Former German chancellor finds new life outside politics (AFP) Updated: 2005-12-12 09:54
Less than three weeks after leaving office, former German chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder has reinvented himself as an international businessman with concerns
in Russia and Switzerland.
On Friday, the chairman of Russian energy giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller,
announced that Schroeder is to head the shareholders' committee of the
consortium building a controversial gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from
Russia to Germany.
The announcement came just after the ceremonial launch of construction of the
North European Gas Pipeline, in which Gazprom owns a 51-percent stake and
Germany's E.ON and BASF own 24.5-percent stakes.
The appointment of Schroeder, who helped secure the deal for the
four-billion-euro (4.7-billion-dollar) pipeline earlier this year, has already
sparked questions of potential conflict of interest and debate about the need
for regulations for retired politicians moving into business.
There has long been speculation that Schroeder, 61, was planning to trade in
politics for the business world and more specifically that he would take on a
high-level post in Russia's energy sector.
During his seven years in office, Schroeder built up a close personal
relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It appears to be one of the factors that prompted him and his fourth wife,
former journalist Doris Schroeder-Koepf, to adopt a little Russian girl in 2004.
In Germany a dim view has been taken of his friendship with the Russian
leader, particularly because of the hard line Moscow took in the Yukos oil saga.
Schroeder wasted no time in making a clean break with politics after he
handed the reins of power to Angela Merkel on November 22.
The man often called the media chancellor for his skill in playing to the
cameras resigned his seat in the German parliament the following day and on the
next accepted a job as an advisor to leading Swiss media group, Ringier.
The group publishes the Blick tabloid, Switzerland's top-selling newspaper,
and also has interests in eastern Europe, China and Vietnam.
The post at Zurich-based Ringier came as something of a surprise as Schroeder
had told the German press he intended to return to his first profession of
practising law.
Perhaps to smooth his way in the business world, the former chancellor has
started brushing up on his English, which he has always freely admitted to be
poor.
According to German press reports, he has recently been improving his English
skills in the small town of Montgomery on the border of England and Wales.
They said Schroeder was taking private courses aimed at "business and
professional people" at Park House school, situated in an 18th century country
house in Montgomery, and had been seen enjoying a few glasses of wine at the
local pub, The Dragon Hotel, in his free time.
The Social-Democrat has never made a secret of enjoying the good life and is
an ardent football fan, something which has now also found a mention on his
curriculum vitae.
The German Football Federation on Friday made him an honorary member for his
support for Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup and for the
organisation of the tournament, which will be played in 12 German cities from
June 9 to July 9 next year.
In the meanwhile, Schroeder is also writing his political memoirs, which he
hopes to publish next autumn.
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