The reason given is a health problem, but the public questioned whether this was really a medical obstacle or just an avocation strategy of Mr. Schröder?
According to Spiegel magazine, this is not the first time former Chancellor Schröder has given health reasons to refuse to attend the hearing.
Previously, in January 2025, he did not appear due to mental exhaustion and needed inpatient treatment. Most recently, a psychological report said that he was unlikely to maintain long-term focus due to rapid fatigue.
The Chairman of the Investigation Committee Sebastian Ehlers still hopes that Mr. Schröder will provide a statement when his health improves. He is an important witness. We hope to have a statement from Mr. Schreder as soon as possible, said Mr. Ehlers.
The Investigative Committee is clarifying the role of the Climate Protection Fund, an organization closely linked to the Nord Stream 2 project and receiving funding from Russian funding sources.
In particular, former Chancellor Schröder was suspected of having an intermediary role in the 2020 summer meeting with Manuela sisterig - Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state - and Matthias Warnig, a close figure of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In addition, recent documents show that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction permit may have been granted with many guarantees. This makes the investigation even more intense as the Nord Stream 2 project remains the focus of geopolitical tensions between Russia and Europe.
Meanwhile, Manuela Schwesig has said she has firmly that Nord Stream 2 will never be restored. She stressed that Germany had a clear rule from the beginning: Nord Stream 2 will not be licensed if Russia crosses the red lines.
According to Ms. Schwesig, Russia crossed the red line when launching a military campaign in Ukraine. She also denied speculation that a group of US businessmen could cooperate with Russia to revive the project.
Previously, in 2022, both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were sabotaged in the Baltic Sea, raising a series of questions about the motive and culprit behind the incident.
