Gerhard Schröder
Chancellor of Germany
In office October 27, 1998 – November 22, 2005
Preceded by	Helmut Kohl
Succeeded by	Angela Merkel
Born	April 7, 1944 (1944-04-07) (age 64) Mossenberg-Wöhren, Germany
Political party	SPD
Spouse	Doris Schröder-Köpf
Alma mater	University of Göttingen
Occupation	Lawyer
Religion	Lutheran [1]

Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder (help·info) IPA: [ˌɡeɐ̯haɐ̯t fʁɪʦ kʊɐ̯t ˈʃʁøːdɐ] (born April 7, 1944), German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (born 3 April 1930 is a German conservative politician and statesman (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Doris Schröder-Köpf (born August 5 1963 in Neuburg an der Donau) is a German Journalist and the fourth wife of the former German Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval The University of Göttingen ( German: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) is a University in the city of Göttingen, Germany. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a Cabinet of a parliamentary Government in which several parties cooperate The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a successful lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor he was Minister-president of the German state of Lower Saxony. A minister-president (Ministerpräsident is the Head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments who presides over the council of ministers Germany (Deutschland is a Federal Republic consisting of sixteen States, known in German as Länder (singular Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second Following the 2005 federal election, which his party lost, after three weeks of negotiations he stood down as Chancellor in favour of Angela Merkel of the rival Christian Democratic Union. German federal elections took place on September 18, 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany.

Early career

Schröder (often spelled Schroeder in English) was born in Mossenberg, in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen usually shortened to NRW, official short form NW is the westernmost and - in terms of population and economic output - the His father Fritz Schröder, a lance corporal in the Wehrmacht, was killed during World War II in action in Romania on October 4, 1944, a few months after Gerhard's birth. Wehrmacht (literally "defense force" was the name of the unified Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945 World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His mother Erika worked as an agricultural laborer in order to support herself and her two sons.

Schröder completed an apprenticeship in retail sales in a Lemgo hardware shop from 1958 to 1961, then worked in a retail shop in Lage and after that as an unskilled construction worker and a sales clerk in Göttingen while studying at night school to gain a high school diploma. Apprenticeship is a system of Training a new generation of practitioners of a skill Lemgo is a city in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a population of c Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lage is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia (German Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany, approximatively 8 km northwest of Detmold Göttingen ( ˈgœtɪŋən, Low German: Chöttingen is a College town in Lower Saxony, Germany. Still trying to a place at a university, in 1966 Schröder passed the Abitur test at Westfalen-Kolleg, Bielefeld. Abitur (from Latin abire = go away go off is a designation used in Germany and Finland for final exams that young adults take at the end of Bielefeld (ˈbiːləfɛlt is a district-free town in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. From 1966 to 1971 he studied law at the University of Göttingen. The University of Göttingen ( German: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) is a University in the city of Göttingen, Germany. From 1972 onwards, Schröder served as an assistant at Göttingen University. In 1976 he passed his second law examination; he worked as a lawyer until 1990. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

Schröder joined the Social Democratic Party in 1963. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1978 he became the federal chairman of the Young Socialists, the youth organisation of the SPD. Jungsozialistinnen und Jungsozialisten in der SPD (Young Socialists in the SPD (generally called Jusos) is the Youth organization of the German Social Democratic He spoke for the dissident Bahro, as did President Jimmy Carter, Herbert Marcuse and Wolf Biermann. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 In 1982 he wrote an article on the idea of a red/green coalition for a book at Olle & Wolter, Berlin, which later appeared in "Die Zeit". DIE ZEIT (diː tsait in German literally The Time more idiomatically The Times) is a German nationwide weekly Newspaper that SPD- and SI-Chairman, Chancellor Willy Brandt, who reviewed Olle & Wolter at that time, had just asked for more books on the subject. In 1980 Gerhard Schröder was elected to the German Bundestag, and wore a sweater to parliament instead of the traditional suit. The Bundestag ("Federal Diet " or "Lower House of German Parliament" is the Parliament of Germany. He became chairman of the SPD Hanover district. Hanover (i ( haˈnoːfɐ on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony ( Niedersachsen In 1985 Schröder met with East German leader Erich Honecker during a visit to East Berlin. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Erich Honecker ( August 25, 1912 – May 29, 1994) was a German Communist Politician who led the German Democratic East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990

In 1986 Schröder was elected to the regional parliament of Lower Saxony and became leader of the SPD group. Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second After the SPD won the regional elections in June 1990, he became Minister-President of Lower Saxony as head of an SPD-Greens coalition; in this position, he also won the 1994 and 1998 regional elections. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) A minister-president (Ministerpräsident is the Head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments who presides over the council of ministers Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional

In federal politics

Following his election as Minister-President in 1990, Schröder became a member of the board of the federal SPD. In 1997/98 he served as President of the Bundesrat, but he left the office on 27 October, three days before his term expired, when he became Chancellor as head of an SPD/Green coalition. In Germany, the President of the Bundesrat (German Bundesratspräsident) is the body's chairperson or speaker The Bundesrat ("federal council" or "upper house of German parliament" is the representation of the 16 Federal States ( Bundesländer) of Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. At the 22 September 2002 general elections, he secured another four-year term, with a narrow nine-seat majority (down from 21). Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians The 15th German federal election 2002 was conducted on September 22, 2002, to elect members to the Bundestag (lower house of Germany.

Schröder in Esslingen. Esslingen am Neckar is a city in the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, capital of the District of Esslingen as well as the largest "SPD - Trust in Germany"

After the resignation of Oskar Lafontaine as SPD Chairman 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. Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism In February, 2004, he resigned as chairman of the SPD. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Franz Müntefering succeeded him as chairman. (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume

On 22 May 2005 after the SPD lost to the Christian Democrats (CDU) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Gerhard Schröder announced he would call federal elections "as soon as possible". Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen usually shortened to NRW, official short form NW is the westernmost and - in terms of population and economic output - the 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. A Motion of Confidence is a motion of support proposed by a government in a Parliament or other assembly of elected representatives to give members of parliament (or The Bundestag ("Federal Diet " or "Lower House of German Parliament" is the Parliament of Germany. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The 2005 German federal elections were held on 18 September 2005. German federal elections took place on September 18, 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. Since the SPD had been trailing the CDU by more than 15 points only weeks before the election, this outcome was a surprise — and attributed to Schröder's charisma and prowess as a campaigner. Polls consistently showed that he was much more popular with the German people than Ms. Merkel. 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. A grand coalition is a Coalition government in a Multi-party Parliamentary system where the two largest political parties unite in a coalition (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume Edmund Rüdiger Stoiber ( (born September 28, 1941) is a German politician, former Minister-president of the state On 10 October it was announced that the parties had agreed to form a grand coalition. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Schröder agreed to cede the chancellorship to Merkel, but the SPD would hold the majority of government posts and retain effective control of government policy. ^[1] Merkel was elected chancellor on 22 November. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran

Schröder announced on 11 October that he would not take a post in the new Cabinet, and in November he confirmed that he would leave politics as soon as Merkel took office. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed On 23 November 2005, he resigned his Bundestag seat, and later joined Ringier AG Ringier, the publisher of some of the leading newspapers and magazines in Switzerland and Europe, as a Zurich-based political consultant and lobbyist. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Bundestag ("Federal Diet " or "Lower House of German Parliament" is the Parliament of Germany. Ringier AG is the largest media corporation in Switzerland founded in Zofingen and based in Zürich. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Zürich (, Zürich German: Züri, Zurich, Zurigo; in English generally Zurich) is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the

At the SPD conference in Karlsruhe on 14 November 2005 Schröder urged members of the SPD to support the proposed coalition, saying it "carries unmistakably, perhaps primarily, the imprint of the Social Democrats". Karlsruhe (ˈkaɐ̯lsʁuːə population 285812 in 2006 is a city in the south west of Germany, in the Bundesland Baden-Württemberg, located near Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. (ˈaŋɡela doʁoˈteːa ˈmɛɐ̯kəl (born Angela Dorothea Kasner, 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany) is the Chancellor of Germany. The conference voted overwhelmingly to approve the deal. ^[2]

Chancellorship

Domestic policies

In its first term, Schröder's government decided to phase out nuclear power, fund renewable energies, institute civil unions which enabled same-sex partners to enter into a civil union, and liberalize naturalization law. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions Renewable energy is Energy generated from Natural resources mdashsuch as Sunlight, Wind, Rain, tides and geothermal Naturalization is the acquisition of Citizenship or Nationality by somebody who was not a citizen or national of that country when he or she was born Most voters associated Schröder with the Agenda 2010 reform program, which included cuts in the social welfare system (national health insurance, unemployment payments, pensions), lowered taxes, and reformed regulations on employment and payment. The Agenda 2010 is a series of reforms planned and executed by the German government which they say will modernise the German social system and labor market "Social welfare" redirects here For other uses see Welfare A social welfare provision refers to any program which seeks to provide National health insurance is a form of health insurance that insures a population against meeting the costs associated with ill health Unemployment benefits are payments made by Governments to unemployed people A pension is a steady income given to a person upon Retirement, typically in the form of a guaranteed annuity.

After the 2002 election, the SPD steadily lost support in opinion polls. Many increasingly perceived Schröder's Third Way program to be a dismantling of the German welfare state. The Third Way is a term that has been used to describe a variety of political philosophies of governance that embracing a mix of market and interventionist philosophies This article refers specifically to the Welfare state of the United Kingdom. Moreover, Germany's high unemployment rate remained a serious problem for the government. Schröder's tax policies were also unpopular; when the satirical radio show The Gerd Show released Der Steuersong, featuring Schröder's voice (via impressionist Elmar Brandt) lampooning Germany's indirect taxation with the lyrics "Dog tax, tobacco tax, emissions and environmental tax, did you really think more weren't coming?", it became Germany's 2002 Christmas No. Die Gerd-Show ( en: The Gerd Show) was a German satirical radio show broadcast by Eins Live ( WDR Elmar Brandt (born 20 September 1971 in Düsseldorf) is a German impressionist, most well-known for his imitations of politicians The term indirect tax has more than one meaning In the colloquial sense an indirect tax (such as Sales tax, Value added tax (VAT or Goods and services 1 chart hit and sold over a million copies.

Unlike the 2002 election, which was largely won on his opposition of the impending U.S. invasion of Iraq, Schröder in 2005 campaigned primarily on domestic issues. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia Schröder focused on being anti-capitalistic and anti-intellectual. For example, he labelled the opposition's choice for the ministry of finance, Paul Kirchhof, "this professor from Heidelberg" in a derogatory manner. Paul Kirchhof (born February 21 1943 in Osnabrück) is a German Jurist and Tax law expert This won him a lot of support among many proletarians. Furthermore he focused on introducing new taxes for the rich. Despite knowing that this would hardly have an effect, Schröder believed it was necessary to win the election.

The fact that Schröder served on the Volkswagen board (on behalf of being minister-president of Lower Saxony) and tended to prefer pro-car policies led to him being nicknamed the "Auto-Kanzler" (car chancellor). A minister-president (Ministerpräsident is the Head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments who presides over the council of ministers

Foreign policy

Schröder walks with United States President George W. Bush at the White House on Thursday, March 29, 2001

Schröder sent forces to Kosovo and to Afghanistan as part of NATO operations. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, The North Atlantic Treaty Prior to Schröder's Chancellorship, German troops had not taken part in combat actions since World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including With Germany having a long experience with terrorism itself, Schröder declared solidarity with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion The United States of America —commonly referred to as the When Schröder left office Germany had 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, the largest contingent from any nation other than the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Along with French President Jacques Chirac and many other world leaders, Schröder spoke out strongly against the war on Iraq, and refused any military assistance in that enterprise. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia Schröder's stance caused political friction between the U. S. and Germany, in particular because he used this topic for his 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 U. Ludwig Stiegler (born April 9 1944 in Parsberg) is a German politician S. President George W. Bush to Julius Caesar while Schröder's Minister of Justice, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, likened Bush to Adolf Hitler. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Herta Däubler-Gmelin (ˈhɛʁta ˈdɔʏblɐˈgmeːliːn born August 12, 1943) is a former German Minister Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Schröder's critics accused him of enhancing, and campaigning on, anti-American sentiments in Germany.

On 1 August 2004, the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, he apologised to Poland for "the immeasurable suffering" of its people during the conflict. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Warsaw Uprising ( Powstanie Warszawskie) was a World War II struggle by the Polish Home Army ( Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw He was the first German chancellor to be invited to an anniversary of the uprising.

In addition to a friendly relationship with Jacques Chirac, Schröder cultivated close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an attempt to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow, including the opening of a gas pipeline from Russian Andrew Marino-Pipelines over the Baltic Sea exclusively between Russia and Germany (see "Gazprom controversy" below). Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (; born 7 October 1952 in Leningrad, USSR; now Saint Petersburg, Russia was the second President of Russia Schröder was criticized 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. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych ( Ukrainian: Viktor Fedorovyč Janukovyč; Виктор Фёдорович Янукович (born on July 9, 1950 The Orange Revolution (Помаранчева революція Pomarancheva revolyutsiya) was a series of Protests and political events that took place in Ukraine ^[3] Only a few days after his chancellorship, Schröder joined the board of directors of the 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. " ^[4]

The former chancellor has criticized the decision of some European countries to swiftly recognize Kosovo as an independent state after the breakaway Serbian province declared independence in February 2008. Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was an act of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government Assembly of Kosovo, adopted on 17 February 2008 which declared Schröder, who says that the EU countries who've recognized did so under heavy pressure from the U. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in S. government, believes that Western recognition has caused more problems, including weakening the so-called pro-EU forces in Serbia. ^[5]

Personal life

Schröder has been married four times, to:

• Eva Schubach, married 1968, divorced 1972
• Anne Taschenmacher, married 1972, divorced 1984
• Hiltrud Hampel, aka Hillu, married 1984, divorced 1997
• Doris Köpf, married 1997

Schröder's four marriages have earned him the nickname "Audi Man," a reference to the 4-ring symbol of Audi motorcars. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Doris Schröder-Köpf (born August 5 1963 in Neuburg an der Donau) is a German Journalist and the fourth wife of the former German Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar AUDI AG, ( Xetra: NSU commonly known as Audi (aˈʊdi is a German Automobile manufacturer which produces Audi branded cars with headquarters Another nickname is "The Lord of the Rings". ^[6][7]

Doris has a daughter Klara (born 1991), who lives with the couple, from a previous relationship with a TV journalist. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. When not in Berlin, he lives in Hanover. Hanover (i ( haˈnoːfɐ on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony ( Niedersachsen In July 2004 he and his wife adopted a child named Viktoria from Saint Petersburg in Russia. Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River In 2006 they adopted a boy Gregor from the same city. ^[8]

Schröder identifies himself as a Protestant, but does not appear to be religious. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. He did not add the optional phrase So wahr mir Gott helfe formula (so help me God) when sworn in as chancellor for his first term in 1998. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) ^[9]

Schröder's plans after leaving office as Chancellor and resigning his Bundestag seat include resuming his law practice in Berlin, and writing a book. He will also be retained by the Swiss publisher Ringier AG as a consultant. He 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). He has also spent time improving his English language skills. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States ^[10]

Criticism and controversies

Gazprom

As Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder was a strong advocate of the Nord Stream pipeline project, which aims to supply Russian gas directly to Germany and thereby bypassing transit countries. Nord Stream (Северный поток Nordeuropäische Gasleitung Gazociąg Północny former names North Transgas and North European Gas Pipeline; also The agreement to build the pipeline was signed two weeks before the German parliamentary election. German federal elections took place on September 18, 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany On 24 October 2005, just a few weeks before Schröder stepped down as a Chancellor, the German government guaranteed to cover 1 billion euros of the Nord Stream project cost, should Gazprom default on a loan. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. OJSC Gazprom, (Газпром long version Открытое Aкционерное Oбщество Газпром sometimes transcribed as Gasprom is the largest Russian company However, this guarantee had never been used. ^[11] 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. Nord Stream AG is a consortium for construction and operation of the planned Nord Stream submarine pipeline between Vyborg in Russia and Greifswald German opposition parties have expressed concern over the issue, as have the governments of countries over whose territory gas is currently pumped. ^[12] In an editorial entitled Gerhard Schroeder's Sellout, the American newspaper Washington Post has also expressed sharp criticism, reflecting widening international ramifications of Schröder's new post. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D ^[13] Democrat Tom Lantos, chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs and holocaust survivor, likened Schröder to a "political prostitute" for his recent behaviour. Thomas Peter Lantos ( February 1 1928 – February 11 2008) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives ^[14]

Freedom of the press

In April 2002 Schröder sued the DDP press agency for publishing an opinion of PR consultant Sabine Schwind saying that he "would be more credible if he didn't dye his gray hair. " Soon the court decided to ban the media from suggesting that he colors his hair. ^[15] 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. "

Dispute over Estonian war memorial

During a heated dispute between Russia and Estonia in May 2007 over 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. The Bronze Soldier (Pronkssõdur Бронзовый Солдат originally "Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn" ("Tallinna vabastajate monument" Tallinn (historically known by the German, Swedish and Danish name Reval or the Polish name Rewal, among other names He remarked that Estonia had contradicted "every form of civilised behaviour". ^[16] Consequently, the Estonian government cancelled a planned visit by Schröder in his function as chairman of Nord Stream AG.

Schröder's first cabinet, 27 October 1998 – 22 October 2002

Gerhard Schröder with George W. Bush

• Gerhard Schröder (SPD) — Chancellor
• Joschka Fischer (Gr) — Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Bodo Hombach (SPD) — Minister for Special Affairs and Chief of the Chancellery
• Rudolf Scharping (SPD) — Minister of Defence
• Otto Schily (SPD) — Minister of the Interior
• Oskar Lafontaine (SPD) — Minister of Finance
• Herta Däubler-Gmelin (SPD) — Minister of Justice
• Werner Müller — Minister of Economics
• Walter Riester (SPD) — Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
• Karl-Heinz Funke (SPD) — Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry
• Franz Müntefering (SPD) — Minister of Transport and Construction
• Christine Bergmann (SPD) — Minister of Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth
• Andrea Fischer (Gr) — Minister of Health
• Edelgard Bulmahn (SPD) — Minister of Education and Research
• Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD) — Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development
• Jürgen Trittin (Gr) — Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Security

Changes

• 18 March 1999 — Werner Müller succeeds Lafontaine as acting Minister of Finance, remaining also Minister of Economics. Dr hc (Haifa Joseph Martin "Joschka" Fischer Bundesminister a The Alliance '90/The Greens ( Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) the German Green party, is a Political party in Germany whose regional Bodo Hombach (born on 19 August 1952 German politician Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - SPD and now Publishing The Chancellor's Office (Chancellery (in German Bundeskanzleramt, or more commonly Kanzleramt) is the office of the Chancellor, the head of the Rudolf Scharping ( December 2 1947 in Niederelbert) is a German Politician ( SPD) Otto Georg Schily ( SPD; born July 20, 1932) was Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany from 1998 to 2005 in the cabinet of former Oskar Lafontaine (ˈlafɔntɛn born September 16, 1943 in Saarlouis -Roden is a German Politician, former German finance minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin (ˈhɛʁta ˈdɔʏblɐˈgmeːliːn born August 12, 1943) is a former German Minister Walter Riester (born September 27, 1943 in Kaufbeuren) is a German politician of the SPD and former Minister of Labour and Social (born January 16, 1940) is a German politician He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD from 2004 to 2005 and is expected to assume Andrea Fischer (born January 14, 1960 in Arnsberg /Westfalen was a member of the German Bundestag for the German Green Party Edelgard Bulmahn (born March 4 1951 in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German politician from the Social Democratic Party Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (born November 21, 1942 in Frankfurt am Main) is a German Politician and a member of the Social Jürgen Trittin (born July 25, 1954) is a German Green politician Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)
• 12 April 1999 — Hans Eichel (SPD) succeeds Lafontaine as Minister of Finance. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Hans Eichel (born December 24, 1941) German politician ( SPD) was Minister of Finance from 1999-2005
• 31 July 1999 — Bodo Hombach leaves the cabinet. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)
• 17 September 1999 — Jürgen Trittin (Gr) succeeds Müntefering as acting Minister of Transport and Construction. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Jürgen Trittin (born July 25, 1954) is a German Green politician
• 7 October 1999 — Reinhard Klimmt (SPD) succeeds Trittin as Minister of Transport and Construction
• 20 November 2000 — Kurt Bodewig (SPD) succeeds Klimmt as Minister of Transport and Construction. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Reinhard Klimmt (born August 16, 1942 in Berlin) is a German Politician ( SPD) Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Kurt Bodewig (born April 26, 1955 in Rheinberg) is a German Politician and member of the SPD.
• 18 January 2001 — Renate Künast (Gr) succeeds Funke as Minister of Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Renate Künast (born December 15, 1955) was the German Minister of Consumer Protection Food and Agriculture from 2001 to 2005 Ulla Schmidt (SPD) succeeds Fischer as Minister of Health
• 19 July 2002 — Peter Struck (SPD) succeeds Scharping as Minister of Defence
• Däubler-Gmelin was dropped from ministerial duties in Schröder's second chancellorship because comments she made were alleged to compare US President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. Ursula ( Ulla) Schmidt (born June 13 1949 in Aachen) is a German politician Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Peter Struck (born January 24, 1943 in Göttingen) is a Lawyer, member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and was the George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately

Schröder's second cabinet, 22 October 2002 – 22 November 2005

With José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Jacques Chirac. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (born 4 August 1960 better known by his maternal surname Zapatero (literally "shoemaker" in Spanish is the current

• Gerhard Schröder (SPD) — Chancellor
• Joschka Fischer (Gr) — Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Peter Struck (SPD) — Minister of Defence
• Otto Schily (SPD) — Minister of the Interior
• Hans Eichel (SPD) — Minister of Finance
• Brigitte Zypries (SPD) — Minister of Justice
• Wolfgang Clement (SPD) — Minister of Economics and Labour
• Renate Künast (Gr) — Minister of Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture
• Manfred Stolpe (SPD) — Minister of Transport, Construction, and Eastern Reconstruction
• Renate Schmidt (SPD) — Minister of Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth
• Ulla Schmidt (SPD) — Minister of Health and Social Affairs
• Edelgard Bulmahn (SPD) — Minister of Education and Research
• Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (SPD) — Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development
• Jürgen Trittin (Gr) — Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Security

See also

• Politics of Germany

References

External links

• (German) Pictures "Spuren der Macht"
• From Ironmonger's Apprentice to Chancellor, Deutsche Welle, July 2005
• Profile: Gerhard Schroeder, BBC News, July 2005
• The Modern Chancellor: Taking Stock of Gerhard Schröder, Der Spiegel Online, October 2005