Schröder speaks for the first time: Video statement in the North Stream Committee!

Schröder speaks for the first time: Video statement in the North Stream Committee!

Gerhard Schröder, the former Chancellor of the SPD, announced that it can testify on October 17, 2025 in front of the committee of inquiry to north stream 2 pipeline. The orchard in Schwerin becomes the scene of this survey, but Schröder plans not to make its statements personally. Instead, he would like to switch on his office in Hanover by video connection. Nevertheless, his state of health is anything but stable. When he canceled an appointment in the committee at the beginning of the year, he stated that he suffered from a burnout, which questions his interrogation. The committee chairman Sebastian Ehlers therefore initiated normative steps to request an official medical report if Schröder refuses again. "Schröder has time to present the report by the end of August," says the Tagesschau .

It is not the first time that Schröder should appear in front of the committee. He has already canceled a statement twice, always for health reasons. The committee is particularly interested in the role of the “Climate and Environmental Protection MV” foundation financed by Russia, which is in the context of Nord Stream 2. A participation that Schröder has received as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the North Stream 2-AG. "His role as a witness is considered crucial", the n-tv Sure.

Schröder's health in focus

The reports on the health status of the former chancellor have been mixed. According to a psychiatrist, Schröder suffers from a “severe burn-out syndrome”, which is expressed in concentration and memory difficulties. But his public appearance in May 2025 raised questions: "If he really looked sick, or was it all just part of the game?", Asks in political circles. This discrepancy leads to doubts about its ability to negotiate.
However, his lawyer, Hans-Peter Huber, has set up conditions for the planned video conference. He demands that the survey take place without an audience and that Schröder has the opportunity to take breaks during the interrogation. "We want to find a solution that meets both Schröder claims and the requirements of the committee," said Huber.
Schröder's applications, however, were not supported by everyone in the committee. The Greens' chairman in the committee of inquiry, Hannes Damm, urges a direct interrogation.

political implications

The results of this survey could have far -reaching consequences for the political landscape. The committee of inquiry wants to investigate how Russia may have had an impact on the decisions of the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, especially with regard to the north stream 2 pipeline. The foundation launched by the state government should secure the completion of the pipeline, but a failed attempt to dissolve after the Ukraine conflict gives further occasion. "This is a hot iron that we absolutely have to tackle," says Ehlers, with the Merkur

whether with or without papers from the official doctor, the next commission will specify a pioneering direction for political relationships between Germany and Russia. It is to be hoped that Schröder will face the Situation despite all the adversities and bring light into the dark.