Six local associations do not want to be satisfied with the vote of the SPD arbitration commission. In order to exclude former Chancellor Schröder from the party after all, they are seeking an appointment. A decision on the further procedure will be made in Hanover.
Several local SPD associations do not want to accept the decision of an SPD arbitration commission against Gerhard Schröder’s expulsion from the party. According to a report by the “Rheinische Post”, six local associations have already decided on an appointment. Almost two weeks ago, the arbitration commission announced that the former chancellor, who had been sidelined because of his close contacts with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, could remain a party member and would not be reprimanded.
The Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” said it asked 17 SPD branches that had started the party organization process – six of the branches wanted to appeal or were already doing so. Four groups are refraining from doing so, while the others have not yet made a decision.
According to the information, these six SPD local associations or district associations have already decided to appeal: Bochum-Schmechtingtal, Mettmann, Essen-Frohnhausen/Altendorf, Mülheim-Heißen/Heimaterde,leutebach and Leipzig-East/Northeast. “We interpret the statements of the former Chancellor Schröder very differently than the arbitration commission. That’s why we think it’s right to go to the next higher instance,” said Daniel Mühlenfeld, chairman of the local association Mülheim, the newspaper. Pierre Orthen fromleutebach in Baden-Württemberg also said: “We wished for a different outcome of the proceedings. Gerhard Schröder’s behavior is damaging to the party.”
Four other divisions that were among the applicants in the first procedure forego further steps. These include the district association Heidelberg, the local associations Wathlingen and Lauchringen. The local association in Bad Zwischenahn is also not seeking an appointment. “With our application to exclude Gerhard Schröder from the party, we have clearly documented how reprehensible and at the same time shameful we consider Schröder’s behavior and how in no way compatible with the values ????of the SPD,” said the local co-chairman Dirk Hinrichs. According to the responsible SPD district in Hanover, a decision as to whether the proceedings against Schröder can continue is expected at the end of next week.
Schröder, 78, has long been criticized for his closeness to Russia. He is considered a close friend of Putin and worked for Russian energy companies for years. Most recently, he declared that he considered the war to be a mistake by the Russian government. At the same time, he saw no reason to distance himself personally from Putin.
