Franziska Brantner, the chairwoman of the Green Party, is pressuring the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to expel former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Brantner stated in an interview with the Tagesspiegel that her stance is rooted in the current geopolitical climate, arguing that it is “politically intolerable” for Schröder to celebrate Putin’s birthday while civilians continue to die in Ukraine due to Russian attacks.
The Green Party politician further elaborated on the seriousness of the situation, noting that attempts at an expulsion failed in 2022. She stressed that the situation has only deteriorated since that time, adding that Russia is now employing hybrid attacks against Germany itself. “Schröder has not learned anything from this. A new procedure must be put on the table,” Brantner stated. She warned that failing to act would send a “fatal signal,” not just to Ukraine, but to the safety of people within Germany.
Echoing concerns over Schröder’s political conduct, Hubertus Heil, the former Federal Minister of Labor for the SPD, also criticized him. In the Tagesspiegel, Heil declared that Schröder’s “warm embrace” of Putin in Moscow deeply upsets and “agitates” him. Heil emphasized that celebrating a dictator, whose “murderous imperialism” causes daily horrific suffering, is simply indefensible.
