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Still in line in 2003: the then Chancellor Schröder together with the then SPD General Secretary Scholz
Photo: Werner_Baum / dpa
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has asked Gerhard Schröder (both SPD) to give up his business relations in Russia.
In particular, the former chancellor should resign his mandates at Russian energy companies.
"My advice to Gerhard Schröder is to withdraw from these offices," said the SPD politician on the ZDF program "Maybrit Illner".
He doesn't think it's right for Schröder to hold these offices.
The Chancellor emphasized that this was not the former Chancellor's private matter either, because he held a leading public office.
Schröder has long been criticized - and particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine - for his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The former chancellor is the head of the supervisory board at the Russian state energy company Rosneft and also has management positions in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipeline projects.
No voluntary resignation yet
Last Thursday, Schröder called on the government in Moscow to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible.
But there was no talk of personal consequences.
In addition, Schröder claimed mistakes “on both sides”.
Dissatisfaction with Schröder has also been growing within the SPD for days.
Several SPD politicians have now called for the ex-Chancellor to be expelled from the party.
According to SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil, the former chancellor has already been isolated in the party because of his connections to Russian corporations.
However, the party leadership did not initially take any concrete steps against Schröder.
col/Reuters/dpa/AFP