Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is reportedly set to participate in the Schwerin State Parliament’s investigative committee examining the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. A two-page letter, revealed by “Der Spiegel”, indicates Schröder’s legal counsel sent a communication to the committee chairman, Sebastian Ehlers (CDU), via email on Wednesday.
While Schröder will not be physically present at the Schwerin State Parliament on October 17th, the letter proposes a video-recorded testimony to be conducted from his office in Hanover. However, this participation is contingent upon specific conditions.
The letter stipulates that the video proceedings must be conducted without public access. Furthermore, Schröder’s legal representation requests the ability to interrupt the session for breaks as needed.
According to the letter, Schröder’s health remains a concern. It states he is currently unable to handle the physical and psychological strain of an extended, particularly public, examination. Consequently, a subsequent video testimony will involve a discussion, guided by humanitarian considerations, to determine the feasibility of resuming the questioning.
Schröder has served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Nord Stream 2 AG since 2016 and is considered a key witness in the Schwerin investigative committee. The committee’s investigation is examining, amongst other matters, the role of the controversial “Klima- und Umweltschutz MV” foundation.
