Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was targeted for his ties to Vladimir Putin, came under fire again on Wednesday after attending a Victory Day party hosted by the Russian embassy in Berlin.
Schroeder was seen at the reception on Tuesday, signaling Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II, along with leading figures from the far-right Alternative for Germany party and the far-left Left party. Both sides have criticized the sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The former Social Democratic chancellor was seen during the event in a photo published by the German newspaper Bild. Schroeder has not yet commented on his presence at the party.
Schroeder, who has held various positions in Russian energy companies, has seen many of the privileges normally accorded to former foreign ministers withdrawn due to his ties to the Kremlin.
For example, the ex-chancellor does not have a cabinet with public funds. However, the German Social Democratic Party, led by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has still not succeeded in ousting Schröder.
“I find it incomprehensible,” said Social Democratic MP Katja Mast in response to Schroeder’s presence at the party.
“Gerhard Schroeder’s behavior can hardly be surpassed in his lack of taste,” said Thorsten Frei, senior politician (CDU). “On the day the former foreign minister was received by Russian diplomats, innocent people in Ukraine died as a result of the Russian offensive war,” he added.
Scholz’s spokesman declined to comment on the matter at a press conference on Wednesday.
Also spotted at the Russian embassy in Berlin was former East German leader Egon Krenz.
Source: DN
