Origins and Rise Through Working-Class Struggle
Gerhard “Gerd” Fritz Kurt Schröder was born on 7 April 1944 in Blomberg, Lippe. His father, a Wehrmacht lance corporal, died in Romania months after his birth; his mother, Erika Vosseler, worked as an agricultural labourer to support the family. After the war, Schröder completed an apprenticeship in retail sales and worked as a construction worker and sales clerk while studying at night school. He became a lawyer before entering politics, rising to Minister President of Lower Saxony from 1990 to 1998. In the 1998 federal election, he replaced Helmut Kohl as Chancellor of Germany, leading a coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and Alliance 90/The Greens. As chancellor, Schröder introduced the Agenda 2010 labour market reform and, together with French president Jacques Chirac, criticised the United States for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Offices and Empire Built: Serving as Chancellor of Germany
Schröder served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. During his tenure, he led the SPD and pursued domestic reforms while maintaining a distinct foreign policy course. Together with Jacques Chirac, he vehemently criticised the United States for Operation Iraqi Freedom, refusing to join the Coalition of the Willing. After the 2005 election, in which his party lost, Schröder stood down as chancellor in favour of Angela Merkel. Since leaving public office, he has worked for Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream AG, where he served as chairman of the board, and Rosneft, where he also chaired the board. He remained a member of the Rosneft board even after resigning from Nord Stream AG. Schröder also held roles as a global manager for the investment bank Rothschild and as chairman of the board of football club Hannover 96.
The Turning Point: Leaving Public Office for Russian Roles
The turning point in Schröder’s career came after he left the chancellorship. He accepted lucrative positions with Russian state energy firms, a move that drew immediate attention given the geopolitical climate. He served as chairman of Nord Stream AG and Rosneft, deepening his ties to the Russian energy sector. These roles positioned him as a bridge between German business interests and the Kremlin, even as public opinion began to shift.
The Fall: Public Backlash and Party Scrutiny
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Schröder faced severe public backlash. His continued work for Russian state-owned companies and his lobbying on behalf of Russia drew sharp criticism. In March 2022, the Public Prosecutor General initiated proceedings related to accusations of complicity in crimes against humanity due to his corporate roles. The CDU/CSU group called for him to be included in EU sanctions against individuals with ties to the Russian government. An SPD party arbitration committee ruled in March 2023 that he had not violated party rules and could remain a member, though the controversy persisted.
Where Things Stand Now: An Isolated Figure
Today, Schröder remains an isolated figure with continued ties to Russian firms. He has paused plans to join the board of Gazprom following the invasion of Ukraine, but he continues as a member of the Rosneft board. In 2026, Vladimir Putin called Schröder a preferable option for a European negotiator role, though Finnish President Alexander Stubb emerged as the front-runner. Schröder also attended a global governance forum in Xiong’an, China, alongside Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a trip that prompted renewed calls within Germany’s Social Democratic Party to begin proceedings to expel him. His career, once defined by reform and coalition-building, is now defined by his enduring, and increasingly controversial, connections to Moscow.
China Visit And Party Calls For Expulsion
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder attended a forum on global governance in the Chinese city of Xiong’an. According to Der Spiegel, citing the dpa agency, Schröder entered the hall during the opening ceremony together with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other honorary guests. The former head of the German government sat in the front row, while his wife, Soyeon Schröder-Kim, sat one row behind him. Schröder did not deliver a speech at the opening. The trip to China came after reports of Schröder’s possible visit to Moscow. This trip prompted criticism in Germany’s Social Democratic Party, where calls were again made to begin proceedings to expel the former chancellor from the party.
The Global Governance Forum is linked to the Global Governance Initiative, which Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a year earlier. China and the Russian Federation — an aggressor state — have long advocated reforming the world order toward a multilateral global order. As Der Spiegel notes, the vaguely formulated goals of the initiative include expanding the multilateral approach and, in the view of its supporters, achieving a fairer balance of power in the world. China seeks to influence the shaping of a world order in which Beijing sees unfair dominance, primarily by the United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that many view the initiative as a way to improve the current international system. He also spoke about the strengthening of unilateral policies, without naming specific states.
Putin’s Endorsement And The 2026 Negotiator Race
In 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed Gerhard Schröder as a preferable candidate for a European negotiator role concerning the Ukrainian settlement, according to RIA Novosti. However, Finnish President Alexander Stubb emerged as the front-runner, cited by Berliner Zeitung as possessing a good personal connection with Donald Trump and direct experience of interaction with both the Kyiv regime and Moscow. The Telegraph reported that Europe was considering five candidates for the mediator position, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Czech President Petr Pavel. Putin emphasized that Europeans themselves should choose a leader they trust and who has not made sharp statements toward Moscow, noting Schröder’s long-standing ties to the Kremlin despite the controversy surrounding his post-chancellorship roles.
The endorsement came amid ongoing scrutiny of Schröder’s loyalty following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Putin views Schröder as a viable option due to his personal relationship with the Russian leader, other European figures have been put forward as more neutral mediators. An SPD party arbitration committee ruled in March 2023 that Schröder had not violated party rules, yet calls within Germany’s Social Democratic Party to expel him persist, particularly after his attendance at a global governance forum in China alongside Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Sources
- Gerhard Schröder
- Putin Prefers Schröder, but Stubb Emerges as Front-Runner for European Negotiator Role
- Schröder attended a forum in China — Der Spiegel
Photo: Пресс-служба Президента Республики Казахстан (CC BY 4.0)
