Former German Chancellor

Schröder maintains friendship with Putin

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder continues to maintain his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After all, his good relationship with the Kremlin could perhaps contribute to the end of the war in Ukraine, he said in an interview shortly before his 80th birthday (see video above).

"We have worked together sensibly for many years. Perhaps that can still help to find a negotiated solution, I don't see any other way," said Schröder. Putin would neither start a nuclear war nor attack a NATO country on the eastern flank. Ukraine must be supported, but at the same time a solution to the conflict must be considered.

Attack a "fatal mistake"
 The former German Chancellor had previously described the Russian attack on Ukraine as a "fatal mistake". However, he had not renounced Putin. Schröder has been friends with the Russian ruler since he was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and continues to work for the majority Russian-owned Nord Stream pipeline companies through the Baltic Sea.

In Germany, it is customary to invite former chairmen to party conferences. However, this does not apply to Schröder. "I can no longer recognize the former chancellor and former party chairman in Gerhard Schröder. I see him as a businessman who pursues his business interests," said SPD party chairwoman Saskia Esken last year.

If my wife were to forget my birthday, it would hurt me.

Deutschlands Altkanzler zum Parteiausschluss

Does not want to be marginalized
However, the former chancellor does not want to be excluded from the party by the leadership. "There are still a lot of letters in which people don't understand certain attacks against me. So in that respect, I believe that I still live in the center of social democracy and I want to continue to do so." It is "interesting" that there is no picture of him hanging in the party headquarters. A spokeswoman explained that there was no gallery of former party leaders on the chairwoman's floor, but there were "certainly some of Gerhard Schröder" spread throughout the headquarters.

However, Schröder clarified that the exclusion did not hurt him. "(...) If my wife were to forget my birthday, that would hurt me (...)." He would remain a Social Democrat as long as he was allowed to.