Schröder to lose privileges over Russia ties

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder is facing further punishment for refusing to explicitly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reported dpa.

Germany's governing coalition - led by the Social Democrats (SPD), the party that Schröder himself belongs to and once led - is cutting back his special rights as an ex-chancellor.

He is set to lose his office and his staff, according to a proposal from the government set to be approved by the budget committee on Thursday.

Schröder is to be allowed to keep his pension and personal protection.

The coalition's proposals fall short of the demand by the conservative opposition that Schröder also lose his pension.

The opposition argued that Schröder was damaging Germany's international reputation by not distancing himself from Russian President Vladimir Putin and holding on to his posts in various Russian energy companies.

Schröder was chancellor from 1998 to 2005, the last Social Democrat to lead Germany prior to Olaf Scholz.

After that, he worked for the pipeline company Nord Stream, Russia's Gazprom and the energy company Rosneft, among others.

The SPD leadership has asked him to leave the party. There have also been requests for him to be expelled.