Chan­cellor Nehammer: no gas sanc­tions, destroy German and Austrian economies

By JÖRG WOLLSCHLÄGER | Appar­ently, the ever-incre­asing pres­sure from the economy and the popu­la­tion has had an effect on poli­tics. The reali­sa­tion that the gas sanc­tions against Russia are tanta­mount to hara-kiri for the indus­tries of Germany and Austria has prevailed, at least among those in posi­tions of respon­si­bi­lity in Austria. Hopefully, this decision will also lead Germany to turn away from the trans­at­lantic course of deindus­tria­li­sa­tion and self-destruc­tion through a gas embargo against Russia.

Chan­cellor Nehammer said the following:

What has always been the Austrian prin­ciple, and I am a passio­nate advo­cate of it, is that sanc­tions must affect more those against whom they are directed and not harm more those who decide to impose them. Why is that so necessary?

This is not just some empty formula; other­wise it will not work to main­tain the sanc­tions regime. Desta­bi­li­sa­tion of the Euro­pean market, unem­ploy­ment, social uphe­avals, all these are crisis scena­rios that must be taken seriously in this context and then it must be examined what sanc­tions mean and with what conse­quences for the Euro­pean Union or for the West as a whole. That is why the Austrian posi­tion is even that a gas embargo is not possible. This is not only because we as Austria are simply too depen­dent on Russian gas, but also because German industry is depen­dent on Russian gas and if German industry collapses, Austrian industry will collapse and then we will have mass unem­ploy­ment. These are big issues that we have to face here. That means that if what I have just said were to happen, we would no longer be able to main­tain sanc­tions against the Russian Fede­ra­tion. And in prin­ciple I think the approach is right, that every measure that is taken must also be evaluated.

Joint press state­ment by Hunga­rian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Austrian Chan­cellor Karl Nehammer, 28.7.2022 in Vienna. The quote starts at minute 36:12, link.