A daring judgment and a provisional one at that. Gerhard Schröder remains in the SPD. According to the three-member arbitration commission of his sub-district in Hanover, he did not violate the party order, at least not so seriously that his membership would have to be revoked. But that can still come. The SPD, or more precisely: its leaders, will not give up, if only for the sake of the party.
The disparaging opinion about Schröder and his work, his current one, has the majority in the SPD, that is to be assumed. 17 applications against the former chancellor are a clue: after all, they testify to ongoing malaise. After the verdict will not get better. Unreproached does not mean blameless, and that’s why the higher-level arbitration commission of the district can get ready to deal with the case again.
Because “Gas-Gerd” clearly condemned the war, also called for peace, but unflinchingly expressed himself as a lobbyist – namely the interests, including the views of his supposed friend, the Kremlin ruler and warlord Vladimir Putin. He did not break with him, not even after his unsuccessful mediation talks in Moscow. That makes Schröder vulnerable.
Especially since he is crystal clear in his pro-Putin statements. Because of this, attempts to shove him into the corner of the slightly aloof, stubborn old man will fail. Schröder knows what he is doing – and saying.
Now the master of plain language has talked himself into a corner: that of the pariah. This is how he is seen nationwide and worldwide. The SPD must take this into account. It’s about their reputation here in Germany, with the voters, soon in Lower Saxony, and far beyond: Germany is one of the G-7 countries.
Schröder was a major figure in social democracy. was. Now he thinks of himself, of his advantage, especially financially. This has turned out to be a glaring disadvantage for both the party and the country. Schröder calls his behavior a private matter and ignores the fact that what a former chancellor does is never just his business. This thing speaks against him. What a tragedy. And worst of all, it’s not over yet.
