Ex-German Chancellor Schröder attends Putin's birthday bash
Quick Look
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder attended Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday party in Moscow after being invited during a business trip to visit a Hyperglobus supermarket branch, where he serves on the supervisory board, amid ongoing controversy in Germany over his ties to Russia and Russian state-owned energy firms since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Gerhard Schröder served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 and has maintained business and personal ties with Russia since leaving office, including roles with Russian state-owned energy companies, which has drawn criticism from his party and the German public, especially after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder attended Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday party, the Kremlin said Thursday.
Putin celebrated his 74th birthday in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin said Putin learned that Schröder was on a business trip in the Russian capital via Russian media reports.
"The president invited his old friend to his home," the Kremlin said, with the Russian government releasing pictures of Schröder and Putin smiling and clasping hands.
Schröder was visiting Hyperglobus branch after joining board
Schröder, who is 82 years old, was in Moscow visiting one of the branches of the new Hyperglobus supermarket chain. The ex-German chancellor was named to the chain's supervisory board last week.
Hyperglobus was originally part of German retail company Globus Holding, which operates the Globus supermarkets in Germany and the Czech Republic.
Globus Holding also had supermarkets in Russia, but divested its stake last year, with those stores thus being spun off into seperate company Hyperglobus.
What backlash has Schröder faced in Germany over his Russia ties?
Schröder, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), served as Germany's chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
Since leaving the chancellery, Schröder has worked for Russian state-owned energy firms and has also maintained personal contact with Putin.
Schröder's fondness for Russia has drawn controversy, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Schröder's tax-payer financed Berlin office was closed in 2022 over his involvement in the Russian energy sector, and he has also faced calls by fellow party members to be expelled from the SPD.
Schröder, however, has survived the attempt to be kicked out of his party.
Edited by: Karl Sexton
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) will continue to face internal pressure to expel Gerhard Schröder over his Russia ties.
Likely · Within weeks
Gerhard Schröder will maintain his business engagements with Russian entities despite political backlash in Germany.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific business activities is Schröder conducting at the Hyperglobus branch in Moscow?
- Has the German government launched any formal investigation into Schröder's Russia-related activities?
- What is the current status of Schröder's membership in the Social Democratic Party despite the expulsion attempt?
