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{{short description|Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005}}
{{other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Gerhard Schröder, 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Schröder in 2018
| office = [[Chancellor of Germany]]
| president = [[Roman Herzog]]<br />[[Johannes Rau]]<br />[[Horst Köhler]]
| 1blankname = {{nowrap|[[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]]}}
| 1namedata = [[Joschka Fischer]]
| term_start = 27 October 1998
| term_end = 22 November 2005
| predecessor = [[Helmut Kohl]]
| successor = [[Angela Merkel]]
| office1 = [[Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany]]
| term_start1 = 12 March 1999
| term_end1 = 21 March 2004
| 1blankname1 = General Secretary
| 1namedata1 = [[Franz Müntefering]]<br />[[Olaf Scholz]]
| predecessor1 = [[Oskar Lafontaine]]
| successor1 = [[Franz Müntefering]]
| office2 = [[Minister-President of Lower Saxony]]
| term_start2 = 21 June 1990
| term_end2 = 27 October 1998
| deputy2 = Gerhard Glogowski
| predecessor2 = [[Ernst Albrecht (politician, born 1930)|Ernst Albrecht]]
| successor2 = [[Gerhard Glogowski]]
| office3 = [[President of the German Bundesrat]]
| 1blankname3 = {{nowrap|[[German Bundesrat#Presidency|First Vice President]]}}
| 1namedata3 = [[Erwin Teufel]]
| term_start3 = 1 November 1997
| term_end3 = 27 October 1998
| predecessor3 = Erwin Teufel
| successor3 = [[Hans Eichel]]
| office4 = [[Leader of the opposition (Germany)|Leader of the Opposition]] in the<br />[[Landtag of Lower Saxony]]
| 1blankname4 = {{nowrap|[[Minister-President of Lower Saxony|Minister-President]]}}
| 1namedata4 = [[Ernst Albrecht (politician, born 1930)|Ernst Albrecht]]
| term_start4 = 9 July 1986
| term_end4 = 21 June 1990
| predecessor4 = [[Karl Ravens]]
| successor4 = Jürgen Gansäuer
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Parliamentary constituencies|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office5 = [[Member of the German Bundestag|Member]] of the [[Bundestag]] <br /> for [[Lower Saxony]]
| term_start5 = [[1998 German federal election|26 October 1998]]
| term_end5 = 24 November 2005
| successor5 = [[Clemens Bollen]]
| predecessor5 = ''multi-member district''
| constituency5 = [[Electoral system of Germany|Social Democratic Party List]]
| term_start6 = [[1983 West German federal election|29 March 1983]]
| term_end6 = 1 July 1986
| constituency6 = [[Electoral system of Germany|Social Democratic Party List]]
| predecessor6 = ''multi-member district''
| successor6 = Helmuth Möhring
| term_start7 = [[1980 West German federal election|4 November 1980]]
| term_end7 = [[1983 West German federal election|29 March 1983]]
| constituency7 = [[Hannover-Land I]]
| predecessor7 = ''Constituency established''
| successor7 = Dietmar Kansy
| office8 = Member of the<br />[[Landtag of Lower Saxony]]<br />for [[Lehrte]]
| term_start8 = 9 July 1986
| term_end8 = 26 October 1998
| predecessor8 = Hans-Jürgen Mellentin
| successor8 = Bernadette Schuster-Barkau{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_name = Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|04|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Blomberg, North Rhine-Westphalia|Blomberg]], Germany<!-- Do not link per MOS:GEOLINK -->
| death_date =
| residence = [[Hannover-Zoo|Zoo]], [[Hanover-Mitte]]
| death_place =
| party = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic]]<br>(since 1963)
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Eva Schubach|1968|1972|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Anne Taschenmacher|1972|1984|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|{{ill|Hiltrud Schwetje|de}}|1984|1997|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Doris Köpf]]|1997|2018|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[So-yeon Schröder-Kim]]|2018}}}}
| children = 2
| alma_mater = [[University of Göttingen]]
| signature = Gerhard Schröder Signature.svg
| website = {{URL|gerhard-schroeder.de|Official website}}
| awards = [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Order of Merit]]
}}
'''Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder''' ({{IPA|de|ˈɡeːɐ̯haʁt fʁɪts kʊʁt ˈʃʁøːdɐ|lang|De-Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder.ogg}}; born 7 April 1944) is a German former politician and [[Lobbying|lobbyist]]<ref name="France24 2022">{{cite web |title=Germany loses patience with ex-chancellor's Russia lobbying |date=13 February 2022 |website=France24.com |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220213-germany-loses-patience-with-ex-chancellor-s-russia-lobbying |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> who served as [[Chancellor of Germany]] from 1998 to 2005. From 1999 to 2004, he was also the [[Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD). As chancellor, he led a coalition government of the [[SPD]] and [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]. Since leaving public office, Schröder has worked for Russian state-owned energy companies, including [[Nord Stream AG]], [[Rosneft]], and [[Gazprom]].<ref name="DW.COM 2022">{{cite web |title=Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to join Gazprom board |date=4 February 2022 |website=DW.COM |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-former-chancellor-gerhard-schr%C3%B6der-to-join-gazprom-board/a-60664273 |access-date=28 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="Bennhold-2022">{{Cite news |last=Bennhold |first=Katrin |date=23 April 2022 |title=The Former Chancellor Who Became Putin's Man in Germany |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/world/europe/schroder-germany-russia-gas-ukraine-war-energy.html |access-date=23 April 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Schröder was a lawyer before becoming a full-time politician, and he was [[Minister President of Lower Saxony]] (1990–1998) before becoming chancellor. Replacing the longest-ruling chancellor in modern German history, [[Helmut Kohl]] (CDU), in the [[1998 German federal election|1998 federal election]], he tried to address unemployment and poverty with the [[Agenda 2010]] labour market reform, which increased [[Hartz IV|welfare benefits]]. Together with French president [[Jacques Chirac]], in 2003, he did not join the [[Coalition of the willing (Iraq War)|Coalition of the Willing]] and vehemently criticised the United States for [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. Following the [[2005 German federal elections|2005 election]], which his party lost, he stood down as chancellor in favour of [[Angela Merkel]] of the rival [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]]. He was ''chairman'' of the board at [[Nord Stream AG]] and at [[Rosneft]] but in 2022 resigned from chairmanship and paused his plans to join the board of Russian state-run gas company [[Gazprom]]. Nonetheless, he continues to be a ''member'' of the board at Rosneft. He also had roles as a global manager for investment bank [[N M Rothschild & Sons|Rothschild]], and as chairman of the board of football club [[Hannover 96]].
After the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Schröder was criticized for his policies towards [[Vladimir Putin]]'s government, his work for Russian state-owned companies, and his lobbying on behalf of Russia. In March 2022, the [[Public Prosecutor General (Germany)|Public Prosecutor General]] initiated proceedings related to accusations against Schröder of complicity in [[crimes against humanity]] due to his role in Russian state-owned corporations, while the [[CDU/CSU]] group demanded that Schröder be included in the [[European Union]] sanctions against individuals with ties to the Russian government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strafanzeige gegen Alt-Kanzler Gerhard Schröder |trans-title=Criminal complaint filed against former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/hannover_weser-leinegebiet/Strafanzeige-gegen-Alt-Kanzler-Gerhard-Schroeder,aktuellhannover10490.html |access-date=9 March 2022 |work=NDR}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Schröder-Parteiausschlussverfahren kann laut SPD-Vize dauern – "besonders schwieriger" Fall |trans-title=Schröder expulsion proceedings could take time, says SPD deputy – a "particularly difficult" case. |url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/gerhard-schroeder-ausschlussverfahren-spd-putin-rehlinger-rosneft-91429968.html |access-date=24 March 2022 |work=Merkur}}</ref> An SPD party arbitration committee ruled in March 2023 that he had not violated any party rules and would remain a member of the party.<ref>{{Cite news |title=German ex-leader Schroeder to remain member of Scholz's SPD despite Russia ties |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-ex-leader-schroeder-remain-member-scholzs-spd-despite-russia-ties-2023-03-02/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230530175504/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-ex-leader-schroeder-remain-member-scholzs-spd-despite-russia-ties-2023-03-02/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Schröder was born in [[Blomberg, North Rhine-Westphalia|Blomberg]], [[Free State of Lippe|Lippe]], in [[Nazi Germany]]. His father, Fritz Schröder, a lance corporal in the [[Wehrmacht]], was killed in action in [[World War II]] in Romania on 4 October 1944, almost six months after Gerhard's birth. His mother, Erika (née Vosseler), worked as an agricultural labourer to support herself and her two sons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article110587496/Gerhard-Schroeder-und-seine-Mutter-Erika-Vosseler.html |title=Altkanzler: Gerhard Schröder und seine Mutter Erika Vosseler – Bilder & Fotos – DIE WELT |website=Die Welt |access-date=3 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211165338/http://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article110587496/Gerhard-Schroeder-und-seine-Mutter-Erika-Vosseler.html |archive-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the war, the area where Schröder lived became part of West Germany. He completed an apprenticeship in retail sales in a [[Lemgo]] hardware shop from 1958 to 1961 and subsequently worked in a [[Lage, North Rhine-Westphalia|Lage]] retail shop and after that as an unskilled construction worker and a sales clerk in [[Göttingen]] while studying at night school for a general qualification for university entrance ([[Abitur]]). He did not have to do military service because his father had died in the war.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,128137,00.html|title=Zivildienst: Hat sich Joschka Fischer gedrückt?|work=Der Spiegel|date=17 April 2001|access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116065904/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0%2C1518%2C128137%2C00.html|archive-date=16 November 2006|url-status=live|last1=Schult|first1=Christoph}}</ref> In 1966, Schröder secured entrance to a university, passing the [[Abitur]] exam at Westfalen-Kolleg, [[Bielefeld]]. From 1966 to 1971, he studied law at the [[University of Göttingen]].
In 1976, Schröder passed his second law examination, and he subsequently worked as a lawyer until 1990.<ref name="Lemo">{{Cite web |last=Deutschland |first=Stiftung Deutsches Historisches Museum, Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik |title=Gerade auf LeMO gesehen: LeMO Biografie: Gerhard Schröder |url=https://www.hdg.de/lemo/biografie/gerhard-schroeder.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.hdg.de |language=de}}</ref> Among his more controversial cases, Schröder helped [[Horst Mahler]], a founding member of the [[Red Army Faction|Baader-Meinhof]] terrorist group, to secure both an early release from prison and permission to practice law again in Germany.<ref name="schroeder">{{cite web |last=Thaler |first=Thorsten |date=8 May 1998 |title=Gerhard-Schröder-Biographie: Horst Mahler stellt das Buch eines Konservativen vor Hoffnung keimt im Verborgenen |trans-title=Gerhard Schröder biography: Horst Mahler presents a conservative's book — Hope sprouts in secrecy. |url=http://www.jf-archiv.de/archiv98/208aa7.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212033638/http://www.jf-archiv.de/archiv98/208aa7.htm |archive-date=12 December 2008 |access-date=7 November 2007 |work=Junge Freiheit |language=de}}</ref>
==
Schröder joined the Social Democratic Party in 1963. In 1978, he became the federal chairman of the [[Young Socialists in the SPD|Young Socialists]], the youth organisation of the SPD. He spoke for the dissident [[Rudolf Bahro]], as did President [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Herbert Marcuse]], and [[Wolf Biermann]].
===Member of the German Bundestag, 1980–1986===
In 1980, Schröder was elected to the German [[Bundestag]] (federal parliament), where he wore a sweater instead of the traditional suit. Under the leadership of successive chairmen [[Herbert Wehner]] (1980–83) and [[Hans-Jochen Vogel]] (1983–86), he served in the SPD parliamentary group. He also became chairman of the SPD [[Hanover]] district.
Considered ambitious from early on in his political career, it was widely reported and never denied, that in 1982, a drunken Schröder stood outside the [[West Germany|West German]] [[Federal Chancellery (Bonn)|federal chancellery]] yelling: "I want to get in."<ref>[http://www.politico.eu/article/would-be-chancellor/ Would-be chancellor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100648/http://www.politico.eu/article/would-be-chancellor/ |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[European Voice]]'', 25 February 1998.</ref> That same year, he wrote an article on the idea of a red/green coalition for a book at Olle & Wolter, Berlin; this appeared later in ''[[Die Zeit]]''. Chancellor [[Willy Brandt]], the SPD and SI chairman who reviewed Olle & Wolter at that time, had just asked for more books on the subject.
In 1985, Schröder met the [[East Germany|GDR]] leader [[Erich Honecker]] during a visit to [[East Berlin]]. In the [[1986 Lower Saxony state election]], Schröder was elected to the [[Landtag of Lower Saxony]] and became leader of the SPD group.
===Minister-President of Lower Saxony, 1990–1998===
After the SPD won the state elections in June 1990, Schröder became [[Prime Minister of Lower Saxony|Minister-President of Lower Saxony]] as head of an SPD-[[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]] coalition; in this position, he also won the 1994 and 1998 state elections.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} He was subsequently also appointed to the [[supervisory board]] of [[Volkswagen]], the largest company in Lower Saxony and of which the state of Lower Saxony is a major stockholder.
Following his election as Minister-President in 1990, Schröder also became a member of the board of the federal SPD. In 1997 and 1998, he served as [[President of the German Bundesrat|President]] of the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]]. Between 1994 and 1998, he was also chairman of Lower Saxonian SPD.
During Schröder's time in office, first in coalition with the environmentalist Green Party, then with a clear majority, Lower Saxony became one of the most deficit-ridden of Germany's 16 federal states, and unemployment rose higher than the national average of 12 percent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cowell |first=Alan |date=1998-03-03 |title=To Battle Kohl, a Socialist Who's Pro-Business |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/03/world/to-battle-kohl-a-socialist-who-s-pro-business.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152545/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/03/world/to-battle-kohl-a-socialist-who-s-pro-business.html |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ahead of the [[1994 German federal election|1994 elections]], SPD chairman [[Rudolf Scharping]] included Schröder in his [[shadow cabinet]] for the party's campaign to unseat incumbent [[Helmut Kohl]] as chancellor.<ref>Ferdinand Protzman (30 August 1994), [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/german-opposition-names-shadow-cabinet-in-hopes-of-votes.html German Opposition Names Shadow Cabinet in Hopes of Votes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804140510/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/german-opposition-names-shadow-cabinet-in-hopes-of-votes.html |date=4 August 2018 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> During the campaign, Schröder served as shadow minister of economic affairs, energy and transport.
In 1996, Schröder caused controversy by taking a free ride on the Volkswagen corporate jet to attend the [[Vienna Opera Ball]], along with Volkswagen CEO [[Ferdinand Piëch]]. The following year, he nationalized a big steel mill in Lower Saxony to preserve jobs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cowell |first=Alan |date=1998-03-01 |title=Kohl's Rival Faces a Vote That's Make Or Break |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/01/world/kohl-s-rival-faces-a-vote-that-s-make-or-break.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005201828/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/01/world/kohl-s-rival-faces-a-vote-that-s-make-or-break.html |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In the [[1998 Lower Saxony state election|1998 state elections]], Schröder's Social Democrats increased their share of the vote by about four percentage points over the 44.3 percent they recorded in the previous elections in 1994 – a postwar record for the party in Lower Saxony that reversed a string of Social Democrat reversals in state elections elsewhere.<ref>[[Alan Cowell]] (2 March 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/02/world/german-social-democrat-triumphs-in-key-state-election.html German Social Democrat Triumphs in Key State Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005202355/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/02/world/german-social-democrat-triumphs-in-key-state-election.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
==Chancellor of Germany, 1998–2005==
===Cabinets===
====First cabinet, 1998–2002====
{{Main|First Schröder cabinet}}
Following the [[1998 German federal election|1998 national elections]], Schröder became chancellor as head of an SPD-Green coalition. Throughout his campaign for chancellor, he portrayed himself as a pragmatic ''new'' Social Democrat who would promote economic growth while strengthening Germany's generous social welfare system.<ref>[[Edmund L. Andrews]] (20 October 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/20/world/choice-for-economics-post-spurns-offer-by-schroder.html Choice for Economics Post Spurns Offer by Schroder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152448/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/20/world/choice-for-economics-post-spurns-offer-by-schroder.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
After the resignation of [[Oskar Lafontaine]] as [[Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany|Leader of the Social Democratic Party]] 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 April 1999, in Germany's first session in the restored Reichstag, to applause, he quoted Albanian writer [[Ismail Kadare]], saying: "The Balkans is the yard of the European house, and in no house can peace prevail so long as people kill each other in its yard."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Roger |date=1999-04-20 |title=With Smoked Salmon and Beer, Berlin Greets Parliament |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/20/world/with-smoked-salmon-and-beer-berlin-greets-parliament.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In a move meant to signal a deepening alliance between Schröder and Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] of the United Kingdom,<ref>Rachel Sylvester (29 May 1999), [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/we-say-third-way-you-say-die-neue-mitte-1096855.html We say Third Way, you say die neue mitte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005151218/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/we-say-third-way-you-say-die-neue-mitte-1096855.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The Independent]]''.</ref> the two leaders issued an eighteen-page manifesto for economic reform in June 1999. Titled "Europe: The Third Way",<ref>[[Tony Blair]] and Gerhard Schröder, (19 August 1999) [https://web.archive.org/web/19990819090124/http://www.labour.org.uk/views/items/00000053.html Europe: The Third Way/Die Neue Mitte]</ref> or {{langr|de|"Die Neue Mitte"}} in German, it called on Europe's centre-left governments to cut taxes, pursue labour and welfare reforms and encourage entrepreneurship. The joint paper said European governments needed to adopt a "supply-side agenda" to respond to globalisation, the demands of capital markets and technological change.<ref>[[Edmund L. Andrews]] (20 October 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/09/business/worldbusiness/britishgerman-agenda-marks-break-with-left-manifesto.html British-German Agenda Marks Break With Left : Manifesto Maps Out 'Third Way'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005203051/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/09/business/worldbusiness/britishgerman-agenda-marks-break-with-left-manifesto.html|date=5 October 2017}} ''[[International Herald Tribune]]''.</ref>
Schröder's efforts backfired within his own party, where its left wing rejected the Schröder–Blair call for cutbacks to the welfare state and pro-business policies. Instead, the paper took part of the blame for a succession of six German state election losses in 1999 for the Social Democratic Party. Only by 2000, Schröder managed to capitalise on the [[CDU donations scandal|donations scandal]] of his Christian Democratic opposition to push through a landmark tax reform bill and re-establish his dominance of the German political scene.<ref>Tom Buerkle and John Schmid (22 July 2000), [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/22/news/the-third-wayschroeder-soars-but-blair-stalls.html The Third Way: Schroeder Soars but Blair Stalls] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152528/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/22/news/the-third-wayschroeder-soars-but-blair-stalls.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[International Herald Tribune]]''.</ref>
Schröder's tenure oversaw [[Decision on the Capital of Germany|the seat of government move]] from [[Bonn]] to [[Berlin]]. In May 2001, Schröder moved to his new official residence, the [[Federal Chancellery (Berlin)|Federal Chancellery in Berlin]], almost two years after the city became the seat of the German Government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/bundeskanzleramt-die-ersten-sind-schon-leise-eingezogen/216128.html|title=Bundeskanzleramt: Die ersten sind schon leise eingezogen|work=Tagesspiegel|access-date=1 April 2001}}</ref> He had previously been working out of the building in [[East Berlin|eastern Berlin]] used by the former leaders of [[East Germany]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1308018.stm Schroeder gets new home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005104554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1308018.stm |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[BBC News]]'', 2 May 2001.</ref>
====Second cabinet, 2002–2005====
{{Main|Second Schröder cabinet}}
Throughout the build-up to the [[2002 German federal election|2002 German election]], the Social Democrats and the Green Party trailed the centre-right candidate [[Edmund Stoiber]] until the catastrophe caused by [[2002 European floods|rising floodwater in Germany]] led to an improvement in his polling numbers.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2211615.stm Schroeder buoyed by flood disaster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108074859/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2211615.stm |date=8 January 2017 }} ''[[BBC News]]'', 23 August 2002.</ref> Furthermore, his popular opposition to a war in [[Iraq]] dominated campaigning in the run-up to the polls.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/23/germany.0700/ Schroeder wins second term] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323164545/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/23/germany.0700/ |date=23 March 2018 }} ''[[CNN]]'', 23 September 2002.</ref> At 22 September 2002 vote, he secured another four-year term, with a narrow nine-seat majority down from 21.
In February 2004, Schröder resigned as chairman of the SPD amid growing criticism from across his own party of his reform agenda;<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1453618/Schroder-resigns-SPD-chairmanship.html Schröder resigns SPD chairmanship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101100/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1453618/Schroder-resigns-SPD-chairmanship.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 6 February 2004.</ref><ref>[https://www.economist.com/europe/2004/02/12/a-resigning-matter A resigning matter] ''[[The Economist]]'', 12 February 2004.</ref> [[Franz Müntefering]] succeeded him as chairman. On 22 May 2005, after the SPD lost to the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|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 1 July 2005 by 151 to 296 (with 148 abstaining), after Schröder urged members not to vote for his government in order to trigger new elections. In response, a grouping of left-wing SPD dissidents and the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] agreed to run on a joint ticket in the general election, with Schröder's rival [[Oskar Lafontaine]] leading the new group.<ref>Richard Milne (11 June 2005), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2dce77e4-da15-11d9-b071-00000e2511c8.html New leftwing alliance to challenge SPD]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>
[[File:Gerhard Schroeder MUC-20050910-01.jpg|thumb|"SPD – Trust in Germany": Schröder in [[Esslingen am Neckar|Esslingen]].]]
The 2005 [[2005 German federal elections|German federal elections]] were held on 18 September. After the elections, neither Schröder's SPD-Green coalition nor the alliance between CDU/CSU and the FDP led by [[Angela Merkel]] achieved a majority in parliament, but the CDU/CSU had a stronger popular electoral lead by one percentage point. 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 10 October, 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 considerable control of government policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4325600.stm|title=Merkel named as German chancellor|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=29 April 2007|date=10 October 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313164059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4325600.stm|archive-date=13 March 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Merkel was elected chancellor on 22 November.
On 11 October 2005, Schröder announced that he would not take a post [[First Merkel cabinet|in the new cabinet]] and, in November, he confirmed that he would leave politics as soon as Merkel took office. On 23 November 2005, he resigned his [[Bundestag]] seat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-22 |title=Abschied am Mittwoch: Schröder legt Bundestagsmandat nieder |trans-title=Farewell on Wednesday: Schröder resigns from Bundestag mandate. |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/abschied-am-mittwoch-schroeder-legt-bundestagsmandat-nieder-1278189.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}}</ref>
On 14 November 2005, at an SPD conference in [[Karlsruhe]], 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4434812.stm|title=German parties back new coalition|work=BBC News|access-date=29 April 2007|date=14 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111191948/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4434812.stm|archive-date=11 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Domestic policies===
In his first term, Schröder's government decided to phase out [[nuclear power]], fund [[renewable energy|renewable energies]],<ref>{{cite web |title= Abschied vom Atomstrom |url= https://www.spiegel.de/politik/abschied-vom-atomstrom-a-103cf005-0002-0001-0000-000008452409 |date=23 December 1998 |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=[[Spiegel Online]]}}</ref> institute [[Same-sex marriage in Germany|civil unions]] for same-sex partners, and liberalise the [[naturalization]] law.<ref>{{cite web |title= Politik Schröder: Der Doppel-Paß ist nicht das Ziel der Reform |url= https://m.tagesspiegel.de/politik/schroeder-der-doppel-pass-ist-nicht-das-ziel-der-reform/69244.html |date=23 December 1998 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Nur Kinder erhalten künftig einen Doppelpaß|url= https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article568005/Nur-Kinder-erhalten-kuenftig-einen-Doppelpass.html |date=12 March 1999 |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=[[Die Welt]]}}</ref> During Schröder's time in office, economic growth slowed to only 0.2% in 2002 and Gross Domestic Product shrank in 2003, while German unemployment was over the 10% mark.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-urges-reform-as-spd-celebrates-140th-anniversary/a-876290-1 Schröder Urges Reform as SPD Celebrates 140th Anniversary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101830/http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-urges-reform-as-spd-celebrates-140th-anniversary/a-876290-1 |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 23 May 2002.</ref> Most voters soon associated Schröder with the [[Agenda 2010]] reform program, which included cuts in the [[social welfare]] system ([[national health insurance]], [[unemployment insurance|unemployment payments]], pensions), lower taxes, and reformed regulations on employment and payment. He also eliminated capital gains tax on the sale of corporate stocks in an attempt to make the country more attractive to foreign investors.<ref>Claus Christian Malzahn (14 October 2005), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/the-modern-chancellor-taking-stock-of-gerhard-schroeder-a-379600.html The Modern Chancellor: Taking Stock of Gerhard Schröder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023033112/http://www.spiegel.de/international/the-modern-chancellor-taking-stock-of-gerhard-schroeder-a-379600.html|date=23 October 2012}} ''[[Spiegel Online]]''.</ref> After the 2002 election, the SPD steadily lost support in opinion polls. Many increasingly perceived Schröder's [[Third Way (centrism)|Third Way]] program to be a dismantling of the German [[welfare state]]. Moreover, Germany's high unemployment rate remained a serious problem for the government.<ref>{{cite web |title= Was ist schiefgelaufen auf dem "Dritten Weg"? |url= https://www.boell.de/de/navigation/akademie-dritte-weg-sozialdemokratie-9474.html |date= 21 June 2010 |access-date= 23 May 2022 |work= [[Heinrich Böll Foundation]] |archive-date= 25 June 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220625082640/https://www.boell.de/de/navigation/akademie-dritte-weg-sozialdemokratie-9474.html |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Eine Reform mit Wirkungen und Nebenwirkungen |url= https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/agendazwanzigzehn-hintergrund100.html |date=7 April 2013 |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=[[Tagesschau (German TV programme)|tagesschau.de]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Petra |date=23 February 2021 |title=Alternativlose Sachzwangslogik? |url=https://theozone.uk.com |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=theozone.uk.com}}</ref> Schröder's tax policies were also unpopular; when the satirical radio show ''[[The Gerd Show]]'' released ''The Tax Song'' ({{lang|de|Der Steuersong}}), featuring Schröder's voice (by impressionist [[Elmar Brandt]]) lampooning Germany's [[indirect taxation]], it became Germany's 2002 Christmas #1 hit and sold over a million copies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Der Schwachmaten-Kanzler |first=Reinhard |last=Mohr |date=17 November 2002 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |url= https://www.spiegel.de/politik/der-schwachmaten-kanzler-a-47b0618e-0002-0001-0000-000025718118 |access-date=8 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=«Steuersong»: Hört der Bundeskanzler kein Radio? |first=Undine |last=Freyberg |date=12 November 2002 |work=[[Mitteldeutsche Zeitung]] |url= https://www.mz.de/panorama/steuersong-hort-der-bundeskanzler-kein-radio-2962553 |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> The fact that Schröder served on the [[Volkswagen]] board (a position that came with his position as [[Minister-president#Germany|minister-president]] of Lower Saxony) and tended to prefer pro-car policies led to him being nicknamed the car chancellor ({{lang|de|Auto-Kanzler}}).<ref>{{cite news |title= Der "Autokanzler" in seinem Element |url= https://m.faz.net/aktuell/politik/g-8-gipfel-der-autokanzler-in-seinem-element-1159867.html |date= 9 June 2004 |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|FAZ]]}}</ref>
===European integration===
In 1997, Schröder joined the minister-presidents of two other German states, [[Kurt Biedenkopf]] and [[Edmund Stoiber]], in making the case for a five-year delay in Europe's currency union.<ref>John Schmid (28 July 1997), [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/28/business/worldbusiness/IHT-another-german-premier-seeks-delay-on-the-euro.html Another German Premier Seeks Delay on the Euro] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901083640/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/28/business/worldbusiness/IHT-another-german-premier-seeks-delay-on-the-euro.html |date=1 September 2019 }} ''[[International Herald Tribune]]''.</ref> After taking office, he made his first official trip abroad to France for meetings with President [[Jacques Chirac]] and Prime Minister [[Lionel Jospin]] in October 1998.<ref>Craig R. Whitney (1 October 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/01/world/germany-s-new-leader-gives-france-reassurances-about-ties.html Germany's New Leader Gives France Reassurances About Ties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152412/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/01/world/germany-s-new-leader-gives-france-reassurances-about-ties.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> A 2001 meeting held by both leaders in [[Blaesheim]] later gave the name to a regular series of informal meetings between the French President, the German Chancellor, and their foreign ministers. The meetings were held alternately in France and Germany. At the fortieth anniversary of the [[Elysée Treaty]], both sides agreed that rather than summits being held twice a year, there would now be regular meetings of a council of French and German ministers overseen by their respective foreign affairs ministers.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/1419806/France-and-Germany-hand-in-hand.html France and Germany hand in hand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307054003/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/1419806/France-and-Germany-hand-in-hand.html |date=7 March 2019 }} ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 23 January 2003.</ref> In an unprecedented move, Chirac formally agreed to represent Schröder in his absence at a [[List of European Council meetings|European Council meeting]] in October 2003.<ref>Luke Harding, Jon Henley and Ian Black (16 October 2003), [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/16/france.germany Schröder and Chirac flaunt love affair at summit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100959/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/16/france.germany |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>
In his first months in office, Schröder vigorously demanded that Germany's net annual contribution of about $12,000,000,000 to the [[budget of the European Union]] be cut, saying his country was paying most for European "waste."<ref>[[Roger Cohen]] (27 March 1999), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/27/world/statesmanlike-schroder-pulls-harmony-from-europe-s-hat.html Statesmanlike Schroder Pulls Harmony From Europe's Hat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915151812/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/27/world/statesmanlike-schroder-pulls-harmony-from-europe-s-hat.html |date=15 September 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> He later moderated his views when his government held the rotating [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in 1999.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
In 2003, Schröder and Chirac agreed to share power in the [[institutions of the European Union]] between a [[President of the European Commission]], elected by the [[European Parliament]], and a full-time [[President of the European Council]], chosen by heads of state and government; their agreement later formed the basis of discussions at the [[Convention on the Future of Europe]] and became law with the entry into force of the [[Treaty of Lisbon]].<ref>Dana Spinant (15 January 2003), [http://www.politico.eu/article/paris-and-berlin-cook-up-shock-deal-over-eu-presidency/ Paris and Berlin cook up shock deal over EU presidency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101124/http://www.politico.eu/article/paris-and-berlin-cook-up-shock-deal-over-eu-presidency/ |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref> Ahead of the [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|French referendum on a European Constitution]], Schröder joined Chirac in urging French voters to back the new treaty, which would have enshrined new rules for the expanded EU of 25 member states and widened the areas of collective action.<ref>John Thornhill and Martin Arnold (26 April 2005), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/651ca752-b675-11d9-aebd-00000e2511c8.html Schröder echoes Chirac call for French Yes vote]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>
Also in 2003, both Schröder and Chirac forced a suspension of sanctions both faced for breaching the European Union's fiscal rules that underpin the [[euro]] – the [[Stability and Growth Pact]] – for three years in a row. Schröder later called for a revision of the [[Lisbon Strategy]] and thereby a retreat from Europe's goal of overtaking the United States as the world's most competitive economy by 2010. Instead, he urged the EU to reform the Pact to encourage growth and to seek the reorientation of the €100,000,000,000 annual [[Budget of the European Union|EU budget]] towards research and innovation.<ref>George Parker and Bertrand Benoit (3 November 2004), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6668e5da-2dd1-11d9-a86b-00000e2511c8.html Schröder to urge economic rethink for Europe]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> By 2005, he had successfully pushed for an agreement on sweeping plans to rewrite the Pact, which now allowed EU members with deficits above the original 3% of GDP limit to cite the costs of "the reunification of Europe" as a mitigating factor.<ref>George Parker and Bertrand Benoit (21 March 2005), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6668e5da-2dd1-11d9-a86b-00000e2511c8.html Sweeping rewrite of EU stability pact agreed]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>
Schröder was regarded a strong ally of Prime Minister [[Leszek Miller]] of [[Poland]]<ref>Michal Jaranowski (5 May 2013), [http://www.dw.com/en/leszek-miller-schr%C3%B6ders-role-in-polish-german-relations-underestimated/a-16782684 Leszek Miller: Schröder's role in Polish-German relations 'underestimated'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002171831/http://www.dw.com/en/leszek-miller-schr%C3%B6ders-role-in-polish-german-relations-underestimated/a-16782684 |date=2 October 2017 }} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''.</ref> and supporter of the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union]].<ref>Toby Helm (5 September 2000), [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1354220/Schroder-seeks-to-limit-damage-over-EU-growth-gaffe.html Schröder seeks to limit damage over EU growth 'gaffe'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004091908/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1354220/Schroder-seeks-to-limit-damage-over-EU-growth-gaffe.html |date=4 October 2017 }} ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.</ref> On 1 August 2004, the sixtieth anniversary of the 1944 [[Warsaw Uprising]], he apologised to Poland for "the immeasurable suffering" of its people during the conflict; he was the first German Chancellor to be invited to an anniversary of the uprising. Both Schröder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also supported the [[accession of Turkey to the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Bulletin/2001_2007/2005/10/2005-10-12-rede-von-bundeskanzler-gerhard-schroeder-beim-iftar-essen-am-12-oktober-2005-in-ista.html |title=Rede von Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schröder beim Iftar-Essen am 12. Oktober 2005 in Istanbul |access-date=14 October 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021212906/http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Bulletin/2001_2007/2005/10/2005-10-12-rede-von-bundeskanzler-gerhard-schroeder-beim-iftar-essen-am-12-oktober-2005-in-ista.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
===Foreign policy===
[[File:Aleksander Kwasniewski i Gerhard Schröder.jpg|thumb|left|Gerhard Schröder with Polish President [[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]] on 6 December 2000]]
Marking a clear break with the caution of German foreign policy since World War II, Schröder laid out in 1999 his vision of the country's international role, describing Germany as "a [[great power]] in Europe" that would not hesitate to pursue its national interests.<ref>[[Roger Cohen]] (12 September 1999), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/12/world/a-new-german-assertiveness-on-its-foreign-policy-stance.html A New German Assertiveness On Its Foreign Policy Stance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816154614/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/12/world/a-new-german-assertiveness-on-its-foreign-policy-stance.html |date=16 August 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> Schröder also continued the established Social Democratic political tradition of [[Wandel durch Handel]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennhold |first1=Katrin |title=The Former Chancellor Who Became Putin's Man in Germany |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/world/europe/schroder-germany-russia-gas-ukraine-war-energy.html |access-date=3 July 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 April 2022}}</ref>
Schröder also began seeking a resolution and ways to compensate Nazi-era slave labourers almost as soon as he was elected chancellor. Reversing the hard-line stance of his predecessor, [[Helmut Kohl]], he agreed to the government contributing alongside industry to a [[Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future"|fund]] that would compensate people forced to work in German factories by the Nazi regime and appointed [[Otto Graf Lambsdorff]] to represent German industry in the negotiations with survivors' organisations, American lawyers and the US government.<ref>[[Edmund L. Andrews]] (9 December 1999), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/09/world/schroder-dismisses-demands-to-enlarge-fund-for-nazi-slaves.html Schroder Dismisses Demands To Enlarge Fund for Nazi Slaves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915150307/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/09/world/schroder-dismisses-demands-to-enlarge-fund-for-nazi-slaves.html |date=15 September 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
[[File:Bush and Schröder.jpg|thumb|Gerhard Schröder with US President [[George W. Bush]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] on 9 October 2001]]
Schröder sent forces to [[Kosovo]] and to [[Afghanistan]] as part of [[NATO]] operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/07/afghanistan.terrorism4|title=German troops to join war effort|work=The Guardian|date=6 November 2001|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801013506/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/07/afghanistan.terrorism4|url-status=live}}</ref> Until Schröder's chancellorship, German troops had not taken part in combat actions since [[World War II]]. At the beginning of the [[Iraq]] crisis, Schröder declared in March 2002 that Germany would not take part in the Iraq war without a UN mandate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/schroeders-klarstellung-keine-beteiligung-an-irak-feldzug-ohne-uno-mandat-a-187186.html|work=Der Spiegel|date=15 March 2002|access-date=14 October 2021|title=Schröders Klarstellung: Keine Beteiligung an Irak-Feldzug ohne Uno-Mandat}}</ref> In the summer of 2002, during the federal election campaign, he proclaimed the "German Way" as an alternative to the "American warmongering" in Iraq and presented Germany as a peace power.<ref>{{citation |surname1=Daniel Friedrich Sturm |title=Schröders deutscher Weg |date=6 August 2002 |periodical=Welt Online |trans-title=Schröder's German path |url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article404934/Schroeders-deutscher-Weg.html |access-date=3 July 2016 |language=German}}</ref>
In May 2019 at [[World.minds|WORLD.MINDS]] in Belgrade, 20 years to the day after the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|bombing of Belgrade]] by [[NATO]] troops, Schröder stated unequivocally that in retrospect, if he had to make the decision again, he would authorize the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|aerial bombardment of the former Yugoslavia]] again. Schröder said that "the easiest solution would be to first accept Serbia into the European Union and then within, as an integral part the EU, find a solution [to the Kosovo issue]."<ref>{{cite web|last=Julia|first=Fritsche|date=4 June 2019|title=Brückenschlag zum Balkan|url=https://www.blick.ch/wirtschaft/world-minds-erstmals-in-belgrad-brueckenschlag-zum-balkan-id15357508.html|accessdate=25 March 2021|website=BLICK|publisher=blick.ch}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Geopolitics with Aleksandar Vučić and Gerhard Schröder (WORLD.MINDS Belgrade)| date=13 June 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQhASQz_6c| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/GzQhASQz_6c| archive-date=4 November 2021 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=25 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> With Germany having a long experience with [[terrorism]] itself, Schröder declared solidarity with the United States after the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |last=Doering |first=Kai |date=11 September 2021 |title=Gerhard Schröder: "Uneingeschränkte Solidarität" war wohlüberlegt |trans-title=Gerhard Schröder: "Unconditional solidarity" was well thought out. |url=https://www.vorwaerts.de/artikel/gerhard-schroeder-uneingeschraenkte-solidaritaet-war-wohlueberlegt |accessdate=14 October 2021 |website=Vorwärts |publisher=vorwärts.de}}</ref> When Schröder left office, Germany had 2,000 troops in Afghanistan,<ref>{{cite web|date=11 September 2021|title=KSK troops withdraw from Afghanistan|url=https://www.dw.com/en/ksk-troops-withdraw-from-afghanistan/a-1004754|accessdate=14 October 2021|website=Deutsche Welle|publisher=DW.com}}</ref> the largest contingent from any nation other than the United States, UK, France, Canada and after two years Afghanistan.
====China====
During his time in office, Schröder visited China six times.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-in-china-to-promote-business/a-1046271 Schröder in China to Promote Business] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101543/http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-in-china-to-promote-business/a-1046271|date=5 October 2017}} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 1 December 2003.</ref> He was the first Western politician to travel to Beijing and apologise after NATO jets had [[United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade|mistakenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washingtonpost.com: Schroeder Apologizes to Chinese |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/china051399.htm |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref>Andreas Lorenz (6 November 2009), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hugging-the-panda-gerhard-schroeder-opens-doors-for-german-companies-in-china-a-659417.html Hugging the Panda: Gerhard Schröder Opens Doors for German Companies in China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313182524/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/hugging-the-panda-gerhard-schroeder-opens-doors-for-german-companies-in-china-a-659417.html|date=13 March 2017}} ''[[Spiegel Online]]''.</ref> In 2004, he and Chinese Premier [[Wen Jiabao]] established a secure, direct telephone line.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-has-hotline-to-china/a-1406558-1 Schröder Has Hotline to China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101812/http://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-has-hotline-to-china/a-1406558-1|date=5 October 2017}} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 24 November 2004.</ref> He also pressed for the lifting of the EU [[arms embargo]] on China.<ref>Andreas Lorenz (8 December 2004), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/chinese-weapons-ban-gerhard-s-comrade-a-331590.html Chinese Weapons Ban: Gerhard's Comrade] ''[[Der Spiegel]]''.</ref>
====Middle East====
During their time in government, both Schröder and his foreign minister [[Joschka Fischer]] were widely considered sincerely, if not uncritically, pro-[[Israel]].<ref>[[Steven Erlanger]] (7 April 2002), [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/weekinreview/the-world-the-jewish-question-europe-knows-who-s-to-blame-in-the-middle-east.html The World: The Jewish Question; Europe Knows Who's to Blame in the Middle East] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152414/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/weekinreview/the-world-the-jewish-question-europe-knows-who-s-to-blame-in-the-middle-east.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> In 2004, he declared that "the existence of a state of Israel within secure borders was an historic and political responsibility that is a pillar of our foreign policy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Schröder: Germany Must Help Israel |url=https://www.dw.com/en/schr%C3%B6der-germany-must-help-israel/a-1417328 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=12 March 2004}}</ref> Schröder represented the German government at the funeral service for [[List of kings of Jordan|King]] [[Hussein of Jordan]] in [[Amman]] on 9 February 1999.<ref>John M. Broder (9 February 1999), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/09/world/death-king-americans-clinton-lauds-king-hussein-man-vision-spirit.html Clinton Lauds King Hussein As Man of Vision and Spirit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915025902/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/09/world/death-king-americans-clinton-lauds-king-hussein-man-vision-spirit.html |date=15 September 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>
When British planes joined United States forces [[Bombing of Iraq (1998)|bombing]] [[Iraq]] without consulting the [[United Nations Security Council]] in December 1998, Schröder pledged "unlimited solidarity".<ref>Craig R. Whitney (18 December 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/18/world/two-fronts-international-reaction-critics-paris-kuwait-but-friend-london.html Critics From Paris to Kuwait, but a Friend in London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005201754/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/18/world/two-fronts-international-reaction-critics-paris-kuwait-but-friend-london.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> But, along with French President [[Jacques Chirac]] and many other world leaders, Schröder later spoke out strongly against the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and refused any military assistance in that invasion. Schröder's stance caused political friction between the US and Germany, in particular because he used this topic for his 2002 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 US President [[George W. Bush]] to [[Julius Caesar]] while Schröder's Minister of Justice, [[Herta Däubler-Gmelin]], likened Bush's foreign policy to that of [[Adolf Hitler]]. Schröder's critics accused him of enhancing, and campaigning on, anti-American sentiments in Germany. After his 2002 re-election, Schröder and Bush rarely met, and their animosity was seen as a widening political gap between the US and Europe. Bush stated in his memoirs that Schröder initially promised to support the Iraq war but changed his mind with the upcoming German elections and public opinion strongly against the invasion, to which Schröder responded saying that Bush was "not telling the truth".<ref>{{cite web|last=Khan|first=Adnan R.|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2010/11/24/schroder-bush-dust-up|title=The Schröder-Bush dust-up – World|work=Maclean's|date=24 November 2010|access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> When asked in March 2003 if he was self-critical about his position on Iraq, Schröder replied, "I very much regret there were excessive statements" from himself and former members of his government (which capitalised on the war's unpopularity).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vinocur |first=John |last2=Tribune |first2=International Herald |date=2003-05-05 |title=NEWS ANALYSIS: Schroeder is edging closer to Blair views |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/news/news-analysis-schroeder-is-edging-closer-to-blair-views.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
====Russia====
[[File:Vladimir Putin in Germany 9-10 April 2002-1.jpg|thumb|Schröder with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] at a dinner in Weimar, Germany, on 9 April 2002]]
{{See also|Germany–Russia relations}}
On his first official trip to Russia in late 1998, Schröder suggested that Germany was not likely to come up with more aid for the country. He also sought to detach himself from the close personal relationship that his predecessor, [[Helmut Kohl]], had with Russian President [[Boris Yeltsin]], saying that German-Russian relations should "develop independently of concrete political figures."<ref>Celestine Bohlen (17 November 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/17/world/world-briefing.html Russia: German Aid Likely To End] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005202257/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/17/world/world-briefing.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> Soon after, however, he cultivated close ties with Yeltsin's successor, President [[Vladimir Putin]], in an attempt to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow,<ref>[[Roger Cohen]] (17 June 2000), [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/17/world/putin-discovers-a-new-rapport-with-germany.html Putin Discovers A New Rapport With Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005202556/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/17/world/putin-discovers-a-new-rapport-with-germany.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> including the opening of a gas pipeline over the Baltic Sea exclusively between Russia and Germany (see [[#Gazprom|"Gazprom controversy"]] below). During his time in office, he visited the country five times.
Schröder was criticised 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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,330461,00.html |title=Gerhard Schroeder's Dangerous Liaison |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |access-date=29 April 2007 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2005, Schröder suggested at the ceremonial introduction of the [[Airbus A380]] in Toulouse that there was still "room in the boat" of [[EADS]] for Russia.<ref>Nicola Clark (14 September 2006), [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/business/worldbusiness/14iht-eads.2814910.html Airbus parent rebuffs Russia bid for influence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701104821/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/business/worldbusiness/14iht-eads.2814910.html |date=1 July 2020 }} ''[[International Herald Tribune]]''.</ref>
[[File:Victory Day Parade 2005-26.jpg|thumb|left|Schröder with George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, Jacques Chirac and [[Junichiro Koizumi]] during the [[2005 Moscow Victory Day Parade|Victory Day Parade]] in Moscow, on 9 May 2005]]
In his last days in office in 2005 he signed a deal between Germany and Russian state-owned [[Gazprom]] to build [[Nord Stream 1]] before leaving office and almost immediately joining the pipeline company's board.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/23/germany-gas-russia-dependence/ | title=German state's entanglement with Russian gas shows history of dependence | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> He rejected criticism of the move and announced legal action over reports he would be paid between €200,000 (£134,000) and €1m a year.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/dec/13/russia.germany | title=Schröder faces growing scandal over job with Russian gas giant | newspaper=The Guardian | date=13 December 2005 | last1=Harding | first1=Luke }}</ref> In 2022 he was reportedly paid about $270,000 a year as chairman of the shareholder committee.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/world/europe/schroder-germany-russia-gas-ukraine-war-energy.html | title=The Former Chancellor Who Became Putin's Man in Germany | work=The New York Times | date=23 April 2022 | last1=Bennhold | first1=Katrin }}</ref>
Only a few days after his chancellorship, Schröder joined the board of directors of the Nord Stream 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,444944,00.html|title=It Would Be Wrong to Place Excessive Demands|work=[[Der Spiegel]]|access-date=29 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804072100/http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,444944,00.html|archive-date=4 August 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Schröder's continued close connection to Vladimir Putin and his government after his chancellorship has been widely criticized in [[Germany]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Innenministerium: Ein Gespräch, das die SPD in Erklärungsnot bringt |trans-title=Interior Ministry: A conversation that puts the SPD on the defensive. |url=https://www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/politik/innenministerium-ein-gespr%C3%A4ch-das-die-spd-in-erkl%C3%A4rungsnot-bringt/ar-AATHisq |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=MSN |language=de-DE}}</ref>
== After chancellorship ==
=== Representative role ===
After leaving public office, Schröder represented Germany at the funeral services for [[Death and state funeral of Boris Yeltsin|Boris Yeltsin]] in Moscow (jointly with [[Horst Köhler]] and [[Helmut Kohl]], 2007) and [[Fidel Castro]] in [[Santiago de Cuba]] (jointly with [[Egon Krenz]], 2016).<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/fidel-castro-gerhard-schroeder-vertritt-deutschland-bei-trauerfeier-auf-kuba-a-1123489.html Schröder vertritt Deutschland bei Trauerfeier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130081121/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/fidel-castro-gerhard-schroeder-vertritt-deutschland-bei-trauerfeier-auf-kuba-a-1123489.html |date=30 November 2016 }} ''[[Spiegel Online]]'', 28 November 2016.</ref>
Schröder and [[Kurt Biedenkopf]] served as mediators in a conflict over privatization plans at German railway operator [[Deutsche Bahn]]; the plans eventually fell through.<ref>[http://www.rp-online.de/wirtschaft/schroeder-und-biedenkopf-legen-schlichtungsvorschlag-bei-bahn-vor-aid-1.2336022 Schröder und Biedenkopf legen Schlichtungsvorschlag bei Bahn vor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132836/https://rp-online.de/wirtschaft/schroeder-und-biedenkopf-legen-schlichtungsvorschlag-bei-bahn-vor_aid-8626687 |date=26 September 2020 }} ''[[Rheinische Post]]'', 11 September 2006.</ref> In 2016, he was appointed by Vice-Chancellor [[Sigmar Gabriel]] to mediate (alongside economist [[Bert Rürup]]) in a dispute between two of Germany's leading retailers, [[Edeka]] and [[REWE Group]], over the takeover of supermarket chain Kaiser's Tengelmann.<ref>Florian Kolf and Dana Heide (26 October 2016), [https://global.handelsblatt.com/companies-markets/mediation-man-schroder-630394 Mediation Man Schröder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820162444/https://global.handelsblatt.com/companies-markets/mediation-man-schroder-630394 |date=20 August 2017 }} ''[[Handelsblatt]]''.</ref>
Following the release of German activist Peter Steudtner from a Turkish prison in October 2017, German media reported that Schröder had acted as mediator in the conflict and, on the request of Gabriel, met with President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] to secure the release.<ref>Dieter Wonka (26 October 2017), [http://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Deutschland-Welt/Schroeder-erwirkte-Freilassung-Steudtners Treffen mit Erdogan: Schröder erwirkte Freilassung Steudtners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026112733/http://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Deutschland-Welt/Schroeder-erwirkte-Freilassung-Steudtners |date=26 October 2017 }} ''[[Hannoversche Allgemeine]]''.</ref><ref>Riham Alkousaa (26 October 2017), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-turkey-detentions/turkeys-release-of-german-citizen-sign-of-thawing-ties-gabriel-idUSKBN1CV1HV Turkey's release of German citizen sign of thawing ties: Gabriel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026130221/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-turkey-detentions/turkeys-release-of-german-citizen-sign-of-thawing-ties-gabriel-idUSKBN1CV1HV |date=26 October 2017 }} [[Reuters]].</ref> After the [[2018 Turkish presidential election|2018]] and [[2023 Turkish presidential election|2023]] Turkish presidential elections, he represented the German government at Erdoğan's inauguration ceremony in [[Ankara]] (jointly with [[Christian Wulff]], 2023).<ref>Christiane Schlötzer (9 July 2018), [http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/tuerkischer-praesident-erdoan-er-und-nur-er-1.4046893 Türkischer Präsident Erdoğan: Er und nur er] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710195903/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/tuerkischer-praesident-erdoan-er-und-nur-er-1.4046893 |date=10 July 2018 }} ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 June 2023 |title=Int'l dignitaries attend president's inauguration ceremony – Türkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/intl-dignitaries-attend-presidents-inauguration-ceremony-183695 |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}}</ref>
===Business activities===
Schröder's plans after leaving office as chancellor and resigning his Bundestag seat included resuming his law practice in Berlin, writing a book, and implementing plans for twin pipelines for Gazprom, Russia's leading energy company. He was subsequently retained by the Swiss publisher [[Ringier]] AG as a consultant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ringier.ch/index.cfm?pub=2 |title=Ringier |publisher=Ringier.ch |date=25 February 2013 |access-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128100314/http://www.ringier.ch/index.cfm?pub=2 |archive-date=28 January 2012}}</ref> Other board memberships include the following:
* [[Nord Stream 1]], chairman of the Shareholders' Committee (since 2006)<ref>[https://www.nord-stream.com/about-us/our-shareholders-committee/ Shareholders' Committee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820201152/https://www.nord-stream.com/about-us/our-shareholders-committee/ |date=20 August 2017 }} [[Nord Stream 1]].</ref>
* [[CargoBeamer]], member of the advisory board
* [[China Investment Corporation]] (CIC), member of the international advisory board<ref>[http://www.china-inv.cn/chinainven/Governance/InternationalAdvisoryCouncil.shtml International Advisory Council] [[China Investment Corporation]] (CIC).</ref>
* [[N M Rothschild & Sons]], member of the European Advisory Council (since 2006)<ref>[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/zweite-karriere-schroeder-beraet-die-investmentbank-rothschild-1301636.html Schröder berät die Investmentbank Rothschild] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027193524/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/zweite-karriere-schroeder-beraet-die-investmentbank-rothschild-1301636.html |date=27 October 2016 }} ''[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]'', 24 March 2006.</ref>
* [[Herrenknecht]], deputy chairman of the supervisory board (2017–2022)<ref>Jörg Braun (8 April 2017), [http://www.lahrer-zeitung.de/inhalt.schwanau-schroeder-hilft-jetzt-herrenknecht.fc104822-0aab-47b7-a9c0-222b08ac910c.html Schröder hilft jetzt Herrenknecht] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101058/http://www.lahrer-zeitung.de/inhalt.schwanau-schroeder-hilft-jetzt-herrenknecht.fc104822-0aab-47b7-a9c0-222b08ac910c.html |date=5 October 2017 }} ''Lahrer Zeitung''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerhard Schröder: Ex-Kanzler gibt Aufsichtsratsposten bei Herrenknecht auf - WELT |trans-title=Gerhard Schröder: Former chancellor resigns from supervisory board position at Herrenknecht - WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/plus237226533/Gerhard-Schroeder-Ex-Kanzler-gibt-Aufsichtsratsposten-bei-Herrenknecht-auf.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}</ref>
* [[Hannover 96]], chairman of the supervisory board (2016–2019)<ref>[https://www.hannover96.de/aktuelles/news/details/25408-aufsichtsrat-der-kgaa-gerhard-schroeder-hoert-auf.html Aufsichtsrat der KGaA: Gerhard Schröder hört auf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713075102/https://www.hannover96.de/aktuelles/news/details/25408-aufsichtsrat-der-kgaa-gerhard-schroeder-hoert-auf.html |date=13 July 2019 }} [[Hannover 96]], press release of 4 June 2019.</ref>
* [[TNK-BP]], member of the international advisory board (2009)<ref>Rebecca Staudenmaier (5 November 2017), [http://www.dw.com/en/paradise-papers-expose-tax-schemes-of-global-elite/a-41246087 Paradise Papers expose tax schemes of global elite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304103321/http://www.dw.com/en/paradise-papers-expose-tax-schemes-of-global-elite/a-41246087 |date=4 March 2018 }} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''.</ref>
===Other activities===
In addition, Schröder has held several other paid and unpaid positions since he retired from German politics, including:
* [[Berggruen Institute]], member of the Council for the Future of Europe and the 21st Century Council.<ref>[http://governance.berggruen.org/members/136 Governance Center: Gerhard Schröder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027125557/http://governance.berggruen.org/members/136 |date=27 October 2016 }} [[Berggruen Institute]].</ref>
* [[Bundesliga Foundation]], member of the board of trustees
* [[German Cancer Research Center]] (DKFZ), member of the advisory council<ref>[https://www.dkfz.de/de/spenden/advisory-council.html Advisory Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027130019/https://www.dkfz.de/de/spenden/advisory-council.html |date=27 October 2016 }} [[German Cancer Research Center]] (DKFZ).</ref>
* [[Dresden Frauenkirche]], member of the board of trustees<ref>[http://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/gremien/ Board of Trustees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022032215/http://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/gremien/ |date=22 October 2016 }} [[Dresden Frauenkirche]].</ref>
* [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES), Member<ref>[https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141457/https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ |date=29 July 2018 }} [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES).</ref>
* [[Mädchenchor Hannover]] Foundation, member of the board of trustees<ref>[http://www.maedchenchor-hannover.com/Foundation/trustees.htm Board of Trustees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001933/http://www.maedchenchor-hannover.com/Foundation/trustees.htm |date=2 February 2017 }} Mädchenchor Hannover Foundation.</ref>
* [[Museum Berggruen]], member of the international council<ref>[http://www.icmuseumberggruen.de/en/international-council/members International Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331154253/http://www.icmuseumberggruen.de/en/international-council/members |date=31 March 2019 }} [[Museum Berggruen]].</ref>
* German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV), honorary chairman of the board<ref>[http://www.numov.org/en/about-us/board Board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819154513/http://www.numov.org/en/about-us/board |date=19 August 2016 }} German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV).</ref>
* [[Wilhelm Busch Museum]], chairman of the board of trustees (since 2013)
* [[InterAction Council of Former Heads of State and Government]], Member<ref>[http://www.interactioncouncil.org/members/members.html/ Members]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} [[InterAction Council of Former Heads of State and Government]].</ref>
* International Willy Brandt Prize, member of the jury<ref>[https://www.spd.de/partei/organisation/preise/ International Willy Brandt Prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003072134/https://www.spd.de/partei/organisation/preise/ |date=3 October 2017 }} [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]].</ref>
== Views and controversies ==
=== Relationship with Russian companies ===
As chancellor, Gerhard Schröder was a strong advocate of the [[Nord Stream 1]] pipeline project, which planned to supply Russian gas directly to Germany, thereby bypassing transit countries.<ref name="dwd24">{{cite news |title=Russia's energy empire: Putin and the rise of Gazprom |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akihe-AtpW8 |agency=YouTube |publisher=DW Documentary |date=3 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="dwdgp">{{cite news |title=Russia's Gazprom - Corrupt politicians and the greed of the west |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCNHwH9MxGA |agency=YouTube |publisher=DW Documentary |date=10 February 2024}}</ref>
At the time of the [[2005 German federal election|German parliamentary election]], according to Rick Noak of ''[[The Washington Post]]'':<ref name="Noak-2018">{{cite news |last=Noak |first=Rick |date=11 July 2018 |title=The Russian pipeline to Germany that Trump is so mad about, explained |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/11/the-russian-pipeline-to-germany-that-trump-is-so-mad-about-explained |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=11 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711133407/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/11/the-russian-pipeline-to-germany-that-trump-is-so-mad-about-explained/ |archive-date=11 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote |text=In 2005, Russian President Vladimir Putin's friend Schroeder hastily signed the deal just as he was departing the office from which he had been voted out days earlier. Within weeks, he started to oversee the project implementation himself, leading the Nord Stream AG's shareholder committee.}}
[[File:Nord Stream ceremony in Lubmin. November 8, 2011.jpg|thumb|The Nord Stream opening ceremony on 8 November 2011 with Schröder, [[François Fillon]], [[Angela Merkel]], [[Mark Rutte]], [[Dmitry Medvedev]], [[Günther Oettinger]], and [[Erwin Sellering]]]]
On 24 October 2005, just a few weeks before Schröder stepped down as chancellor, the German government guaranteed to cover 1 billion euros of the Nord Stream project cost, should [[Gazprom]] default on a loan. However, this guarantee was never used.<ref name="Buck-2006">{{cite news |work=Financial Times |first1=Tobias |last1=Buck |first2=Bertrand |last2=Benoit |title=EU to probe German gas pipeline guarantee |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4b16eef6-deb2-11da-acee-0000779e2340.html |date=8 May 2006 |access-date=26 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312190115/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4b16eef6-deb2-11da-acee-0000779e2340.html |archive-date=12 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after stepping down as chancellor, Schröder accepted Gazprom's nomination for the post of the head of the shareholders' committee of [[Nord Stream AG]], raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
German opposition parties expressed concern over the issue, as did the governments of countries over whose territory gas was pumped at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4515914.stm |title=Schroeder attacked over gas post |work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=29 April 2007 |date=10 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904053631/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4515914.stm |archive-date=4 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> In an editorial entitled ''Gerhard Schroeder's Sellout'', the American newspaper ''[[The Washington Post]]'' also expressed sharp criticism, reflecting widening international ramifications of Schröder's new post.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121201060.html |title=Gerhard Schroeder's Sellout |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=29 April 2007 |date=13 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823084510/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121201060.html |archive-date=23 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Democrat [[Tom Lantos]], chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs]], likened Schröder to a "political prostitute" for his recent behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-13-2870151492_x.htm |title=Lantos Raps Former European Leaders |agency=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=13 June 2007 |date=13 June 2007 |first=Harry |last=Dunphy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529191335/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-13-2870151492_x.htm |archive-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2009, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that Schröder would join the board of the oil company [[TNK-BP]], a joint venture between oil major [[BP]] and Russian partners.<ref>{{cite web |last=Herron |first=James |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123203091405585667 |title=WSJ, Schröder to join TNK-BP board, 19 January 2009 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=16 January 2009 |access-date=17 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820160837/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123203091405585667 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2016, Schröder switched to become manager of [[Nord Stream 2]], an expansion of the original pipeline in which Gazprom is sole shareholder.<ref>Stefan Wagstyl (17 August 2017), [https://www.ft.com/content/84a0a330-8336-11e7-a4ce-15b2513cb3ff Germany's SPD criticised over Schröder's post at Rosneft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820061659/https://www.ft.com/content/84a0a330-8336-11e7-a4ce-15b2513cb3ff |date=20 August 2017 }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>
In 2017, Russia nominated Schröder to also be an independent director of the board of its biggest oil producer, [[Rosneft]].<ref name="Maria Kiselyova">Maria Kiselyova (12 August 2017), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-rosneft-board-idUSKBN1AS0FS Russia nominates German ex-chancellor Schroeder to Rosneft board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820160458/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-rosneft-board-idUSKBN1AS0FS |date=20 August 2017 }} [[Reuters]].</ref> At the time, Rosneft was under [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|international sanctions]] over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis.<ref name="Maria Kiselyova" /> Schröder told ''[[Blick]]'' that he would be paid about $350,000 annually for the part-time post.<ref>Stefan Wagstyl (8 August 2017), [https://www.ft.com/content/84a0a330-8336-11e7-a4ce-15b2513cb3ff Germany's SPD criticised over Schröder's post at Rosneft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820061659/https://www.ft.com/content/84a0a330-8336-11e7-a4ce-15b2513cb3ff |date=20 August 2017 }} ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> His decision caused an outcry in Germany and abroad, especially in a climate of fear about any potential Russian interference in the [[2017 German federal election|2017 German elections]].<ref>Holger Hansen (17 August 2017), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-schroeder-idUSKCN1AX1TX German ex-chancellor Schroeder hits back in Russia row before vote] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828230726/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-schroeder-idUSKCN1AX1TX |date=28 August 2017 }} [[Reuters]].</ref> German [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]] criticized her predecessor, saying in August 2017: "I do not think what Mr Schröder is doing is okay".<ref>Paul Carrel (21 August 2017), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-merkel-idUSKCN1B1110 Merkel hits out at predecessor in Russia row before election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827214109/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-merkel-idUSKCN1B1110 |date=27 August 2017 }} [[Reuters]].</ref>
[[File:2018 inauguration of Vladimir Putin 06.jpg|thumb|Schröder at Putin's inauguration with Dmitry Medvedev and [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Patriarch Kirill]] on 7 May 2018]]
In 2019 Schröder and his wife hosted the [[Nordstream Race]], a sailing competition which finished in [[Saint Petersburg]] at the mouth of the undersea pipeline.<ref name="dwdgp"/>
In early February 2022, Schröder was nominated to the board of directors of Gazprom.<ref name=rtrs22>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2022 |title=Former German chancellor Schroeder nominated to join Gazprom board; |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-schroeder-gazprom-avtomatizat-idUKKBN2K91V5 |access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> Later that year, facing criticism in Germany, he decided against taking on the role.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
Especially as tensions between Russia and NATO mounted before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Schröder's stance as a "[[Putinversteher]]" was criticized.<ref name=sudd1>{{Cite web |last1=Klasen |first1=Oliver |last2=Preuß |first2=Roland |title=Gerhard Schröder und Gazprom: Näher am Kreml geht kaum |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/schroeder-gazprom-putin-scholz-1.5522428 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=Süddeutsche.de |date=4 February 2022 |language=de}}</ref> Schröder criticized the behaviour of the western countries as "saber rattling". ARD journalist Georg Schwarte stated that Schröder would no longer be "a former chancellor. At best", he would be an "ex-chancellor with a sense of money."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommentar zu Schröder: Im Ruhestand den Anstand verloren |trans-title=Commentary on Schröder: Lost his sense of decency in retirement. |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/kommentar/schroeder-kommentar-103.html |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=Tagesschau |language=de}}</ref> The current chancellor [[Olaf Scholz]] (SPD) said in early February 2022 that "I don't want his advice."<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 February 2022 |title=Scholz über Schröder: "Es gibt nur einen Bundeskanzler, und das bin ich" |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/olaf-scholz-ueber-gerhard-schroeder-es-gibt-nur-einen-bundeskanzler-und-das-bin-ich-a-d8fc950a-4511-49ae-b1e3-6054ad674363 |access-date=10 February 2022 |issn=2195-1349}}</ref> On 24 February 2022, Schröder condemned the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and said that "even Russia's security interests do not justify the use of military means."<ref>{{cite news |title=Germany's Schroeder Condemns Russian Invasion Of Ukraine |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-s-schroeder-condemns-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-01645717507 |work=Barron's |agency=Agence France Presse |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> In March 2022, Schroder met with both Ukrainian and Russian officials as an unofficial mediator between the two sides in [[Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|peace talks]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Schröder presses on with Ukraine peace bid after 'intense' meeting with Putin |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/gerhard-schroder-putin-moscow-russia-ukraine-invasion/ |work=Politico |date=14 March 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, it was reported that Schroeder was paid nearly $1 million per year by Russian energy companies.<ref name="Bennhold-2022" />
In their book ''[[Die Moskau-Connection. Das Schröder-Netzwerk und Deutschlands Weg in die Abhängigkeit|Die Moskau Connection]]'', journalists Bingener and Wehner describe the network around Schröder and his support for Putin's policies. Their conclusion is:<ref>Reinhard Bingener, Markus Wehner: ''Die Moskau Connection. Das Schröder-Netzwerk und Deutschlands Weg in die Abhängigkeit''. C.H. Beck, München 2023, p. 275.</ref>
{{quote|Schröder would have had quite a few opportunities to take a different path after his chancellorship. While researching this book, the authors did hear several explanations for why he did not, including defiance, greed and stubbornness. His actions nevertheless remain a mystery.}}
=== Views on Navalny ===
After [[Alexei Navalny]] was poisoned and hospitalized in Germany, Schröder was found to be relativizing the alleged attack on Navalny. Navalny, after hearing of Schröder's apologizing of Putin's regime, called Schröder, in [[Paul Lendvai]]'s translation a "Laufbursche Putins" (roughly "Putin's footman").<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/live/fmpR8-av3XQ?si=pFXARXkEYl6Q_I3L | title=Wiener Vorlesung 29.4.2024: Karl Kraus: Satire gegen Unwahrheiten aller Art | website=[[YouTube]] | language=de}} Quote at c.36 minutes</ref>
=== 2002 defamation lawsuit ===
In April 2002, Schröder sued the DDP press agency for publishing an opinion of [[public relations]] consultant Sabine Schwind saying that he "would be more credible if he didn't dye his gray hair". The court decided to ban the media from suggesting that he colours his hair.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A36035-2002May17¬Found=true |title=Court: Stay Out of Schroeder's Hair |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=29 April 2007 |first=Peter |last=Finn |date=18 May 2002 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132845/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A36035-2002May17¬Found=true |url-status=dead}}</ref> <!--Unnecessary given the sentence afterward?: The case was taken seriously by politicians.--> The Chancellor's spokesman said: "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".
=== 2007 dispute over Estonian war memorial ===
During a heated dispute between Russia and [[Estonia]] in May 2007 over [[Bronze Night|the removal of a Soviet-era war memorial]] from the centre of the Estonian capital [[Tallinn]] to a military cemetery, Schröder defended the Kremlin's reaction. He remarked that Estonia had contradicted "every form of civilised behaviour".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/europeview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9142057&fsrc=nwl |title=How to fight back |newspaper=[[The Economist]] | access-date=10 May 2007 |date=10 May 2007 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132831/https://www.economist.com/europe/2007/05/10/how-to-fight-back |url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, the Estonian government cancelled a planned visit by Schröder in his function as chairman of [[Nord Stream 1]] AG, which promotes the petroleum pipeline from Russia to Germany.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
=== Kosovo independence ===
Schröder has criticised some European countries' swift decision to recognise [[Kosovo]] as an independent state after it unilaterally [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|declared independence]] from [[Serbia]] in February 2008. He believes the decision was taken under heavy pressure from the US government and has caused more problems, including the weakening of the so-called pro-EU forces in Serbia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=05&nav_id=49989 |title=Schroeder: Kosovo recognition "against Europe's interests" |work=B92 |date=5 May 2008 |access-date=5 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507200059/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=05&nav_id=49989 |archive-date=7 May 2008}}</ref>
=== Israeli-Palestinian conflict ===
In 2006, Schröder caused controversy when he called for direct talks with the [[Hamas]]-controlled [[Palestinian Authority]] to resolve the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], and criticised the Israeli government's plans to "draw a unilateral border". His words drew criticism from all major German political parties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schröder Rebuked for Urging for Talks with Hamas |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/ex-chancellor-contradicts-eu-schroeder-rebuked-for-urging-for-talks-with-hamas-a-418717.html |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=30 May 2006}}</ref>
=== South Ossetia and Crimea ===
In August 2008, Schröder laid the blame for the [[2008 South Ossetia war]] squarely on Georgian President [[Mikhail Saakashvili]] and "the West", hinting at American foreknowledge.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,572686-2,00.html |title=Serious Mistakes by the West |work=[[Der Spiegel]] | access-date=21 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824234500/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,572686-2,00.html |archive-date=24 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2014, Schröder likened Russia's [[2014 Crimean crisis|intervention in Crimea]] with [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]], citing both cases as violations of [[international law]] and the [[UN Charter]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2014-03/ukraine-russland-putin-schroeder |title=Putin verstehen mit Gerhard Schröder |work=[[Die Zeit]] | language=de |date=9 March 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309174705/http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2014-03/ukraine-russland-putin-schroeder |archive-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/russland-und-die-krim-gerhard-schroeder-nennt-putins-vorgehen-voelkerrechtswidrig-12838902.html |title=Gerhard Schröder nennt Putins Vorgehen völkerrechtswidrig |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] | language=de |date=9 March 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311053506/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/russland-und-die-krim-gerhard-schroeder-nennt-putins-vorgehen-voelkerrechtswidrig-12838902.html |archive-date=11 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He further stated that there had been "unhappy developments" on the outskirts of the former Soviet Union since the end of the [[Cold War]], leading Putin to develop justifiable "fears about being encircled".<ref name="Paterson2014a">{{cite news |last1=Paterson |first1=Tony |title=Merkel fury after Gerhard Schroeder backs Putin on Ukraine |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10697986/Merkel-fury-after-Gerhard-Schroeder-backs-Putin-on-Ukraine.html |access-date=6 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825005442/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10697986/Merkel-fury-after-Gerhard-Schroeder-backs-Putin-on-Ukraine.html |archive-date=25 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 March 2014, an attempt by the German Green Party to ban Schröder from speaking in public about Ukraine was narrowly defeated in the European parliament.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10697986/Merkel-fury-after-Gerhard-Schroeder-backs-Putin-on-Ukraine.html |title=telegraph.co.uk: "Merkel fury after Gerhard Schroeder backs Putin on Ukraine" 14 Mar 2014 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223224028/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10697986/Merkel-fury-after-Gerhard-Schroeder-backs-Putin-on-Ukraine.html |archive-date=23 February 2018 |url-status=live |date=14 March 2014 |last1=Paterson |first1=Tony}}</ref> His decision to celebrate his 70th birthday party with Putin in [[Saint Petersburg]]'s [[Moika Palace|Yusupov Palace]] in late April elicited further criticism from several members of Merkel's grand coalition, including human rights spokesperson {{ill|Christoph Strässer|de|lt=Christoph Strässer.|v=sup}}<ref name="Paterson2014b">{{cite news |last1=Paterson |first1=Tony |title=Gerhard Schroeder's birthday party with Vladimir Putin angers Germany |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10795042/Gerhard-Schroeders-birthday-party-with-Vladimir-Putin.html |access-date=6 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph |date=29 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906065124/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10795042/Gerhard-Schroeders-birthday-party-with-Vladimir-Putin.html |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Paradise Papers ===
{{See also|Paradise Papers}}
In November 2017, an investigation conducted by the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists|International Consortium of Investigative Journalism]] cited his name in [[List of people and organisations named in the Paradise Papers|the list of politicians named in]] "[[Paradise Papers]]" allegations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/explore-politicians-paradise-papers/ |title=Explore The Politicians in the Paradise Papers |work=ICIJ |access-date=6 December 2017 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106011937/https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/explore-politicians-paradise-papers/ |archive-date=6 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 2022 suit against the German Parliament ===
In August 2022, Schröder filed a suit with the Berlin administrative court against the [[Bundestag]] that sought to reinstate his privileges as former chancellor, appealing a decision to close his office and reallocate its remaining staff.<ref>Maria Sheahan (12 August 2022), [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-ex-chancellor-schroeder-sues-bundestag-regain-privileges-dpa-2022-08-12/ German ex-chancellor Schroeder sues Bundestag to regain privileges, DPA reports] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref><ref>Guy Chazan (12 August 2022), [https://www.ft.com/content/9e247df5-9066-4fca-85e7-bf5f3aabb00b Gerhard Schröder sues German parliament for shutting down his office] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> He lost cases with two Berlin courts to reverse the decision in 2023 and 2024, respectively.<ref>Alex Ratz and Sarah Marsh (6 June 2024), [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/former-german-chancellor-schroeder-loses-case-get-bundestag-office-back-2024-06-06/ Former German chancellor Schroeder loses case to get Bundestag office back] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>
==Personal life==
[[File:Soyeon Kim Gerhard Schröder 8751.jpg|thumb|{{ill|So-yeon Schröder-Kim|lt=Kim So-Yeon|de}} and Gerhard Schröder, 2018]]
Schröder has been married five times:
* Eva Schubach (married 1968, divorced 1972);
* Anne Taschenmacher (married 1972, divorced 1984);
* [[:de:Hiltrud Schwetje|Hiltrud "Hillu" Hampel]] (married 1984, divorced 1997);
* [[Doris Köpf]] (married 1997, divorced 2018);<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Uebersicht/Die-Trennung-von-Gerhard-Schroeder-und-Doris-Schroeder-Koepf-ist-endgueltig |title=Die Trennung der Schröders ist endgültig |access-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914161655/http://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Uebersicht/Die-Trennung-von-Gerhard-Schroeder-und-Doris-Schroeder-Koepf-ist-endgueltig |archive-date=14 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{Interlanguage link|So-yeon Schröder-Kim|de}} (married 2018)
Doris Köpf had a daughter from a previous relationship with a television journalist. She lived with the couple. In July 2004, Schröder and Köpf adopted a child from [[Saint Petersburg]]. In 2006, they adopted another child from Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/article146254/Schroeder_nimmt_noch_ein_Kind_auf.html|title=Schröder nimmt noch ein Kind auf|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=17 August 2006|access-date=29 April 2007|language=de|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132859/https://www.welt.de/politik/article146254/Schroeder-nimmt-noch-ein-Kind-auf.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Schröder rents an apartment in Berlin while retaining his primary residence in Hanover. As a former chancellor, he is entitled to a permanent office, also situated in Berlin. In late 2005, he spent time in the UK improving his English language skills.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2005 |title=Schroeder's Welsh English course |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4509818.stm |url-status=live |access-date=29 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614133645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4509818.stm |archive-date=14 June 2007}}</ref> In 2013, Schröder and Köpf purchased another home in [[Gümüşlük]], [[Turkey]], in a real estate project developed by [[Nicolas Berggruen]].<ref>[http://www.bunte.de/vermischtes/gerhard-schroeder-besitzt-ferienhaus-berggruen-siedlung-27898.html ''Gerhard Schröder besitzt Ferienhaus in Berggruen-Siedlung''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407154239/http://www.bunte.de/vermischtes/gerhard-schroeder-besitzt-ferienhaus-berggruen-siedlung-27898.html |date=7 April 2017 }}, ''[[Bunte]]'', 3 April 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.rp-online.de/panorama/gerhard-schroeder-kauft-haus-in-der-tuerkei-aid-1.3303204 ''Gerhard Schröder kauft Haus in der Türkei''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101346/http://www.rp-online.de/panorama/gerhard-schroeder-kauft-haus-in-der-tuerkei-aid-1.3303204 |date=5 October 2017 }}, ''[[Rheinische Post]]'', 5 April 2013.</ref>
Schröder's fourth marriage earned him the nickname "Audi Man", a reference to the four-ring symbol of [[Audi]] motorcars.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brett|first=Oliver|title=What's in a nickname?|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7829013.stm|access-date=15 August 2013|publisher=BBC|date=15 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7829013.stm|archive-date=20 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Another nickname is "The Lord of the Rings".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/germany/article/0,2763,792629,00.html|title=The Audi man|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=29 April 2007|first=Kate|last=Connolly|date=15 September 2002|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132859/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/15/germany.eu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/19/wger219.xml|title=The 'Audi Man' is not quite ready to concede defeat|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=29 April 2007|first=Charles|last=Moore|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926132902/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/?xml=%2Fnews%2F2005%2F09%2F19%2Fwger219.xml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Schröder married for the fifth time in 2018. His wife is South Korean economist and interpreter Kim So-yeon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dw.com/en/former-german-chancellor-gerhard-schr%C3%B6der-to-wed-for-fifth-time/a-42302027 |title=Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to Wed For Fifth Time |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126234451/http://www.dw.com/en/former-german-chancellor-gerhard-schr%C3%B6der-to-wed-for-fifth-time/a-42302027 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43950633 |title=Former German chancellor 'sued for affair' |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702103035/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43950633 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=30 April 2018 }}</ref>
Schröder is [[Lutheranism|Lutheran-Protestant]].<ref name="bio dbt">{{cite web |title=Gerhard Schröder, SPD |url=https://webarchiv.bundestag.de/archive/2010/0427/bundestag/abgeordnete/bio/S/schroge0.html |website=Mitglieder 16. Wahlperiode (Members 16th term) |publisher=German Bundestag |access-date=8 September 2023 |___location=Berlin |language=German}}</ref> He did not add the optional phrase "so help me God" ({{lang|de|So wahr mir Gott helfe}}) when sworn in as chancellor for his first term in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/10/27/world/main21100.shtml|title=Schroeder Takes Germany's Helm Social Democrat Sworn in As Chancellor Tuesday|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=8 January 2008|date=27 October 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024045952/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/10/27/world/main21100.shtml|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Schröder is known to be an avid art collector. He chose his friend [[Jörg Immendorff]] to paint his official portrait for the [[German Chancellery]]. The portrait, which was completed by Immendorff's assistants, was revealed to the public in January 2007; the massive work has ironic character, showing the former chancellor in stern heroic pose, in the colors of the German flag, painted in the style of an [[icon]], surrounded by little monkeys.<ref>[http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/01/20/673044.html ''Der goldene Gerd''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011534/http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/01/20/673044.html |date=28 September 2007 }}, ''[[Hamburger Abendblatt]]'', 20 January 2007. {{in lang|de}}</ref> These "painter monkeys" were a recurring theme in Immendorff's work, serving as an ironic commentary on the artist's practice. On 14 June 2007, Schröder gave a eulogy at a memorial service for Immendorf at the [[Alte Nationalgalerie]] in Berlin.<ref>Gabriela Walde (14 June 2007), [https://www.welt.de/kultur/article947129/Bewegende-Trauerfeier-fuer-Joerg-Immendorff.html ''Bewegende Trauerfeier für Jörg Immendorff''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130194406/https://www.welt.de/kultur/article947129/Bewegende-Trauerfeier-fuer-Joerg-Immendorff.html |date=30 November 2016 }}, ''[[Die Welt]]''.</ref>
In February 2025, Schröder was hospitalised due to [[Occupational burnout|severe burnout syndrome]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-former-chancellor-gerhard-schroeder-burnout-a5403fba5faf89d9a6d3c02f6d8e5d98 |title=Former German leader Gerhard Schröder receives treatment after showing signs of burnout |work=[[AP News]] |access-date=4 February 2025 |date=4 February 2025 }}</ref>
==Awards and honours==
===Honours===
====National honours====
* {{flag|Germany}}: [[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 7 Grosskreuz.svg|70px|class=noviewer]] Grand Cross 1st Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (1999)<ref name="j040">{{cite web | title=Schröders Orden und Steinmeiers Beitrag | website=The Pioneer | date=12 April 2022 | url=https://www.thepioneer.de/originals/others/articles/schroeders-orden-und-steinmeiers-beitrag | language=de | access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref>
====Foreign honours====
* {{flag|Georgia|1990}}: [[File:GEO Golden Fleece Order BAR.svg|70px|class=noviewer]] [[Order of the Golden Fleece (Georgia)|Order of the Golden Fleece]] (2000)
* {{flag|Poland}}: [[File:POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg|70px|class=noviewer]] [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]] (2002)
* {{flag|Romania}}: [[File:ROU Order of the Star of Romania 1999 GCross BAR.svg|70px|class=noviewer]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Star of Romania]] (2004)
* {{flag|Croatia}}: [[File:Ribbon of a Grand Order of Queen Jelena.png|70px|class=noviewer]] Knight Grand Cross of the [[Grand Order of Queen Jelena]], "for exceptional merit in the recognition of Croatia and the support of Croatia on the road to the EU". (2007)
* {{flag|Czech Republic}}: [[File:CZE Rad Bileho Lva 1 tridy BAR.svg|70px|class=noviewer]] [[Order of the White Lion]] (2017)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article212380231/Tschechischer-Praesident-zeichnet-Altkanzler-Schroeder-aus.html |title=Tschechischer Präsident zeichnet Altkanzler Schröder aus |language=de |work=[[Hamburger Abendblatt]] |date=28 October 2017 |access-date=28 October 2017 |agency=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur|dpa]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065946/https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article212380231/Tschechischer-Praesident-zeichnet-Altkanzler-Schroeder-aus.html |archive-date=29 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Other honours====
* In 2000, Schröder receive the Deutscher Medienpreis in [[Baden-Baden]], Baden-Württemberg.
* In 2007, Schröder receive the [[Quadriga (award)|Quadriga Prize]] in Berlin.
* On 28 May 2008, Schröder was elected as corresponding member of the Department of Social Sciences of the [[Russian Academy of Sciences]]
===Honorary degrees===
* On 30 December 2002, Schröder was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[Tongji University]] in Shanghai.
* In June 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[St. Petersburg University]].
* On 4 April 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[Marmara University]] in [[Istanbul]].
* On 14 June 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[University of Göttingen]] in [[Göttingen]], Lower Saxony.
* On 17 June 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[University of Damascus]] in [[Damascus]], Syria.
* In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[University of Urbino]] in [[Urbino]], Italy.
===Rescinded honours===
* On 24 February 2006, Schröder became an honorary citizen of his hometown of [[Hanover]]. In March 2022, in response to his collusion with Russia and [[Vladimir Putin]], the city council of Hanover initiated proceedings to strip Schröder of his honorary citizenship. Shortly before the formal vote to strip him of the honorary citizenship, Schröder countered by writing to the mayor that he relinquished the honorary citizenship "for eternity".<ref name="Die Welt">{{cite news |title=Schröder verzichtet auf Ehrenbürgerschaft – Ukraine kritisiert dessen Kreml-Mission scharf |trans-title=Schroeder renounces honorary citizenship – Ukraine sharply criticizes his Kremlin mission |date=16 March 2022 |language=de |work=Die Welt |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article237556031/Schroeder-Altkanzler-verzichtet-unwiderruflich-auf-Ehrenbuergerschaft-Hannovers.html |access-date=8 March 2024 }}</ref>
==Bibliography==
* Gerhard Schröder and [[Ulrich Wickert]]: ''Deutschland wird selbstbewusster''. Hohenheim-Verlag, 2000, {{ISBN|3-89850-010-1}}.
==See also==
* [[Politics of Germany]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Further reading==
* Béla Anda, Rolf Kleine: ''Gerhard Schröder. Eine Biographie''. Ullstein, Berlin 1996, {{ISBN|3-550-07092-6}} (updated 2nd edition Ullstein, 2002, {{ISBN|3-548-36387-3}}).
* [[:de:Jürgen Hogrefe|Jürgen Hogrefe]]: ''Gerhard Schröder: Ein Porträt''. Siedler Verlag, Berlin 2002, {{ISBN|3-88680-757-6}}.
* [[:de:Reinhard Urschel|Reinhard Urschel]]: ''Gerhard Schröder''. DVA, 2002, {{ISBN|3-421-05508-4}}.
* [[:de:Gregor Schöllgen|Gregor Schöllgen]]: ''Gerhard Schröder. Die Biographie''. Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 2015, {{ISBN|978-3421046536}}.
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.gerhard-schroeder.de Official homepage of Gerhard Schröder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306165239/http://www.gerhard-schroeder.de/ |date=6 March 2021 }}
* [https://www.facebook.com/Gerhard.Schroeder Gerhard Schröder on Facebook]
* {{in lang|de}} [http://www.dhm.de/ausstellungen/spuren_der_macht/schroeder_index.htm Pictures "Spuren der Macht"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227041841/http://www.dhm.de/ausstellungen/spuren_der_macht/schroeder_index.htm |date=27 December 2007 }}
* [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1646981,00.html From Ironmonger's Apprentice to Chancellor], ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', July 2005
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2242899.stm Profile: Gerhard Schroeder], ''BBC News'', July 2005
* [http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,379600,00.html The Modern Chancellor: Taking Stock of Gerhard Schröder], ''[[Der Spiegel]] Online'', 14 October 2005
* [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304141204577508530981893226 Gerhard Schröder: The Man Who Rescued the German Economy] by [[Raymond Zhong]], [[Wall Street Journal]], 7 July 2012
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