Gerhard Schröder

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Schröder refused to sever his personal relationship with Putin and faced strong criticism for his Russian connections. He subsequently left Rosneft and declined an appointment at Gazprom, but several SPD branches called for his expulsion; the party's bodies concluded that no rule violation justifying expulsion had been established. The Bundestag withdrew his publicly funded former chancellor's office in 2022, and his legal challenges failed, including on appeal in 2024. In 2026, Putin's proposal to use him as a mediator renewed debate about his independence and closeness to Moscow.

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Political responsibility

Shortly after leaving the chancellorship, Schröder became chairman of the shareholders' committee of the Nord Stream consortium, a gas pipeline project he had supported as chancellor. The timing and his ties to Gazprom and Putin triggered accusations of revolving-door practices, conflicts of interest and energy dependence on Russia. He continued to play a prominent role in Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2.

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Personally implicated

Schröder joined and subsequently chaired the supervisory board of Russian state-owned oil group Rosneft while Russia was subject to European sanctions following the annexation of Crimea. The decision drew strong criticism across German party lines and embarrassed the SPD.

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No legal proceedings

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Personally implicated

Amid the Ukraine crisis and following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Schröder celebrated his birthday in St Petersburg and was photographed warmly embracing Vladimir Putin. The image triggered strong criticism in Germany and abroad over his closeness to the Kremlin.

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No legal proceedings

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Political responsibility

At the end of Schröder's term, the federal government approved a guarantee of up to one billion euros for financing connected to the Russian–German gas pipeline. Its disclosure after he joined Nord Stream strengthened suspicions of a conflict of interest. Schröder claimed not to have known about the decision. Gazprom ultimately did not use the guaranteed credit.

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Political responsibility

Schröder championed Agenda 2010 and the Hartz reforms, combining greater labour market flexibility, reductions in certain benefits and restructuring of unemployment insurance. The programme triggered strong trade union and social mobilisation, a split within the SPD and contributed to the formation of a left-wing opposition partly drawn from former Social Democrats.

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No legal proceedings

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Political responsibility

To secure an early election, Schröder called a vote of confidence that he intended to lose, despite the formal existence of a parliamentary majority. The method was denounced as an artificial arrangement designed to circumvent dissolution rules. The Federal Constitutional Court ultimately upheld the dissolution, with a critical dissenting opinion.

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Political responsibility

During a 2004 television interview, Schröder defended Vladimir Putin when asked whether he was a 'lupenreiner Demokrat'. Although the expression originated with the interviewer, Schröder declined to distance himself from the idea that Putin was following a democratic path. His stance became a recurring symbol of criticism of his closeness to the Kremlin.

State of the evidence

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Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility