The SPD Arbitration Committee has come to the conclusion that former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (78) can remain a member of the party despite his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin (69). His lawyer, Professor Michael Nagel, is "relieved" by this decision. Although he also made it clear to the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" that in his opinion "no other decision could be expected".
"Right from the start, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder clearly distanced himself from the war and described Russia's decision as a mistake," said Nagel. Consequently, no "party-damaging behavior" was justified. Health Minister and SPD politician Karl Lauterbach (59), among others, had previously said that in his eyes there was “no more room” for Schröder in the party.
Schröder himself had recently resigned from his home club Hannover 96. The club had previously considered a club exclusion. The reason for the examination of the exclusion are "the values of Mr. Schröder, which in the opinion of the board of directors obviously contradict the values of the association, in connection with his public statements on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, his current work at the Russian group Rosneft and the desired work at the likewise Russian concern Gazprom".
Schröder, who is considered a long-time friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, responded by resigning. From December 2016 to June 2019, the former chancellor was chairman of the supervisory board of the football club's operating company.
The German Football Association (DFB) had preceded it on March 11: "Gerhard Schröder is no longer an honorary member of the German Football Association. Anyone who, out of consideration for personal interests, does not clearly distance themselves from the war and its aggressor and, moreover, does not do the necessary business consequences, does not share the values of football and the German Football Association."
