In France, too, politicians have allowed themselves to be harnessed to Vladimir Putin's services.

The most prominent example is the former right-wing head of government Francois Fillon (2007 to 2012).

But unlike former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Fillon has resigned from his positions on the supervisory board of the Russian oil and energy company Zarubezhneft and the petrochemical group Sibur with immediate effect due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Michael Wiegel

Political correspondent based in Paris.

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"I was wrong," Fillon justified his decision on Sunday.

“I remembered Vladimir Putin as authoritarian and demanding, but rational.

Until the last minute, I believed that reason would prevail, that negotiations would begin to protect the interests of all parties involved," Fillon explained in the "Journal du Dimanche" his misjudgment of Russia's Ukraine policy.

Prime Minister Fillon met Putin when he was prime minister (2008 to 2012) and has been on the supervisory board of Sibur since November 2021 and on the supervisory board of Zarubezhneft since June 2021.

"An Attack on Europe and France"

The invasion of Ukraine was "a historic mistake," Fillon now judged.

They threaten European civilization.

"The war against Ukraine is an attack on Europe and France," wrote the former prime minister.

It is now the "overriding interest of the country" to protect.

In this time of crisis, which is fraught with many uncertainties, citizens should also expect a clear course from their former political leaders.

Fillon's about-face followed phone calls with President Emmanuel Macron and former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Macron had deliberately sought to close ranks with his predecessors Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

He invited them to an exchange at the Elysée Palace to make it clear that political unity in condemning Russia was required in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

It is part of the political practice in Paris to fall back on the wealth of experience of former presidents in the event of serious crises.

After the terrorist attacks on Paris in November 2015, for example, Hollande consulted his predecessors.

Sarkozy experienced the Russian attack on Georgia in 2008, and Hollande the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Former leaders in France are expected to put their personal financial interests aside when the country's broader interests are threatened.

That's why public pressure was put on Fillon.

Europe Minister Clément Beaune described Fillon in a radio program as an "accomplice" of Putin.

As it later turned out, he did so with the approval of President Macron.

In France it is expected that the federal government will also take a more offensive approach in the Schröder case.

This Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is expected to hold talks with President Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the invitation of the European Industry Roundtable in Paris.