The Russian Federation is represented in Germany by an elderly gentleman named Sergej Netschajew. The diplomat is unknown to a broader public, which is not particularly distressing from a Russian point of view. Russia’s interests in Germany are being represented by someone else in a way that is effective in the media and true to the line. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who has been the Kremlin’s representative in West Germany for years, has now presented the arguments of the Russian leadership with brutal consistency: The deployment of 120,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine is the understandable consequence of NATO manoeuvres. But when Ukraine asks for weapons for self-defense, it’s saber-rattling.
Gerhard Schröder can say all that. He lives in a free country. There are no limits to his cynicism other than those that he himself may consider necessary. As a former chancellor, he is also not forbidden from putting himself in the service of Russian energy companies and the Russian president. He does not promote Germany’s good reputation in Europe and the world, but nobody can force him to do so either. Schröder does not have to consider anyone, not even the SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Clear contradiction, even outrage from the SPD? none
Conversely, this does not seem to be the case. Scholz and his party like to pretend they don’t hear what the former Chancellor is saying. Clear contradiction, even outrage can hardly be heard. It may be that Schröder no longer has any influence on the party leadership, but in parts of the SPD his unconditional loyalty to Vladimir Putin seems to arouse less offence than Agenda 2010. Olaf Scholz left no doubt about how serious he was about the Russians troop deployment, and that he expects clarity from the SPD here. It is time to defend Ukraine against Gerhard Schröder as well.
For the party that provides the chancellor, it’s a question of credibility. As a lobbyist, Gerhard Schröder made a significant contribution to paving the way for Nord Stream 2 after the Nord Stream gas pipeline. These pipes bypass the transit country Ukraine and significantly weaken it in relation to Russia. Much of the suspicion that Germany is currently showing has to do with the pipeline. It will be difficult to break down this distrust without clearly distancing yourself from the former Chancellor. The SPD must finally leave Gerhard Schröder behind.
The question is: Can Chancellor Scholz rely on his party?
This has absolutely nothing to do with how the social demo cards now position themselves on the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine. So far, this debate has largely been of symbolic importance anyway, because Ukraine hardly ever expects any relevant deliveries from Germany when it comes to equipping its army. Rather, it is about whether Scholz can rely on his party in the coming days and weeks. Then when he is looking for diplomatic ways to prevent a war after all. But even if he has to line Germany up with a reliable Western front against Russian aggression.