The SPD’s Hanover branch has rejected an appeal by several other local party chapters against a decision last year to allow Schröder to remain in the party.

The appeals commission upheld a ruling in August by the Hanover chapter that Schröder, whose party membership falls under its umbrella, was “not guilty of a violation of the party rules, as no violation can be proven against him”.

Schröder, chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has refused to turn his back on Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

His stance has made him an embarrassment to the SPD, which is also the party of current Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The party executive on Thursday said it had “taken note” of the decision in Hanover.

READ ALSO: Germany’s SPD moves to expel Gerhard Schröder

“This legal decision does not change the fact that Gerhard Schröder is politically isolated in the SPD with his positions on Russia,” it said.

In an interview with Stern magazine, Schröder himself said he was “not surprised” by the decision, calling it “legally solid” and “politically consistent”.

The SPD branches seeking Schröder’s expulsion could in theory still appeal to the party’s national arbitration commission.

However, it is considered unlikely that another appeal will be allowed after the two decisions in Schröder’s favour.

Schröder was widely criticised after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for refusing to condemn Moscow as well as for lding a number of lucrative posts at Russian energy giants.

It was only after much public pressure that he gave up his seat on the board of Russian energy group Rosneft last year.

Germany has removed some of the perks Schröder was entitled to as an elder statesman, stripping him of an office and staff.

READ ALSO: Germany strips Schröder of official perks over links to Russia

The 78-year-old, who was the immediate predecessor to Angela Merkel, met with Putin in Moscow last July.

In an interview after the visit, he claimed Russia wanted a “negotiated solution” to the war – comments branded as “disgusting” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.