For the governing party SPD, the withdrawal of its taxpayer-financed privileges is another painful step in the process of cutting the cord from its fallen hero Gerhard Schröder.

A politician to whom the SPD owes a lot: replacing the seemingly invincible Helmut Kohl, seven years as chancellor, winning two federal elections and continuing to govern as the Union's junior partner.

However, it is inevitable that the traffic light coalition, led by former Schröder confidant Olaf Scholz, now wants to cut the posts in the budget committee that the former chancellor was entitled to for his office.

Schröder's party-damaging behavior after Putin's attack on Ukraine leaves the SPD with no other choice.

Pleading appeals by the entire party leadership that Schröder please give up his lavishly paid services for Russian companies and clearly distance himself from his intimate friend Vladimir and his war of aggression came to nothing.

It is wise that the traffic light has not made a Lex Schröder out of this unique event in the history of the Federal Republic.

The passage in your application to link the equipment of the former chancellor's office to tasks that result from the former state office is correct.

The Union's demand that Schröder's pension now also be axed is exaggerated in its furor.

And probably unconstitutional.