Former German chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to testify at an inquiry into the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea on Friday.

The controversial pipeline was intended to transport Russian gas to Germany, but did not go into operation due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As chancellor, Mr Scholz withheld the operational licence for the pipeline’s construction in February 2022 as Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine.

After serving as finance minister and vice chancellor under former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2018, Mr Scholz became chancellor in December 2021.

Nord Stream 2 was constructed during his years in office despite opposition from Ukraine, Poland, the United States, and others.

Both Nord Stream 2 and Nord Stream 1, another pipeline built 10 years earlier, were currently out of operation after they were severely damaged by explosions in September 2022.

Gerhard Schröder, Ms Merkel’s predecessor as chancellor, described the pipelines in his testimony as essential for providing Germany with cheap Russian gas.

Sigmar Gabriel, who served as minister for energy and the economy between 2013 and the beginning of 2017, and subsequently as foreign minister until 2018, acknowledged errors in dealing with Russia.

Mr Gabriel described failing to perceive the intentions of Russian President Vladimir Putin as “one of the biggest mistakes in German foreign policy that I was involved in”.

The inquiry is being conducted by the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in its capital, Schwerin.

It aims to finish its work by the time state elections are held next year.

(dpa/NAN)