BW Minister Declares Support For German Ban On Russian Energy Imports, Says Germans Can Survive A 15°C Winter If “People Are Dying Elsewhere”

Peter Hauk, Baden-Württemberg Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, has declared his support for Germany’s plan to ban energy imports from Russia in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

RT quoted Hauk saying that “you can withstand 15 degrees [Celsius] in winter in a sweater. No one dies of it. But people are dying elsewhere.”

This follows German Vice Chancellor and Economic Minister Robert Habeck’s announcement that the country was cutting its dependence on Russian energy imports sooner than expected. At a news conference on Friday, Habeck shared a progress report that showed that Germany will be slashing Russian oil imports by half by the middle of summer, and almost completely by the end of the year. Coal imports meanwhile will be cut by half in the coming weeks, and its estimated that the country could be free of Russian gas by mid-2024.

“We have made intensive efforts in recent weeks, together with all relevant stakeholders, to import less fossil energy from Russia and broaden the supply base,” Habeck said. “Every supply contract that is terminated hurts Putin.”

Hauk’s sweater comment, however, prompted a strong response from the German Tenants’ Association according to RT. The association allegedly claimed that the comment shows a lack of understanding of the needs of the elderly or those who are working from home. 

AfD Federal Spokesman Tino Chrupalla said in a Tweet that it’s easy for Hauk, who’s been a member of parliament for 30 years, to say that people can survive a 15°C winter in a sweater when he can heat up his house as warmly as he wants.

It’s unclear whether Hauk meant his comment literally, as it directly references the impact, particularly the human casualties, of the war in Ukraine. 

According to the RT report, the German Tenants’ Association agreed that Europe needs to cut the cord on Russian energy imports but warned that “lowering the room temperature and relying instead on wearing more clothing could lead to people falling ill during the winter months.”

Habeck meanwhile recognized that there’s no shortcut to ending Germany’s reliance on Russian energy.

“We still have a long way to go, and we will only be able to bid farewell to Russian gas with a joint show of strength — the federal government, the states, local authorities, companies and private households together,” he said.


Information for this briefing was found via Reuters and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

The Goal is Gold Production as Soon as Possible! | Gordon Robb – ESGOLD Corp.

Snowline Gold: The Multi Billion Dollar Valley PEA

Euro Sun: Rovina Copper-Gold Project Secures Some Major Funding

Recommended

Antimony Resources Drills 4.17% Antimony Over 7.4 Metres At Bald Hill

ESGold To Expand Mine Building At Montauban In Advance Of Gold & Silver Production

Related News

Trudeau Government Raises Tariffs on Russian Exports Over Ukraine Conflict

The Canadian government is removing Russia’s and Belarus’ status of “most favoured nation” in trading,...

Friday, March 4, 2022, 11:35:00 AM

The Arbitrage Opportunity of the Century: Natural Gas Shipments From the US to the EU

You know what they say, never let a good conflict go to waste! With Russia...

Sunday, August 7, 2022, 09:00:00 AM

Closure of Europe’s Largest Natural Gas Field Looms, Sending Prices Soaring

Europe’s biggest natural gas field, the Groningen field in the Netherlands, is set to shut...

Friday, June 16, 2023, 03:16:00 PM

Washington Post Reveals Russia’s Disinformation Campaign To Undermine Zelensky

To no one’s surprise, it was recently uncovered that in 2023, the Kremlin launched a...

Sunday, February 25, 2024, 11:36:00 AM

Gazprom: The EU Has Used Up 95% of its Gas Reserves

Europe’s natural gas reserves are running substantially below normal levels, just as tensions between Russia...

Sunday, February 20, 2022, 03:05:12 PM