The Social Democratic Party of Germany has announced that it will not invite gas lobbyist and second Vladimir Putin Gerhard Schroeder to its conference.
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I no longer see Gerhard Schrödery as a former chancellor and former party leader. I see him as a businessman who has his own business interests,” said SPD leader Zaskia Esken.
Previously, party members refused to name Schroeder for the anniversary of the ruling party in Germany, Bild reports.
Traditionally, former party leaders have always been invited to SPD conferences. Schroeder has repeatedly attended such events and even acted as a speaker – the last time this happened in 2017.
After the start of the Russian invasion, they even tried to expel Schroeder from the SPD for his loyal attitude to the Kremlin, but this attempt failed. The party leadership completely distanced itself from the former chancellor and declared him persona non grata.
Now the party has more important things to do than talk about Schroeder, Esken concludes.
Schröder was chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and led the SPD from 1999 to 2004. After serving as head of the German government, the politician collaborated with Russian energy companies and became, it is believed, a close friend of the dictator and war criminal Vladimir Putin. Even after the start of the war against Ukraine, Schroeder did not cut off his ties with Russia.
Source: Racurs
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