Gerhard Schroeder hospitalised: Burnout linked to nord stream probe
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been admitted for clinical treatment due to a diagnosis of occupational burnout, the dpa agency reported on Tuesday, citing the politician's lawyer. Recently, Schroeder was unable to appear before the investigative commission, which is examining the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, due to health reasons.
In a statement to the investigative commission, obtained by dpa, Schroeder's doctor confirmed that the 80-year-old politician is "suffering from severe burnout syndrome with the typical signs of profound exhaustion and a pronounced lack of energy." The former chancellor also suffers from difficulties with "concentration and memory difficulties as well as sleep problems."
For the time being, it is unlikely that Schroeder will testify in Schwerin anytime soon. "Neither at present nor in the foreseeable future is he able to cope with the physical and mental strain associated with a prolonged, especially public hearing before the investigative commission," wrote the politician's doctor, quoted by the German agency.
Putin's friend
Following Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Schroeder, who led the German government from 1998 to 2005, faced immense criticism for his contacts with the Russian authorities, particularly for his friendship with Vladimir Putin and work with Russian state-owned companies: the Nord Stream company, Gazprom, and Rosneft.
As recently as August 2022, a few months after the Kremlin began its full-scale war in Ukraine, Schroeder travelled to Moscow, where he spoke with Putin about the possibilities of restarting Nord Stream 2.
- Of course, the former chancellor, like probably all thinking and understanding people and experts in Europe, is very, very concerned about the reality and worried about the energy crisis brewing in Europe — said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as quoted by the RIA Novosti agency.
