Former German leader Gerhard Schroeder, criticised for his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is suing Germany’s parliament. Mr Schroeder, whose office and staff have been suspended, is suing over the removal of some post-retirement perks. His lawyer told German news agency DPA on Friday that he had filed a suit with the Berlin administrative court. The Bundestag said it was yet to receive the suit and could not comment further. In its decision to strip him of the perks, the budget committee responsible concluded that Mr Schroeder, 78, “no longer upholds the continuing obligations of his office”. But speaking to public broadcaster NDR on Friday, his lawyer Michael Nagel said the decision to suspend Mr Schroeder’s taxpayer-funded office was “contrary to the rule of law”.(BBC)…[+]