With your now favorite phrase “You will never be alone(You’ll Never Walk Alone) from the Musical Carousel and the Liverpool Anthem, Chancellor Olaf Soltz he tried today, during the usual summer press conference, to reassure citizens about the problems of the coming winter, promising that the weakest will receive adequate support.

He even expressed confidence that there would be no social unrest, because “citizens are smart”, and about the tax evasion scandal jizz-exlimited himself to repeatedly declaring that their own political interference was out of the question.

Regarding the war in Ukrainewhich was not the main topic of the interview, the chancellor repeated that it would end only by decision of Kyivagain ruled out dictated Moscow peace and described the reconstruction of Ukraine as a task to be undertaken by the international community and which would be more than Marshall Plan.

“We are going through serious times (…) In the coming months, Germany will face big problems,” the chancellor warned in his first interview of the summer, while assuring that the government will do everything to enable citizens to overcome difficulties.

“You will never go alone,” he repeated, referring mainly to citizens with the most limited income.

“The government will present a comprehensive package so that no one is left alone, no one faces unresolved problems and no one is forced to take on the challenges of rising prices alone,” he said.

Referring to the relevant proposals presented yesterday by the Minister of Finance Christian Lindnerprovoked a reaction in the ruling coalition because they were considered unfair for small and medium incomes, spoke of a “good contribution” to the process, but noted that “it is necessary to put together a comprehensive package that will include all segments of the population”, but once again ruled out the possibility of increasing taxes on high incomes.

He referred in detail to the Government’s efforts to ensure energy efficiency ahead of winter and limit dependence on Russian energy resources, emphasizing that “we are working on all the omissions of the past years, which were really big.”

“Even last year, I was wondering: what will happen if we stop receiving gas from Russia? And it is obvious that no one has asked before (…) We are in intensive preparation,” he stressed.

In any event, the Chancellor expects Natural gas tanks will be much fuller this year than last year, and two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals will be winter-ready.

“Gas is expensive now. But we will always supply enough, that’s the point,” he said and pointed out: “The biggest problem is Russia’s terrible war in Ukraine. But we will continue to support Ukraine militarily, financially, morally.”

Referring to efforts ensuring energy sufficiencyexplained that the use of brown coal would continue and that a decision would be made “in the near future” on the possible expansion of the country’s three nuclear power plants.

At the same time, he assured, the process of getting rid of dependence on fossil sources and the development of renewable energy sources is underway.

“With every wind turbinewith every photovoltaicswith every new power line With commissioning, Germany’s dependence on imported fossil resources is reduced,” Mr. Scholz said, promising the industry affordable energy in large quantities, especially electricity and hydrogen.

“The most important thing is the expansion of renewable sources. We must position ourselves in such a way that after 5-10 years of transition we can say that our supplies are secured,” he added, not ruling out, however, the possibility of building new pipelines in Europe. .

“Transport between Rostock and Swed is extremely important and a pipeline from Portugal via Spain and France will bring great relief,” he said.

Asked if he was concerned about the possibility of social unrest and protests in the event of a power shortage, Olaf Soltz seemed convinced that there would be no escalation.

On the war in Ukraine, the chancellor was asked if he thinks the Russian president “butcher” and “war criminal”to answer that Vladimir Putin he is responsible for this war. “He decided that there should be a war. He violated agreements that no one attacks a neighbor,” he said, and as for Mr. Putin’s responsibility, he said that “we will go after everything that we can determine in a concrete way.”

Asked about the role that the former chancellor could play Gerhard Schroeder, said he did not think he could ever again be useful as an intermediary between Russia and Europe. In the case of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline turbine, “this only provided false arguments, instead of helping,” he stressed.

Russia’s relations with Chinabut not the tension around him Taiwan, are not a reason to limit Berlin’s contacts with Beijing, the chancellor also said, in response to a related question, and indicated that his possible visit to China was being discussed, but not yet finalized. A visit is planned, according to him, to the Arab countries.

The last question of the press conference was about his predecessor, Angela Merkel. “Do you miss him; If not, then why, if yes, then why?” the journalist asked. “We are happy to call each other, but now I am a happy chancellor,” Olaf Soltz replied with a smile.

RES – OIE