Ex Chancellor Gerard Schroeder , who has a penchant for art , cashmere and cigars , has split from wife number four , it has been reported . Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder , who was once a figure of fun in the political world for his colourful personal life , has separated from wife number four . He has split from his wife of 18 years , Doris Köpf , and moved out of the family home into a separate apartment , it has been reported . Schroeder earned the nickname the 'Audi Chancellor ' during his political career because he he has had as many wedding rings as the car maker 's symbol . He wed Ms Kopf , a former journalist , in 1997 but has now left their home in the upmarket area of Hanover . Reports suggest the pair will continue to share parenting duties . They adopted two Russian children from orphanages in St Petersburg in July 2004 and 2006 . The cigar smoking former Chancellor , who has also been dubbed the 'Lord of the Rings ' , has had a busy personal life . In 1968 , he married his childhood sweetheart , librarian Eva Schubach , divorcing her three years later as his political career took hold . The following year he wed political activist and teacher Anne Taschenmacher . Schroeder married wife number three Hiltrud Hampel in 1984 - they had met at an SPD conference . He has split from his fourth wife of 18 years , Doris Köpf ( pictured ) , and moved out of the family home . Doris Schroeder-Kopf , 51 , a former journalist , was the latest wife of the man who is nicknamed the 'Audi Chancellor ' because he has had as many wedding rings as the car maker 's prestige symbol . Wife number three , in 1984 , was Hiltrud Hampel , a socialite environmentalist . They became known as the Clintons of Saxony : Germany 's first celebrity political couple who for 12 years wooed the German public with their various campaigns . While Schröder worked on his role as career politician , Hampel a devoted vegetarian , campaigned for animal rights . When he married Kopf , a pretty blonde 20 years his junior , in 1998 , he warned her that he changed his wives every 12 years . 'In that case my successor will have to be able to push a wheelchair , ' she is alleged to have quipped in response . The former Chancellor was pictured in a warm embrace with the controversial Russian President last year . Schroeder is a close friend of Putin and he has defended the Kremlin 's actions in Ukraine . Eva Schubach ( married 1968 , divorced 1972 ) Anne Taschenmacher ( married 1972 , divorced 1984 ) Hiltrud Hampel ( married 1984 , divorced 1997 ) Doris Köpf ( married 1997 ) It is not just his many wives that has landed him in hot water . Last year , Schroeder was snapped hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg as he celebrated his 70th birthday . Schroeder , who was German chancellor from 1998-2005 , has long had close ties to Mr Putin and runs a pipeline venture bringing Russian gas to Germany . He also defended the Kremlin 's aggressive actions in the Ukraine by claiming Russia wanted to stay 'big and strong ' and an equal to the US . In the past , he has described the Russian President as a 'flawless democrat ' . He joined the board of the Russian energy giant Gazprom after losing Germany 's 2005 election as leader of the centre-left Social Democrats ( SPD ) , who are now in a coalition with Angela Merkel 's Christian Democrats ( CDU ) .
Former Chancellor has split from his fourth wife of 18 years , Gazprom . He wed Ms Kopf in 1997 but has now left their family home in Hanover . Dubbed 'Audi Chancellor ' for having as many rings as car maker 's symbol .