Habeck warns in an emotional speech: Energy crisis can "become worse than the corona pandemic"

Created: 06/21/2022, 20:52

By: Linus Prien

Robert Habeck found clear words at Industry Day.

In his speech he warned of the gas problem and accused Putin of an "economic attack".

Berlin - Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has described the throttling of Russian gas supplies through the Nord Stream Baltic Sea pipeline as an "attack" by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Green politician spoke of a new dimension on Tuesday (June 21) at Industry Day.

The reduction in gas supplies is an “economic attack on us”.

Putin uses energy as a weapon.

Habeck on energy supply: gas problem can “become worse than the corona pandemic”

In his speech at Industry Day, the Federal Minister of Economics described a sobering scenario: The economic situation could “become worse than the corona pandemic”.

Habeck emphasized the importance of filling the gas storage tanks.

"If we go into the winter with storage tanks only half full and the gas tap is turned off, then we are talking about a severe economic crisis that will hit Germany," he said. 

Putin is reducing the amount and wants to drive up the prices.

In doing so, he wanted to trigger a debate in Europe and in Germany about fear, for example of material losses, in order to ultimately trigger a debate as to whether Putin should not be allowed in Ukraine, as Habeck made clear.

The war against Ukraine is an attack on individual freedom.

Energy supply: Habeck plans temporary return to coal

"Because of the material hardship, the high inflation, the high energy prices, people are naturally afraid: afraid of poverty, fear of loss of prosperity, fear of not being able to keep what they have built up over a long life," said Habeck.

The Vice Chancellor warned that this would open up space for populism.

This is no coincidence, but a "strategy," said Habeck.

"This strategy must not be successful," he added.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) at the Day of German Industry.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

The Greens politician had previously presented a package of measures to reduce gas consumption in industry.

This includes, among other things, turning more climate-damaging coal into electricity again.

This is "very bad news," said Habeck.

However, the measure is necessary to fill up the gas storage tanks.

Germany cannot go into the winter with half-full storage facilities.

If Russia then turns off the gas tap, there will be talk of a serious economic crisis that will hit Germany.