Lawyer sees no basis to expel Schröder from party

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder's lawyer says throwing the Social Democrat (SPD) out of his party is out of the question, reported dpa.

"There is no factual or legal basis for that," lawyer Michael Nagel told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper's Friday edition.

"It will not come to an explusion from the party," he said.

A hearing of the SPD sub-district of Hanover on several motions filed to expel Schröder from the party has been postponed twice due to Covid-19 and is now scheduled for July 14.

Schröder has faced increasing criticism domestically and within his party for his ties to Moscow, especially since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Schröder was Germany's chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and after leaving office was involved with Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft. He is a longtime friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Nagel said Schröder would not appear at the hearing because there is no reason for him to.

"He was and remains a loyal SPD member," he said. The Hanover sub-district is leading the proceedings because Schröder is a member of the SPD local association.