Former German chancellor loses entire staff after refusing to resign from Russian energy co boards
The entire staff of Gerhard Schroeder, the former German chancellor who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and an advocate of increasing Russian natural gas exports to Germany, has resigned in protest over his ties to the Kremlin.
The employees quit because they were embarrassed by Mr. Schroeders prominent roles at three Russian gas and pipeline companies, according to German media reports.
Those roles had enraged many Germans even before Russia invaded Ukraine last week. Some of his critics noted that Mr. Schroeders income ultimately comes from a regime that has launched an illegal and senseless war.
Mr. Schroeder, 77, was chancellor until 2005, when he lost the election to Angela Merkel. He could not be reached for comment. Nor could Albrecht Funk, who served as Mr. Schroeders chief staffer at his Hannover office.
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