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Regina Laska wrote that CDA chairman Dennis Radtke (CDU) referred to Gerhard Schröder's recent appearance in Moscow in the Tagesspiegel as a "case of moral bankruptcy" and called on the SPD to expel the former chancellor from the party. Laska agreed with him. Schröder was too ill to testify before a parliamentary inquiry but fit enough to celebrate Vladimir Putin's birthday in Moscow and accept a new supervisory board position in Russia. According to Laska, the SPD state chairpersons in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are now also demanding a new expulsion procedure. The SPD district of Upper Palatinate voted unanimously in favor of it on Saturday. Schleswig-Holstein's SPD leader Ulf Kämpfer stated that the paths of the party and Schröder had parted ways many years ago. Laska asked why Schröder was still a member of the SPD. Previous expulsion procedures had failed in 2022 and 2023. It is not only about Schröder's differing stance on Russia policy, Laska wrote, but also about his demonstrative loyalty to Putin, who has been waging a war of annihilation against Ukraine for more than four and a half years. She also pointed out that SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner had praised Schröder's visit to Putin. Pierre Orthen, chairman of the SPD local club in Baden-Württemberg's Leutenbach, publicly questioned whether this was in line with the responsibilities of a member of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee. Laska wrote that Stegner had held talks with Kremlin-affiliated representatives in Baku in April 2025. It apparently concerned the future of the Petersburg Dialogue, which Schröder co-founded with Putin in 2001. In June 2026, Stegner was said to have praised Schröder's connection to Putin; now he had attended Putin's birthday party. Laska asked what these contacts had achieved for peace in Ukraine and wrote that anyone justifying such talks as efforts for peace must also be able to explain what they had accomplished. #Schröder #Ukraine #SPD (translated)

Konrad Schuller contradicted Ralf Stegner and wrote that Gerhard Schröder's appearance does not bring peace closer, but has the opposite effect. The buddy-like staging makes Vladimir Putin appear like a friendly uncle, downplays his crimes and helps him with murder, because Schröder's supporters find him likable and do not take action against him. #Politik #Frieden #Putin (translated)

BrennpunktUA wrote that Stegner was dissatisfied that the Chancellor had apparently threatened internally within the Union to throw the SPD out of the federal government and was considering a minority government. At the same time, he urged Friedrich Merz to send the SPD into opposition. #Politik #Deutschland #SPD (translated)

BockwurschtClown wrote that the AfD is now reaching 40 percent in Brandenburg as well. Addressing Ralf Stegner, he called his party a "cheap party" and urged Stegner to step back from the political stage. #Brandenburg #AfD https://t.co/z1BhvmqJVN #Brandenburg #AfD #Politik (translated)

"In Russia, you have to talk to those who are there. Schröder can open doors to Putin." The SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner stated to the "Tagesspiegel" that one must "talk in Russia to those who are there. Schröder can open doors to Putin." #Friedensnobelpreis #Schröder #Putin (translated)

BrennpunktUA stated that the connections of the SPD to Russia remain part of the party and will not disappear just because they are not talked about for a long time. Some in the SPD tried to portray Gerhard Schröder's visit to Vladimir Putin's birthday celebration as an isolated case; at the same time, Ralf Stegner is once again coming to the fore. The SPD must be criticized for its relationship with Putin's Russia just as much as the AfD, BSW, and LINKE, according to BrennpunktUA. Manuela Schwesig had softened her position for electoral tactical reasons before the MV election. The SPD has not credibly addressed its relationship with Russia to this day, even if Lars Klingbeil claims otherwise repeatedly. #SPD #Russland #Politik (translated)

DavidGegenGoliath wrote that Martin Reichardt (AfD) embarrassed the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag and dismantled Ralf Stegner. Reichardt described Stegner as particularly undemocratic and accused him of betraying social democracy and the workers. https://t.co/rC7HNrhjc8 #Bundestag #Politik #SPD (translated)

"Talk to those who are there in Russia. Schröder can open doors to Putin." SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner said to the "Tagesspiegel," one must "talk to those who are there in Russia. Schröder can open doors to Putin." "If Schröder's visit has only served peace by a millimeter, then that visit was a success." Stegner added: "If Schröder's visit has only served peace by a millimeter, then that visit was a success." #Schröder #Putin #Ukraine (translated)

Denis Trubetskoy wrote from Kyiv that, in his opinion, Gerhard Schröder could not lose further standing. He described Ralf Stegner's attempts to justify Schröder's pro-Putin stance as shocking and accused Stegner of a complete loss of reality. #Schröder #Putin #Politik (translated)

Gerhard Schröder is under criticism from German politicians following his participation in Vladimir Putin's birthday celebration, while SPD member Ralf Stegner defends him and describes his access to Putin as potentially peace-promoting. #GerhardSchröder #Putin #Kritik (translated)

Markus Frohnmaier accused Ralf Stegner (SPD) of downplaying the horrors of National Socialism and offending millions of voters by comparing a democratic election in Saxony-Anhalt with Hermann Göring and the Nazi dictatorship. Stegner was either forgetful of history or stupid, wrote Frohnmaier. #AfD #SachsenAnhalt #Demokratie https://t.co/Fu16dmJX6q #Demokratie #SachsenAnhalt #Nationalsozialismus (translated)

"We must not cede the politics of peace to populists without a fight." SPD representative Ralf Stegner accused the AfD of opposing Germany's internal and external security and that such an approach plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. #AfD #PomoćUkrajini #Njemačka (translated)