Gerhard Schröder and Oskar Lafontaine, once prominent German politicians, now mostly stir controversy due to their strong pro-Russian rhetoric. Schröder warns against demonizing Russia and promotes renewed energy cooperation with Russia despite the ongoing brutal war in Ukraine unleashed by Putin. Lafontaine downplays Russian responsibility for the war, invoking Holocaust remembrance to argue against alleged ‘Russophobia’ and antisemitism accusations. He controversially claims Israel’s arms support for Germany implicates it morally in the suffering of Palestinians. Both are criticized for prolonging denial of present realities, moving away from their former social democratic tradition rooted in détente and economic interdependence. Schröder’s post-chancellorship close ties to Gazprom and Rosneft have effectively made him a lobbyist for an authoritarian regime. Lafontaine frames Russia’s actions as reactions to NATO expansion and Western provocation, ignoring Russia’s imperial ambitions and authoritarian violence. The article condemns their views as ‘blindness through proximity’ and warns against their damaging influence.
Category: Societal & Cultural Pressure
Subcategory: Propaganda & Cultural Manipulation
Incident Type: Exploiting ethnic/language minorities
Country: Germany
Source report: www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/s…
