Germany's Gerhard Schroeder to stay home with the kids as wife takes up career in politics Doris Schroeder-Kopf has already returned the Schroeder name to the German political map by racking up a surprise victory in local elections this week. The 48-year-old journalist representing the left-wing Social Democrats beat a party veteran to take up a seat in the Hanover state parliament. Her victory dispelled fears in Social Democrat ranks that people might shy away from the Schroeder name in fear of fostering nepotism. Mrs Schroder-Kopf confessed that she had always harboured political ambitions but these were put on ice during the days her husband governed Germany from 1998 to 2005. "When my husband was chancellor a political career for me was simply impossible, partly because of family commitments," she told the DPA news service. Now, with the 61-year-old Mr Schroeder out of politics, the roles are reversed. "If I can't be home because of political work, then obviously he has to take care of the children," she said. The couple have two adopted children and Mrs Schroeder-Kopf has a daughter from a previous marriage.