Soltz: Inflation and energy costs are ‘explosives’ for society

After all, an interview overlooking the river Spree and the German parliament was given, as is customary for the German chancellor every summer, by Olaf Scholz on the program Bericht aus Berlin (Report from Berlin) of the first program of German television.

“We will continue to support Ukraine as long as necessary,” Olaf Solz reiterated, stressing that the country under Russian attack will receive as many weapons as it can get in order to fight. At the same time he pointed out that “unconditional surrender”, as Russia demands, is equivalent to “dictated peace”. In fact, he emphasized once again – as in his much-discussed response to a DW journalist in Elmau, Bavaria – that security guarantees will be given to Ukraine for the period after the end of the war, but only in the form of a guarantee of aid from NATO, again without going into details. Ukraine is not part of NATO, so any details will be coordinated between NATO partners and Ukraine.

He even emphasized that he has made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he should not count on lifting Western sanctions if he continues to demand peace with Ukraine on his own terms.

The increase in energy prices “socially explosive”

One of the main topics of the chancellor’s interview was the rise in energy prices due to Russian gas pressure, which, as Olaf Solz characteristically said, could lead to a “social explosion”. As he characteristically said, “if the heating bills suddenly increase by a few hundred euros, then many citizens will not be able to cope”. This is a situation that is of great concern to the German government.

At the same time, however, the German chancellor defended the relief package of 30 billion euros already approved by the German parliament, saying that its results remain to be seen in practice. At the same time, he emphasized that the German government should continue efforts in the same direction with a view to relieving the citizens. In this context, with the aim of dealing with increased energy costs and inflation, a round of negotiations begins tomorrow between the federal government, the states and the employers’ and workers’ unions.

Olaf Solz has finally defended his government’s moves to sign liquefied natural gas transport contracts with Qatar, saying that given the circumstances, negotiations with more suppliers are necessary. Qatar is one of the most important LNG producers, yet significant objections are raised about the human rights situation in the country.

Probably an end to the lockdowns for the coronavirus…

In the field of the corona virus, the German chancellor, referring to the findings of a committee of experts on the management of the pandemic in Germany, emphasized that schools will not be closed again and that in the future the lockdowns, as imposed intermittently in the previous two years of the pandemic, may not need again. However, he was in favor of a possible reinstatement of the mandatory mask in closed spaces. “The mask will play a more important role in autumn and winter than now,” he said.

However, in the interview taken by the journalist Tina Hassell, the problematic communication policy of Soltz, as many consider it, and the accusation that many accuse him of an arrogant style were put on the carpet. He responded by saying that he is not “one of those politicians who make announcements every week, 90% of which they don’t follow”. As he characteristically said, this moment is not the time to constantly say something, but to make decisions. “We’re doing everything differently than we have in the last two decades.”

Dimitra Kyranoudis, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle