should be divided on the issue.

slu/AFP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-02-05

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