Gerhard Schröder

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For the minister in the 1950s and 1960s, see Gerhard Schröder (CDU).
Gerhard Schröder
Gerhard Schröder
In office
October 27, 1998 – November 22, 2005
Preceded by Helmut Kohl
Succeeded by Angela Merkel
Born April 7, 1944 (age 62)
Mossenberg-Wöhren, Germany
Political party SPD

Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder (help·info) [ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ] (born April 7, 1944), German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. Before becoming a full time politician, he was a successful lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor he was Minister-president of the German state of Lower Saxony. Following the 2005 federal election in which his party lost the elections and after three weeks of negotiations, it was announced that he would stand down as Chancellor in favour of Angela Merkel of the rival Christian Democratic Union.

Contents

[edit] Early career

Schröder (often spelt Schroeder in English) was born in Mossenberg, in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia. His father Fritz Schröder was killed in World War II. A lance corporal in the Wehrmacht, he was killed in action in Romania on October 4, 1944 a few months after Gerhard's birth. His mother Erika worked as an agricultural manual worker in order to support herself and her two sons.

Schröder completed an apprenticeship in retail sales in a Lemgo hardware shop from 1958 to 1961, then worked as an unskilled construction worker and a sales clerk in Göttingen, meanwhile studying at night school to gain a high school diploma. Still trying to learn more and to gain the possibility to attend university, in 1966 Schröder passed the Abitur test at Westfalen-Kolleg, Bielefeld. From 1966 to 1971 he studied law at the University of Göttingen. From 1972 onwards, Schröder served as an assistant at Göttingen University. In 1976 he passed his second law examination; he worked as a lawyer until 1990.

Schröder joined the Social Democratic Party in 1963. In 1978 he became the federal chairman of the Young Socialists, the youth organisation of the SPD. He spoke for the dissident Bahro, as President Carter did, Herbert Marcuse and Wolf Biermann. In 1982 he wrote an article on the red/green coalition for a book by Petra Kelly et al. at Olle & Wolter, Berlin, which later appeared in "Die Zeit". SPD- and SI-Chairman, Chancellor Willy Brandt, who reviewed Olle & Wolter at that time, had just asked for more books on destination peace. In 1980 Gerhard Schröder was elected to the German Bundestag, and stood out as a young parliamentarian by wearing a sweater to work instead of the traditional suit. He became chairman of the SPD Hanover district. In 1985 Schröder met with East German leader Erich Honecker during a visit to East Berlin.

In 1986 Schröder was elected to the regional parliament of Lower Saxony and became leader of the SPD group. After the SPD won the regional elections in June 1990, he became Minister-President of Lower Saxony as head of a SPD-Greens coalition; in this position, he also won the 1994 and 1998 regional elections.

[edit] In federal politics

Following his election as Minister-President, Schröder became a member of the board of the federal SPD. In the 1994 federal elections he was the SPD's candidate for the foreign minister, but the SPD did not win the election. In 1998 he was chosen as the SPD's candidate chancellor for the September 27, 1998 elections. He won this election and became Chancellor on October 27 as head of a SPD/Green coalition. At the September 22, 2002 general elections, he secured another four-year term, with a narrow nine-seat majority (down from 21).

Schröder in Esslingen. "SPD - Trust in Germany"
Schröder in Esslingen. "SPD - Trust in Germany"

After the resignation of Oskar Lafontaine as SPD Chairman in March, 1999, in protest at Schröder's adoption of a number of what Lafontaine considered "neo-liberal" policies, Schröder took over his rival's office as well. In February, 2004, he resigned as chairman of the SPD to concentrate, as Chancellor, on German reform processes. Franz Müntefering succeeded him as chairman.

On May 22, 2005 after the SPD lost to the Christian Democrats (CDU) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Gerhard Schröder announced he would call federal elections "as soon as possible". A motion of confidence was subsequently defeated in the Bundestag on July 1, 2005 by 151 to 296 (with 148 abstaining), after Schröder urged members not to vote for his government in order to trigger new elections.

The elections were held on September 18, 2005, leaving Germany in a situation where both Schröder's SPD-Green coalition and the alliance between CDU/CSU and the FDP led by Merkel were considerably short of a majority in parliament, but the CDU/CSU was the stronger party by one percentage point. Since the SPD had been trailing the CDU by more than 15 points only weeks before the election, this outcome was completely unexpected and considered sensational - something which was attributed to Schröder's charisma and prowess as a campaigner. In fact, polls consistently showed that he was much more popluar with the German people than Ms. Merkel. On election night, both Schröder and Merkel claimed victory and chancellorship, but after initially ruling out a grand coalition with Merkel, Schröder and Müntefering entered negotiations with her and the CSU's Edmund Stoiber. On October 10 it was announced that the parties had agreed to form a grand coalition. Schröder agreed to cede the chancellorship to Merkel, but the SPD would hold the majority of government posts and retain effective control of government policy. [1] Merkel was elected chancellor on November 22.

Schröder announced on October 11 that he would not take a post in the new Cabinet, and in November he confirmed that he would leave politics as soon as Merkel took office. On November 23, 2005, he resigned his Bundestag seat, and later joined Ringier AG Ringier, the publisher of some of the leading newspapers and magazines in Switzerland, as a Zurich-based political consultant and lobbyist.

At the SPD conference in Karlsruhe on November 14, 2005 Schröder urged members of the SPD to support the proposed coalition, saying it "carries unmistakably, perhaps primarily, the imprint of the Social Democrats". Many SPD members had previously indicated that they supported the coalition, which would have continued the policies of Schröder's government, but had objected to Angela Merkel replacing him as Chancellor. The conference voted overwhelmingly to approve the deal. [2]

[edit] Chancellorship

[edit] Domestic policies

In its first term, Schröder's government was credited with implementing some progressive policy concepts such as the decision to phase out nuclear power, fund renewable energies, institute civil unions which enabled same-sex partners to enter into a civil union, and liberalize naturalization law. Most voters associated Schröder with the Agenda 2010 reform program, which included cuts in the social welfare system (national health insurance, unemployment payments, pensions), lowered taxes, and reformed regulations on employment and payment.

After the 2002 election, the SPD steadily lost support in opinion polls. Many increasingly perceived Schröder's third way program to be a dismantling of the German welfare state. Moreover, Germany's high unemployment rate remained a lingering problem for the government. Schröder's tax policies were also unpopular; when the satirical radio show The Gerd Show released Der Steuersong, featuring Schröder's voice (via impressionist Elmar Brandt) lampooning Germany's indirect taxation with the lyrics "Dog tax, tobacco tax, emissions and environmental tax, did you really think more weren't coming?", it became Germany's 2002 Christmas No. 1 chart hit and sold over a million copies.

Unlike the 2002 election, which was largely won by opposing the impending U.S. invasion of Iraq, Schröder campaigned more on domestic issues in 2005. Schröder focused on being anti-capitalistic and anti-intellectual. For example, he labelled the opposition's choice for the ministry of finance, Paul Kirchhof, "this professor from Heidelberg" in a derogatory manner. This won him a lot of support among many proletarians. Furthermore he focused on introducing new taxes for the rich. Despite knowing that this would hardly have an effect, Schröder believed it was necessary to win the election.

The fact that Schröder served on the Volkswagen board (on behalf of being minister-president of Lower Saxony) and tended to prefer pro-car policies led to him being nicknamed the "Auto-Kanzler" (car chancellor).

[edit] Foreign policy

Schröder with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Schröder with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Schröder sent forces to Kosovo and to Afghanistan as part of NATO operations. Prior to Schröder's Chancellorship, German troops had not taken part in military actions since World War II. With Germany having a long experience with terrorism itself, Schröder declared solidarity with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks. When Schröder left office Germany had 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, the largest contingent from any nation other than the United States itself.

Along with French President Jacques Chirac and many other world leaders, Schröder spoke out strongly against the war on Iraq, and refused any military assistance in that enterprise. Schröder's stance caused political friction between the U.S. and Germany, in particular because he used this topic for his election campaign. Schröder's stance set the stage for alleged anti-American statements by members of the SPD. The parliamentary leader of the SPD, Ludwig Stiegler, compared U.S. President George W. Bush to Julius Caesar while Schröder's Minister of Justice, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, likened Bush to Adolf Hitler. By campaigning against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Schröder's critics accused him of enhancing anti-American sentiments in Germany.

On 1 August 2004, the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, he apologised to Poland for "the immeasurable suffering" its people faced at that time. He was the first German chancellor to be invited to an anniversary of the uprising.

In addition to a friendly relationship with Jacques Chirac, Schröder cultivated close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an attempt to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow, including the opening of a gas pipeline from Russian Andrew Marino-Pipelines over the Baltic Sea exclusively between Russia and Germany (see "Gazprom controversy" below). Schröder was criticized in the media, and subsequently by Angela Merkel, for calling Putin a "flawless democrat" on 22 November 2004, only days before Putin prematurely congratulated Viktor Yanukovich during the Orange Revolution.[3] Only a few days after his chancellorship, Schröder joined the board of directors of the joint venture. Thus bringing about new speculations about his prior objectivity. In his memoirs "Decisions: My Life in Politics" Schröder still defends his friend and political ally, and states that "it would be wrong to place excessive demands on Russia when it comes to the rate of domestic political reform and democratic development, or to judge it solely on the basis of the Chechnya conflict." [4]

[edit] Personal life

Schröder has been married four times, to:

  • Eva Schubach, married 1968, divorced 1972
  • Anne Taschenmacher, married 1972, divorced 1984
  • Hiltrud Hampel, aka Hillu, married 1984, divorced 1997
  • Doris Köpf, married 1997

Schröder's four marriages have earned him the nickname "Audi Man," a reference to the 4-ring symbol of Audi motorcars. Another nickname is "The Lord of the Rings".

Doris has a daughter Klara (born 1991), who lives with the couple, from a previous relationship with a TV journalist. When not in Berlin, he lives in Hanover. In July 2004 he and his wife adopted a child named Viktoria from St. Petersburg in Russia. In 2006 they adopted a boy Gregor from the same city. [5]

Schröder identifies himself as a Protestant, but does not appear particularly religious; for example he did not add the optional So wahr mir Gott helfe formula (so help me God) when sworn in as chancellor for his first term in 1998.

Schröder planned activities after leaving office as Chancellor and resigning his Bundestag seat include resuming the practice of law, based in Berlin, and writing a book. He will also be retained by the Swiss publisher Ringier AG as a consultant. While retaining his primary residence in Hanover, he has rented an apartment in Berlin. As a former Chancellor he is entitled to an office which is also situated in Berlin. He has also spent time improving his English language skills. [6]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Gazprom

During Schröder's final weeks in office, he signed an agreement with Russia to build the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea to supply Russian gas directly to Germany, bypassing Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic countries. Soon after stepping down as chancellor, Schröder accepted a post as the head of the shareholders' committee in the Russian-led consortium, controlled by Gazprom, which is building the pipeline, raising questions about the conflict of interest. German opposition parties, as well as the governments of the possible transit countries, have expressed concern over the issue (BBC news). In an editorial entitled Gerhard Schroeder's Sellout, the American newspaper Washington Post has also expressed sharp criticism, reflecting widening international ramifications of Schröder's new post.

[edit] Press freedom

In April 2002 Schröder sued the DDP press agency for publishing an opinion of PR consultant Sabine Schwind saying that he "would be more credible if he didn't dye his gray hair." [7] Soon the court decided to ban the media from suggesting that he colors his hair. The case was taken seriously by politicians. The Chancellor's spokesman said that "This is not a frivolous action taken over whether he does or doesn't dye his hair, but is a serious issue regarding his word." The agency's lawyer said that they could not accept a verdict which "does not coincide with freedom of the press."

[edit] Schröder's first cabinet, 27 October 1998 – 22 October 2002

Gerhard Schröder with George W. Bush
Gerhard Schröder with George W. Bush
  • Gerhard Schröder (SPD) — Chancellor
  • Joschka Fischer (Gr) — Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Bodo Hombach (SPD) — Minister for Special Affairs and Chief of the Chancellery
  • Rudolf Scharping (SPD) — Minister of Defence
  • Otto Schily (SPD) — Minister of the Interior
  • Oskar Lafontaine (SPD) — Minister of Finance
  • Herta Däubler-Gmelin (SPD) — Minister of Justice
  • Werner Müller — Minister of Economics
  • Walter Riester (SPD) — Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
  • Karl-Heinz Funke (SPD) — Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry
  • Franz Müntefering (SPD) — Minister of Transport and Construction
  • Christine Bergmann (SPD) — Minister of Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth
  • Andrea Fischer (Gr) — Minister of Health
  • Edelgard Bulmahn (SPD) — Minister of Education and Research
  • Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD) — Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Jürgen Trittin (Gr) — Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Security

Changes

[edit] Schröder's second cabinet, 22 October 2002 – 22 November 2005

With José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Jacques Chirac.
With José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Jacques Chirac.

[edit] Schröder's place in the ranking of all German chancellors

Schröder's rank as chancellor is still to be determined by history. However, Schröder himself did express a sound self-estimate at the end of his chancellorship, when he was asked about it by the host of a talk show he participated in ("JBK"). Schröder said he would deserve a "C" grade ("befriedigend").

[edit] Trivia

  • Schröder is 172 cm (5 ft 7¾ in) tall.[citation needed]
  • He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because he did not want a war with Iraq and did not send German troops to fight against the Iraqis

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Helmut Kohl		 Chancellor of Germany
1998–2005		 Succeeded by
Angela Merkel
Preceded by
Ernst Albrecht		 Prime Minister of Lower Saxony
1990–1998		 Succeeded by
Gerhard Glogowski
Preceded by
Erwin Teufel		 President of the Bundesrat
November 1, 1997 - October 27, 1998		 Succeeded by
Hans Eichel
Preceded by
Oskar Lafontaine		 Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
1999–2004		 Succeeded by
Franz Müntefering
Preceded by
Tony Blair		 Chair of the G8
1999		 Succeeded by
Keizo Obuchi


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Persondata
NAME Schröder, Gerhard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION German politician, Chancellor of Germany
DATE OF BIRTH April 7, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH Mossenberg
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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