Schröder before the Climate Foundation Committee: Time for the truth!

Schröder before the Climate Foundation Committee: Time for the truth!

The political stage is becoming exciting again because former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has signaled his willingness to testify before the committee of inquiry into the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate Foundation. After initially being rejected due to health problems caused by burnout, he now wants to speak out. However, not in person: Schröder will be connected via video from his office in Hanover on October 17, 2025, as [ndr.de reports](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/ committee-zur-klimastiftung-mv-altkanzler-schroeder-will-aussagen,klimastiftung-104.html).

“But I don’t want to go public,” his lawyer says. The interrogation should therefore take place in the background while the committee takes a closer look at the cash flows of Nord Stream 2 AG to establish the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate Protection Foundation. This foundation was set up to untangle the controversies surrounding the natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea.

Schröder's role and the investigation

Schröder, who was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nord Stream 2 AG in 2016, sees it as his duty to present his point of view. The committee also has to contend with an unresolved catalog of questions. It remains unclear whether the state government was involved in the work surrounding the pipeline. 75 meetings have now been held to examine the state government's involvement, and the committee could potentially uncover explosive details, such as spiegel.de notes.

Schröder explains that he has no concerns about the pipeline and points to the need for “cheap and secure” energy for Germany. He sees pipelines as more environmentally friendly than switching to liquefied natural gas, which is more difficult to transport. Nevertheless, he has gaps in his memory regarding the founding of the foundation and refers to his colleague Matthias Warnig in this context.

Health aspects and public statements

Schröder, who was present at the election of Prime Minister Olaf Lies in the Lower Saxony state parliament a few days ago and appeared to be healthy, has now cited health restrictions that prevent him from taking part in person. He himself emphasizes that he doesn't shy away from unpleasant tasks, but that his health is putting a damper on his plans. In the event that he is unable to testify again for health reasons, he must submit an official medical report. The committee has already received statements from CDU politicians Kuhn and Glawe in order to bring clarity to the matter.

It will therefore be exciting to see whether Schröder will soon be able to take part in the trial despite his health challenges. “We wish him to be healthy enough to speak,” said Sebastian Ehlers, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the committee. While Schröder plans to take short trips to recover, Schwerin is left out.

The developments will certainly continue to be the focus of the media, and the upcoming meetings of the investigative committee will show whether Schröder's statements can finally shed light on the matter, as suggested by sueddeutsche.de. The residents of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are likely to be eagerly awaiting the coming revelations.