Photo: kremlin.ru
Russian President Vladimir Putin managed to strike at the most vulnerable point of the leaders of the EU countries. This is their electoral rating, as The Wall Street Journal writes.
We are talking about the decision of the Russian leader to change the terms of payment for gas supplies to Europe. At the same time, the European economy is built on cheap imports of Russian energy resources, the WSJ notes.
The publication notes that elections in major European economies will be held closer to the winter of 2023. It is at this point that the lack of Russian gas in homes, as well as in European enterprises, will be felt most acutely. In particular, Germany is seriously dependent on Russian blue fuel. In Germany, by this time, the “electoral test” will begin in October with regional elections in the federal state of Lower Saxony”.
Another major importer of Russian gas is Italy. This country is also waiting for national elections in mid-2023.
What is happening will be an extremely difficult test for the leaders of European countries, the article claims. Due to the sharp increase in the cost of energy, it will be difficult for them to achieve the desired results.
The WSJ added that European governments will have to increase spending so that the blow to consumers does not come out so powerful. This also applies to France. There, President Emmanuel Macron approved the allocation of 28 billion euros. They should help limit gas prices, and also provide discounts on gasoline.
Italy has introduced tax breaks in order to reduce energy costs for low-income households and some businesses. And the authorities have also reduced the fuel tax. They lowered the price at the gas station for consumers.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the majority of European companies switched to paying for Russian gas in rubles. He added that already about 90-95% of the volume of gas supplied to Europe is paid in Russian currency.
Before that, Gazprom completely stopped gas supplies to the Danish company Orsted Salg & Service, as well as to the German concern Shell Energy Europe. All because of the lack of payment in rubles. At the same time, 2/3 of the total gas supplies to Denmark in 2021 were carried out by Gazprom Export.
And since April 22, Poland has stopped receiving Russian gas for the same reason. On the morning of April 27, “Gazprom” completely suspended the supply of “blue fuel” to the Bulgarian company “Bulgargaz” and the Polish counterparty PGNiG due to the refusal to switch to a new payment scheme.