SPD associations want to take action against Schröder's decision

Created: 08/11/2022, 19:50

Gerhard Schröder (SPD), former Chancellor.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa/archive image

After the decision of an SPD arbitration commission for former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to remain in the party, several SPD associations are seeking an appointment.

The decision was met with unanimous incomprehension among the party's applicant groups, said the chairman of the Wuerttemberg SPD local association inleutenbach, Pierre Orthen, on Thursday evening.

Leutenbach/Heidelberg - Above all, Schröder's work for Russian state companies such as the mineral oil company Rosneft and his lack of distance from the Russian attack on Ukraine are still seen by many SPD associations as damaging to the party.

Orthen said that the structures had decided not to comment on their decision in more detail until after the appeal period had expired.

In addition to the so-called divisions, which have already decided on an appointment procedure, more could be added in the coming days.

He didn't name names.

The nationwide 17 SPD branches had an exclusion of the Federal Chancellor a.

D. requested from the party.

The 78-year-old has long been criticized for his closeness to Russia.

He is considered a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and worked for Russian energy companies for years.

Most recently, he declared that he considered the war to be a mistake by the Russian government.

At the same time, he saw no reason to distance himself personally from Putin.

However, the arbitration commission responsible for his SPD subdistrict in the Hanover region sees no violation of party rules in Schröder's commitment to Russia.

There is no basis for a complaint or even a party exclusion.

An appeal can be lodged against this within two weeks.

dpa