Söder fears that entire sections of the population will decline
“Meanwhile, even red-green in Munich gets a cold butt”
Robert Habeck’s stress test suggests the continued operation of two nuclear power plants, including the Isar 2 nuclear power plant in Bavaria. Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger has been calling for such a test since March: “It’s September now – the green party ideology is obviously more important than the economy in the state.”
“If the level of gas storage in the south is not significantly increased, it will not last through the whole winter,” says Markus Söder. Bavaria’s Prime Minister criticizes the traffic light policy and warns of serious consequences.
BAyern’s Prime Minister Markus Söder fears that entire sections of the population will decline and that a wave of bankruptcies will result from the energy crisis in Germany. After statements by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) that Germany was well prepared for the winter, the CSU politician said in one “Picture”-Interview (Saturday): “I don’t know what this hope is based on. In any case, the citizens hardly have any more trust in the traffic lights. There is a lack of gas and energy. If the level of gas storage in the south is not significantly increased, it will not last through the whole winter.”
So far, none of the energy trips by Chancellor Scholz and Economics Minister Habeck have led to the conclusion of a gas contract, criticized Söder. In addition, an urgently needed extension of the lifetime of the nuclear power plants has still not been decided. “And because there is still no effective relief package, there is a risk of entire sections of the population falling and a wave of bankruptcies for small and medium-sized businesses,” Söder continued.
Representatives of the traffic light coalition are meeting in Berlin this Saturday morning to discuss further relief in view of rising prices. Among other things, targeted help for pensioners and students and tax cuts as well as a successor regulation for the 9-euro ticket are under discussion.
Gas supply through Nord Stream pipeline remains suspended indefinitely
The supply of Russian gas to Germany through the Nord Stream pipeline remains suspended indefinitely. Gazprom announced on Friday evening that an oil leak had been discovered in a turbine, which is why repair work is necessary. “Until the repair (…) the delivery of gas via Nord Stream is completely stopped,” said the Russian energy company. Gazprom did not provide information on how long the repairs would take.
Gas deliveries through Nord Stream 1 had already been stopped on Wednesday, for which Gazprom had cited regular maintenance work on a compressor station as the reason. The gas flow should have started again this Saturday.
The Federal Ministry of Economics in Berlin did not want to comment on the reasons given by Gazprom for the extension of the gas supply stop. However, the turbine’s maker, German company Siemens Energy, said the oil leak cited by Gazprom was not a “technical reason” to halt gas supplies.