Updated on 03/06/2022 11:54 am
- The former chancellor has been criticized for his closeness to Vladimir Putin – more than ever since Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
- Soyeon Schröder-Kim has now defended her husband.
- The wife of the former Chancellor expressed her dismay at how Schröder was treated.
The wife of the former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) commented on Instagram about the criticism of her husband in the Ukraine conflict. Soyeon Schröder-Kim wrote on Instagram on Saturday that she was appalled at the haste with which the SPD in the leadership, but also in many basic organizations, was supporting a campaign against her husband. “You can be sure that whatever my husband can do to help end the war, he will do it, regardless of ultimatums from the SPD or other organizations such as the DFB.”
Schröder-Kim criticizes, among other things, newspaper articles about the former chancellor
In another Instagram entry, Schröder-Kim announced that he would contact the press council about a headline in the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”. On Friday, the newspaper had a photo of Gerhard Schröder with the line “Without any dignity?” printed on their front page. “HAZ” editor-in-chief Hendrik Brandt reacted in the comment column of the Instagram post and explained how the title came about. He also wrote: “We have repeatedly invited her husband to comment on all of this and to explain his position, which obviously disturbs so many people. Unfortunately, nothing has come of it so far.”
Previously also had Gerhard Schröder’s ex-wife Doris Schröder-Köpf defended the former chancellor. She tries to prevent her ex-husband from being deprived of his honorary citizenship in Hanover.
Russia’s war against Ukraine: criticism of Putin’s friend Schröder
The former Chancellor was wary of his continued business ties with Russia despite the Russian attack on the Ukraine come under heavy criticism. Specifically, it is about Schröder’s posts at the Russian energy companies Nord Stream 1 and 2 and the oil company Rosneft, where he is the head of the supervisory board. In addition, Schröder is to take on a supervisory board position for Gazprom. The former chancellor has long been criticized for his ties to Russia. He is considered a longtime friend of President Vladimir Putin, who launched a war of aggression against Ukraine last week.
Also read: All current information on Russia’s war against Ukraine in the live ticker
After the SPD leadership, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also asked his predecessor on Thursday to vacate his posts at Russian state-owned companies. The Heidelberg Social Democrats applied for Schröder’s expulsion from the party. the DFB called on the former chancellor, as an honorary member of the association, to give up “functions in Russian state-owned companies” or to give up his honorary membership in the DFB. Borussia Dortmund revoked his honorary membership. (spl/dpa)
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