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Former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has been waging a bloody war of aggression in Ukraine for almost three months.
Gerhard Schröder is considered a close confidant of Putin, and he still holds posts in Russian energy companies today.
Now the Union wants to almost completely remove the official appointments of the former SPD chancellor because of his contacts with Russia.
The CDU and CSU want to submit corresponding applications to the budget committee this week, said their budgetary spokesman Christian Haase.
It would affect almost all state support for Schröder: In addition to five staff positions, the budget for pension benefits and travel expenses should also be cut.
Schröder should only be allowed to keep personal security.
Schroeder harms the country and Germany's international reputation, the householders 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 the Russian president.
At the same time, he is sticking to his posts in various Russian energy companies.
"Retired Chancellor Schröder is thus putting himself on the wrong side of history," write the householders.
407,000 euros from the state treasury
In order to decide on the motions, the Union would have to rely on the votes of the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP.
The chances are good: the SPD had also distanced itself from Schröder and asked him to give up all his posts at the Russian energy companies Nord Stream and Rosneft and at Gazprom.
The SPD leadership did not draw any conclusions for the time being, but there are applications for a party expulsion.
The Union applications are also not the first attempts to cut state support for Schröder because of his closeness 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 away Schröder's income from his work for Russian energy companies.
Schröder was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
He then took on tasks for several Russian energy companies.
There are also motions for expulsion from the party.
mrc/dpa/Reuters