From the point of view of his lawyer, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder does not have to worry about his membership in the SPD.
Lawyer Michael Nagel told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" that he thought it impossible for the 78-year-old Schröder to be expelled from the SPD.
"There is no factual or legal basis for this," said the lawyer.
"There is no expulsion from the party."
The oral hearing in the SPD sub-district in the Hanover region on several motions to exclude Schröder from the party had to be postponed twice because of Corona; it is now scheduled for July 14.
Schröder is also heavily criticized within the party for his connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Attorney Nagel said Schröder would not appear at the trial because there were no grounds for personal justification.
"He was, is and will remain a staunch SPD member." The arbitration commission of the SPD sub-district Hannover region is responsible for the party organization procedure because Schröder is a member of the SPD local association Hannover Oststadt-Zoo.