BERLIN (AP) – Former German leader Gerhard Schröder is suing to restore the perks he enjoyed as ex-chancellor after they were stripped from him by parliament after criticism of his ties with Russia.
Schröder, who was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has long maintained close ties to Russian energy companies and President Vladimir Putin. These connections came under increased scrutiny following the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly six months ago.
German news agency dpa quoted Schröder’s lawyer, Michael Nagel, as saying on Friday that his client had filed a lawsuit with the Berlin Administrative Court to restore the necessary funding he had previously received for his office and staff.
The Bundestag changed the rules in May to link some privileges that former chancellors receive to their actual duties. The legislature did not specifically mention Schröder’s ties to Russia in its decision. But Nagel told the dpa that the reasons for the change were obvious and would not withstand a judicial challenge.
Earlier this week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party rejected a request to expel Schröder, who had refused to distance himself from Putin and had met with the Russian leader during a recent visit to Moscow in late July.