Gerhard Schröder
Photo:
imago/photothek
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder wants to leave the supervisory board of the Russian oil company Rosneft.
Schröder, who is the head of the Rosneft supervisory board, said it was impossible for him to extend his mandate on the board.
Details were not given.
The German businessman Matthias Warnig is leaving the supervisory board with Schröder.
Warnig is the head of the Nord Stream 2 operating company.
Schröder is considered a close confidante of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
Under the impression of the war of aggression in Ukraine, which violates international law, the pressure on the former SPD chancellor has recently increased.
On Thursday, the European Parliament pushed for Schröder to be included on the list of sanctions against Russian oligarchs if he held on to his posts in Russian companies despite the war in Ukraine.
Also on Thursday, the budget committee of the Bundestag had canceled the previous equipment with employees and offices.
Formally, the office of the SPD former chancellor is put on hold.
However, the 78-year-old will retain his pension and personal security.
Combinations with Nord Stream and Gazprom
Last year, more than 400,000 euros flowed from the state treasury for personnel expenses in Schröder's office.
According to the decision, the former chancellor is still entitled to a pension and personal protection.
Schröder himself initially did not comment on the matter, but commissioned a legal review of the cuts.
Schröder was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
He then took on tasks at the pipeline projects Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2, the Russian Gazprom and the energy company Rosneft, among others.
Because he did not distance himself from this after the start of the Russian war against Ukraine, the SPD leadership asked him to leave the party.
There are also motions for expulsion from the party.
Among other things, Schröder caused a stir when, in the middle of the escalation before the Russian attack on the neighboring country, he criticized Ukraine's demands for arms deliveries as "saber rattling".
hba/mrc/dpa/Reuters