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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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