In 2006, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder won a court order against Westerwelle who had criticized Schröder for accepting a lucrative job at Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas company, soon after losing the parliamentary election to Angela Merkel. Despite losing, Westerwelle said he would stick to his original assessment that Schröder's appointment as chairman of the North European Gas Pipeline Company was "problematic".Judy Dempsey (3 April 2006), Gag order on Schröder foe is upheld International Herald Tribune.
In 2006 former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder won a court order against Westerwelle who had criticized Schröder for accepting a lucrative job at Gazprom the Russian state-owned gas company soon after losing the parliamentary election to Angela Merkel Despite losing Westerwelle said he would stick to his original assessment that Schröder's appointment as chairman of the North European Gas Pipeline Company was "problematic"Judy Dempsey (3 April 2006) Gag order on Schröder foe is upheld International Herald Tribune