Germany strips ex-chancellor Schroeder of official perks over Russia ties
- Germany’s former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has refused sever ties with Russian energy giants
- Schroeder’s publicly funded office to be closed, remaining staff reallocated after parliament’s decision
Germany has removed perks accorded to former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, assessing that he has failed to uphold the obligations of his office by refusing to sever ties with Russian energy giants.
The parliament’s decision to strip Schroeder of an office and paid staff follows a lengthy effort to get him to turn his back on President Vladimir Putin, which spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine.
EU lawmakers separately called in a non-binding resolution on the bloc to slap sanctions on Schroeder and other Europeans who refuse to give up lucrative board seats at Russian companies.
“The coalition parliamentary groups have drawn consequences from the behaviour of former chancellor and lobbyist Gerhard Schroeder in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” the parliament decided on Thursday.
“The office of the former chancellor shall be suspended,” it said, noting that Schroeder “no longer upholds the continuing obligations of his office”.
German media have put the annual cost of Schroeder’s office and employees paid for by taxpayers at around €400,000 (US$421,000).
