Overview

• Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's lawsuit to reclaim his Bundestag office was dismissed by the Bundesverwaltungsgericht in Leipzig on April 10, 2025.
• The court determined that administrative courts lack jurisdiction over the issue, as it involves constitutional questions that must be resolved by the Bundesverfassungsgericht.
• Schröder's office was suspended in May 2022 by the Bundestag’s budget committee, citing his lack of ongoing public duties, though public criticism of his ties to Russia added to the controversy.
• The case highlights the absence of a legal framework governing the provision of offices and staff to former chancellors, which has historically been based on political custom.
• Schröder's legal team has yet to confirm whether they will escalate the case to the Bundesverfassungsgericht for further adjudication.