Published on 22. ).22
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The SPD wants to decide shortly on the exclusion of Gerhard Schröder. Now the former chancellor is commenting on this for the first time: The party leadership is “perhaps making it a bit difficult for him at the moment,” he explains.
Berlin.
Former chancellor Gerhard Schröder says he is calm about the internal SPD proceedings regarding the motions to expel him from the party. “I look at the party order process with composure. I am and will remain a social democrat,” he told the “Spiegel”.
According to the report, Schröder emphasized that the outcome of the proceedings would have no consequences whatsoever for his basic political convictions. “I have never voted for anything other than the SPD in my political life. That will continue to be the case in the future, even if one or the other of the SPD leadership is making it a bit difficult for me at the moment.” He emphasized: “My basic political position will not change.”
Schröder has been standing for years because of his commitment for Russian state-owned companies under criticism. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, the pressure on him had steadily increased. Several motions to expel the party were made. The oral hearing is on 22. June in Hanover. The arbitration commission of the SPD sub-district Hannover region is responsible for the party organization procedure because Schröder is a member of the associated SPD local association Oststadt-Zoo.
It is unclear whether Schröder himself will appear at the hearing . “Der Spiegel” reported last week that the former chancellor would not attend the meeting and would not be legally represented.
Schröder finally announced in May that he was leaving the supervisory board of the Russian energy giant Rosneft , and a nomination for a board position at Gazprom turned down. Since his time as Chancellor (1998 to
) close friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (dpa)
