former chancellor
Schröder’s SPD whereabouts: party associations appeal
Gerhard Schröder has been criticized for his work for Russian state-owned companies. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Former Chancellor Schröder is initially not expelled from the SPD because of his closeness to Russia. That was decided by the responsible arbitration committee. Several SPD associations want to appeal against this.
After the decision of an SPD arbitration commission for former chancellor Gerhard Schröder to remain in the party, at least 6 of the 17 SPD branches that set the party order process in motion want to appeal or have already done so. This was the result of a survey by the “Rheinische Post”. Four divisions therefore refrain from doing so. According to the report, a decision was still pending for the others.
Schröder has been criticized primarily for his work for Russian state-owned companies and his lack of distance from the Russian attack on Ukraine. However, the responsible arbitration commission of his SPD sub-district Region Hannover did not see any violation of the party order and refrained from measures such as a reprimand or even an expulsion from the party. The decision of August 8th can be appealed within two weeks.
According to the report, the SPD associations in Bochum-Schmechtingtal, Mettmann, Essen-Frohnhausen/Altendorf, Mülheim-Heissen/Heimaterde, Leutenbach and Leipzig-East/Northeast want to appeal. “We interpret the statements made by former Chancellor Schröder very differently from the arbitration commission. That’s why we think it’s right to go to the next higher authority,” said Daniel Mühlenfeld, chairman of the Mülheim local association, to the “Rheinische Post”. Pierre Orthen from the local people’s association said: “We wished for a different outcome of the proceedings. Gerhard Schröder’s behavior is damaging to the party.”