Gerhard took leave of the SPD today. His assessment of his tenure caught my eye:

Speaking to an SPD congress in the southwestern town of Karlsruhe, Schroeder said Germany had become a more likeable and liveable place in the past seven years — even though his center-left party had often made governing tortuous.

“We’ve made Germany a country that is more modern, more open to the world and more just,” Schroeder told the 500 delegates, who rewarded him with a 10-minute standing ovation. “It’s been a good seven years for our country and our party.”

Speaking of seven years, German unemployment is at a seven-year high of 11.7 percent.