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Kühnert at a press conference in March: the decision "probably not entirely coincidental"
Photo: Jörg Carstensen / picture alliance / dpa
After the criticism became ever sharper, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder resigned from his position on the supervisory board of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft.
"Unfortunately much too late," said SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert of the Düsseldorf "Rheinische Post".
According to Kühnert, the decision of the former SPD chancellor was "probably not entirely accidental" - obviously with a view to the pressure on Schröder from the federal government, the Bundestag and the EU Parliament.
However, Kühnert kept a low profile on the EU Parliament's specific demand for sanctions against Schröder.
'I have no reason to protect him.
If there are clear, objective criteria for sanctions lists, then of course they apply to everyone.
Others will have to judge whether that is the case here.«
In a resolution, the EU Parliament called for sanctions against the former Chancellor.
A large majority of MPs voted in favour.
Scholz is against sanctions
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), however, spoke out against the demand for sanctions.
He called the Bundestag's decision to withdraw some of Schröder's former chancellor privileges "necessary".
However, he considers further steps "not necessary."
Rosneft announced on Friday that Schröder would not extend his term as head of the supervisory board.
The former chancellor is also nominated for the supervisory board of the Russian energy company Gazprom and works as a leading lobbyist for the Gazprom subsidiaries Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2.
The Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer told the "Handelsblatt": "Neither Mr. Schröder nor the SPD will be able to leave this matter behind with half measures."
He accused the Chancellor of refusing plain language.
"Scholz's statements about the Schröder cause show hesitation." Scholz speaks "more as an SPD man and less as a chancellor."
jlk/dpa
