MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian government on Friday named Schroeder, the former head of the SPD, one of the candidates for the Rosneft board of directors.
Gerhard Schroeder is now basically a member of the Russian kleptocracy--and the current head of the Social Democrats defends him. I'm angry. https://t.co/AyIxKVzlb0
— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) 16 августа 2017 г.
"I will stand for the office, despite the criticisms that I consider groundless," Schroeder said, as quoted by the Blink newspaper.
He also told reporters that his yearly salary as a non-executive director, net of Russian tax, will total $350,000. Commenting on the Schulz's position on the issue, Schroeder said that he would support the party's leader in the upcoming election.
"Everyone needs to know what he says. I will support Martin Schulz's election campaign anyway, if he wants me to… I do not think that my mandate [of Rosneft's board member] will do harm to my party," he said.
The former chancellor added that Russia's integration into the world economy and the integration of Russia's energy industry played a significant role. He also noted that Rosneft had considerable interests in Germany, especially in the east.
Schroeder held the office of the German chancellor in 1998-2005 and was the leader of the SPD in 1999-2004. Since 2005, Schroeder has been on the board of Nord Stream pipeline project, supplying gas from Russia to the European Union.