Robin Mesarosch and Sebastian Roloff, the co-chairs of the SPD in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria respectively, have suggested that their party should move forward with the expulsion of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder following Schröder’s attendance at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday celebration. Mesarosch told the “Tagesspiegel”, stating that an “old chancellor who attends birthday parties of war criminals is not only impossible for the SPD to tolerate.”
Mesarosch described Schröder as “a disgrace to the entire country.” He noted that the SPD had already attempted to expel Schröder, citing the unsuccessful party rules proceedings against the former chancellor in 2022 and 2023. While acknowledging that the hurdles for party expulsion are high, Mesarosch insisted that if there is a chance of success this time, the party should proceed. The Baden-Württemberg SPD chief further revealed that he had personally moved past Schröder: “When I think of Schröder, I no longer think of a Social Democrat.”
The Bavarian co-chair, Roloff, expressed more caution regarding the likelihood of success, telling the “Tagesspiegel” that the chances of a repeat expulsion effort are uncertain. Nevertheless, he maintained that if there is any possibility, it absolutely must be tried. Roloff stressed that Schröder’s conduct was “absolutely impossible,” arguing that it cannot be justified for a war criminal who not only terrorizes Ukraine for years but also orders hybrid attacks against Germany to socialize with such figures.
