According to managerial manuals, any strategy is only as good as the consistency with which it is pursued. And whatever one can say against Gerhard Schröder, he never did things by halves, whether he was cutting social spending or making Germany dependent on Russian gas.
The then chancellor pushed through the Hartz laws against his own SPD. For the prospect of the world’s scarce natural resources, he was even willing to declare Vladimir Putin a “flawless democrat” when no one with two eyes, two ears and two brain cells could believe it anymore.
Now “Acker”, as they called him on the soccer field as youngsters, is back in full combat mode. First he managed to avoid being expelled from the Social Democrats, although many comrades would have liked to see things differently. Apparently inspired by this success, he is now tackling his next project: He is suing the Bundestag because he wants back special rights such as his own office.
They were taken away from him, but he believes that as ex-Chancellor he is entitled to them. In legal jargon, the privileges are based on “after-effects official duties” – although there are very good arguments that it would be for the best of the Federal Republic if Schröder could finally consider it his top official duty to simply remain silent. By the way, he doesn’t need an office for that.
In the spring, the Budget Committee of the Bundestag withdrew former Chancellor Schröder from his right to an office and staff. Now he wants to get his privileges back – in court.
Source: WORLD
Then again, it would be manageable if the man got his privileges back. First of all, being right and being right have always been two different things. And secondly, this is a free country, everyone can complain as they like.
It will stay that way as long as those responsible don’t kowtow to autocrats like Schröder did. Nevertheless, one can admire the consistency with which the ex-chancellor manages his own self-debasement. So he gets what he deserves.
