Söder brakes boycott request
Lindner against embargo on Russian oil and gas
03/07/2022, 00:14
Germany is still very dependent on the Russian energy sources oil, gas and coal. In the course of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, demands are being made to break free of this dependency immediately. But Germany’s top politicians warn that it won’t work without a plan B.
CSU boss Markus Söder is reluctant to demands from the Union for a boycott of Russian oil, gas and coal supplies. “Emotionally there is a lot to be said for cutting everything that is possible,” said Söder on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner special”. But then a clarification about a replacement is needed. “Otherwise it can still be very cold and also very expensive,” emphasized the Bavarian Prime Minister. There must be at least a “complete plan” before such a decision can be made. That will not work with renewable energies in the next six months either. You have to find other ways. The VAT on fuel should be reduced.
FDP leader Christian Lindner rejected an embargo on Russian oil and gas. “If we do without gas, oil and coal supplies from Russia, it means that prices in Western Europe and in the world will rise dramatically due to the expected scarcity,” said Lindner in the political talk “The Right Questions” on Bild TV.
Even if Germany were to use the money, it would not be easy to buy coal, gas and oil elsewhere. Lindner warned: “In the medium term – not now, not in summer, but maybe next autumn and winter – we would have supply bottlenecks and would have to discuss very drastic measures.” At the same time, Lindner rejected considerations about tax cuts for petrol. Regarding such boycott demands, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that a stop would have to last for months and be well prepared. In the ARD program “Anne Will”, the Green politician referred to Germany’s high dependence on hard coal from Russia.
The CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen had called for a stop to energy imports from Russia. “We must do everything in our power to support the Ukrainians in their fight against Putin and for freedom,” wrote Röttgen in a guest article in the “Tagesspiegel”. He appealed to the federal government to stop gas and oil imports from Russia “now”. CDU Vice Karin Prien supported Röttgen’s demand.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz said on Saturday, however: “We are not currently considering tightening the sanctions in the direction of our refraining from energy supplies from Russia.” Merz added: “But we are open, if this war continues, if the atrocities against the civilian population should continue, that we would then have to resort to this remedy.”