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CDU economics expert Friedrich Merz calls for a two-year construction freeze on the nearly completed large project. “So far I have been in favor of the construction of the pipeline, despite some concerns,” Merz, who wants to become head of the CDU in December, told the “Bild” newspaper. “But after the poison attack on Navalny, Europe has to react now. I propose an immediate two-year construction freeze, that is, a moratorium.” Russian President Vladimir Putin “unfortunately only understands this language,” Merz said.
In a message to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”, Merz made a similar statement. After the apparent assassination attempt on Navalny, “a clear and unequivocal answer is now necessary.” During the construction freeze, Europe must work to “gradually reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas.”
The federal government announced Wednesday that Navalny had been poisoned “without question” with a chemical nerve agent. The well-known critic of the Russian head of state Vladimir Putin was flown from Russia to Berlin on August 22 with symptoms of poisoning, where he has since been treated at the Charité.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) condemned the “poisoning attempt” and announced that an “adequate” reaction would be decided together with the EU and NATO. A special Bundeswehr laboratory has clearly shown that Navalny was the victim of an attack with a nerve agent from the Novitschok group.
Scourge against hasty decisions
NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet, also a candidate to succeed CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, spoke out against a hasty decision on Nord Stream 2, unlike Merz. The question of where Germany will get energy from in the future must be resolved in the interests of both parties and according to objective criteria.
“That is why the question of how this happens should not be answered as a reflex on the first day after the Bundeswehr provided evidence that Navalny was poisoned,” Laschet said. A European reaction to Russia’s behavior and Moscow’s readiness to solve the case and hold those responsible to account is necessary.
The external expert of the CDU Norbert Röttgen, third official candidate for the presidency of the CDU, had already pronounced this Wednesday in favor of putting Nord Stream 2 to the test, among other things. If this gas project was completed now, it would be the ultimate confirmation and encouragement for Putin. The gas will flow from Russia directly to Germany through Nord Stream 2.
The federal government, meanwhile, leaves open how it will approach the project. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert did not want to repeat Chancellor Merkel’s statement last week that the Navalny case and the future of Nord Stream 2 should be seen as decoupled. Merkel’s statement was made before announcing the findings of the Navalny poisoning.
