Germany's Schroeder loses office amid anger over Russia ties
ABC News
German lawmakers have agreed to strip former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of his office and staff after he maintained and defended his long-standing ties with Russia and its energy sector despite the invasion of Ukraine
BERLIN -- German lawmakers agreed Thursday to strip former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of his office and staff after he maintained and defended his long-standing ties with Russia and its energy sector despite the invasion of Ukraine.
Sven Kindler, a financial policy spokesman for the Greens, one of the governing parties, tweeted that parliament's budget committee approved a change to the rules that would leave Schroeder's office “dormant.”
The move was expected after lawmakers with the governing coalition — which is led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, Schroeder's party — on Wednesday proposed linking some of the privileges former chancellors enjoy to actual duties, rather than their status as ex-leaders.
To reduce the chances of a legal challenge, the proposal didn't explicitly mention Schroeder's ties to Russian companies or to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ex-chancellor still will be entitled to bodyguards and a pension.
