The Social Democratic Party of Germany, which heads the coalition government of the country, on Thursday, July 14, began the official discussion of the possible exclusion of the former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder from the party. The reason was his “close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” DW reports.
The trial opened the party’s department in the city of Hanover, but the decision of the arbitration commission will probably take several weeks
The representative of the local party Christoph Mattern said they received 17 petitions against Schrief’s membership.
According to a senior member of the party, Thomas Kuchai, Schroeder “decided that his financial and personal dependence on Putin is more important than his commitment to the party or the heritage of his chancellor.”