Skip next section Schröder clashes with inquiry over Nord Stream defense
10/17/2025October 17, 2025
Schröder clashes with inquiry over Nord Stream defense
has fiercely defended the , calling them “still the right decision,” while repeatedly clashing with lawmakers during a tense parliamentary inquiry in the northeastern state of .
Appearing by video link from Hanover, the 81-year-old ex-leader of the center-left Social Democrats, grew visibly irritated as he faced questions about his role in the project and a state-backed climate foundation that helped shield Nord Stream 2 from US sanctions.
He dismissed several inquiries as “ridiculous” or “irrelevant” and, at one point, snapped at the committee chair, Sebastian Ehlers of the conservative Christian Democrats: “Can you stop this nonsense?”
Schröder insisted the pipeline had aimed to secure affordable gas from Russia and make Germany less dependent on coal and nuclear power. He said objections from Poland “didn’t interest me” and that the project had been deliberately planned to avoid “interventions from other countries.”
The former chancellor offered few concrete answers, often claiming he could not remember. He described past economic cooperation with Moscow as a “peace policy” and said it should still be seen that way.
Since leaving public office, Schröder has worked for several Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream itself, Rosneft, and Gazprom.
https://p.dw.com/p/52C30
Skip next section AfD lawmaker fined over Hitler salute photomontage
10/17/2025October 17, 2025
AfD lawmaker fined over Hitler salute photomontage
has been fined €11,250 (about $13,140) after a Munich court found him guilty of using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations.
The European Parliament member for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was convicted over a 2022 social media post showing and others with raised arms in what the court said amounted to a banned Hitler salute “through the composition of the photos.”
Bystron did not attend Friday’s hearing and was represented by his lawyer, who argued the case had a “political background.” The court imposed a 90-day fine of €125 per day—just below the threshold for a criminal record. Prosecutors had sought 110 daily rates.
The lawmaker had posted the collage after the dismissal of former Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk, captioned “Bye, bye Melnyk! German politicians wave goodbye!” His lawyer admitted in court that Bystron had written the caption himself.
The verdict is not yet final and can be appealed within a week. Bystron has denied wrongdoing and described the proceedings as politically motivated.
He also faces separate charges of money laundering and bribery over from the pro-Russian outlet Voice of Europe to promote Moscow’s interests in Germany.
Another AfD figure, Thuringia state leader , has .
https://p.dw.com/p/52C1w
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage10/17/2025October 17, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from DW’s newsroom in Bonn.
You join us after a Munich court fined far-right a hefty sum for posting a social media collage showing Angela Merkel and others appearing to perform a banned Hitler salute.
Judges said the 2022 image used Nazi symbols “through the composition of the photos.”
In other news, has defended the Russian-backed Nord Stream gas pipelines as “still right,” clashing with lawmakers who questioned his role in the project.
Follow here for the latest headlines throughout the day.
https://p.dw.com/p/52C2r
The post Germany news: AfD lawmaker fined over Hitler salute collage appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
