The attack, by German MEP Bernd Lucke, comes after Schulz announced last week that he was giving up his position as the head of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) effective immediately.
Just two days after the German coalition government deal was struck, Schulz announced he was abandoning his bid to serve as Germany’s next foreign minister after heavy criticism from his party for seeking the job after he previously said he wouldn’t serve in the next German government.
Former labour minister and current head of the SPD’s parliamentary group, Andrea Nahles, was nominated to take his place in a unanimous decision by SPD leaders.
At the time, Schulz, a former MEP, said, “I depart this office without bitterness or resentment," he said, "almost a year after he was elected as SPD party head with 100 per cent of the vote.”
The announcement capped off a turbulent period for the former SPD leader, after his party agreed a coalition deal with German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Schulz has now been criticized by Lucke, a eurosceptic German MEP. He told this website, “Martin Schulz has failed because he is a man of empty words. Most of his political life he has spent in Brussels where empty words abound (and are cherished).
“His electoral campaign in Germany was doomed because voters sensed the lack of practical ideas and solutions behind his language of ‘social justice’ or ‘European peace project’.”
Lucke, an ECR group member, added, “The SPD was a ruling party in Germany 16 out of the last 20 years. And here comes Schulz and asks for more social justice? Voters have seen the EU fail on major challenges. And here comes Schulz and asks for more Europe? Schulz’s message sounded empty and unconvincing.”
The deputy went on, “It provided no answer to voter concerns about jobs, infrastructure, terrorism and refugees.
“Empty words were also Schulz’s vow to return the SPD to the opposition and never to serve in a Merkel government. His U-turn on his own promises fatally destroyed his credibility. Schulz failed because there was no substance in what he said,” said Lucke.
The upheaval at the top of the SPD has distracted from party leaders’ attempts to convince party members to agree to the coalition deal. The party’s 464,000 party members will vote in a postal ballot on the deal, with the results expected to be announced on 2 March.