PrintShare
Until recently he was criticized for his relations with Vladimir Putin. Now an ARD documentary provides insights into the life and positions of the former chancellor.
Hanover – Like hardly any other German politician, Gerhard Schröder has apparently always polarized people. And that continues to this day, almost 20 years after the end of his term as Chancellor. Schröder was often criticized – until recently because of his friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his work at Nord Stream 2 AG, which he still does.
Schröder is celebrating his 80th birthday on Sunday. She takes it ARD an opportunity to dedicate critical documentation to the former chancellor. In “Out of Duty? – The Gerhard Schröder Story,” the former SPD politician provides insights into his private life as a retiree. And sometimes expresses his sharp opinions on the current political world situation and current actors in the political landscape in Germany.
Former Chancellor Schröder appears on the golf course – and feared “negative impacts” from the documentation
It is a sunny day when the NDR team led by filmmaker Lucas Stratmann meets former Chancellor Schröder and his wife So-yeon Schröder-Kim on a golf course near Hanover for filming. Schröder admits that as a result of the ARD-Request for documentation feared that it might reflect badly on him – or at least be characterized by “negative influences”.
Schröder’s concerns are probably justified, especially since as a result of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, more and more critical voices have been raised about Schröder, his role in the Russian energy industry and his attitude towards Vladimir Putin – including from within his own ranks.
For example, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) stated that he would be happy if Schröder would finally give up his activities. The SPD Hanover even initiated proceedings to expel Schröder from the party, but this failed. And the German Football Association (DFB) also revoked the former Chancellor’s honorary membership. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also suggested that Schröfer leave the SPD. Last but not least, the funding to maintain Schröder’s office in the Bundestag was cut.
Schröder does not feel isolated – individual critical voices in the party are “insignificant”
Filmmaker Lucas Stratmann asks the former Chancellor whether he feels isolated in the face of these events. “No, I can’t say that at all – quite the opposite,” replies Schröder. The former Chancellor admits that there may be some officials in the SPD like Mr. Kühnert. They are “but not significant”.
And to the question of how he feels about the fact that the SPD parliamentary group has cut off money and staff for his Bundestag office? “What can I say? They’re just pathetic people. That doesn’t really bother me,” explains the former chancellor.
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (1998 – 2005) © IMAGO/Rainer Droese
And immediately distributes it against his former party. Perhaps one would be well advised to ask the SPD the question “why they are lagging behind the AFD in current surveys”. That is a central question, and not what his membership in the SPD is like. “This is something that a self-confident leadership that fulfills its tasks should actually deal with,” adds Schröder.
Schröder also comments on Vladimir Putin’s visit in 2022
Schröder’s visit by Russian President Putin in March 2022 in particular caused harsh criticism of the already controversial former chancellor. Schröder was asked by Ukraine to act as a mediator in talks with Putin because the ex-chancellor is still considered a confidant of the Russian president, he emphasizes in the documentary.
First of all, he and his wife met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Rustem Umjerov in Istanbul. Then we went on to Moscow. Stratmann asks whether this visit was coordinated with the federal government. “No no, not at all. We did that alone. There was no reason to call and ask whether I was allowed or not, explains Schröder with a smile.
An undertaking that caused widespread rejection not only within the ranks of the SPD. The CDU politician and former Federal Government Commissioner for the East, Marco Wanderwitz, also describes Schröder as a “Chancellor of Shame” for his visit to Putin: He is “once again joining forces with the Russian war criminal.” And even that New York Times At the time, Schröder described himself as “Putin’s man in Germany”.
Schröder on Putin conversation: “I made it clear that I consider it a historical mistake”
Together with his wife Schröder-Kim and interview partner Stratmann at a table, the former Chancellor also explains what he tried to convey to the Russian President in their conversation. “Of course I made it clear that I think this is wrong, that I think it is a historical mistake,” explains Schröder.
Stratmann goes on to ask whether he also asked the Russian president why he started the war in Ukraine. A question that the former Chancellor responded with with a laugh: “Listen, we’re not making fairy tales here. That’s not how you conduct negotiations at the level.”
Die NDR-Documentation “Out of service? – The Gerhard Schröder Story” is now available in the ARD-Media library be considered. It will also be on Monday, April 15, 2024 (10 p.m.) at NDR broadcast. (fh)