Ukraine Gate – Kyiv – June 12, 2022- Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier distanced himself from his longtime party colleague, Ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, because of the latter’s position on Russia.
He stated this in an interview with the tabloid Bild.
“Many things that Gerhard Schroeder initiated during his chancellery are pushed to the background by his behavior after his tenure. But this has not only a personal dimension for him, but also consequences for the whole of Germany: Gerhard Schroeder’s devotion to Russian energy companies has raised many questions in Europe, especially in our Eastern European neighbors, as well as in our country. It was bad, “Steinmeier said.
He said he had been with the former leader of the Social Democratic Party, of which he is also a member, for 15 years, but has been moving his own political path for the past 17 years. Schroeder, meanwhile, “made personal decisions that separated” the two politicians. For the first time in April, the President did not congratulate the Chancellor on his birthday.
The German head of state also noted that in view of Schroeder’s activities, Germany has now developed a set of rules that clearly define what must be followed by those who want to move to another field of activity after taking a higher political position. Namely, if there is a risk of conflict of interest, new work may be prohibited, because “even the emergence of a conflict of interest or personal gain damages the reputation of politics.”
Steinmeier, who was previously considered a supporter of Russia , in particular, supported the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, reportedly strongly condemned Russia’s aggression and actions.
