Last week, Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) sent a legislative proposal to the coalition partner VP to promote the phase-out of Russian gas. The law – which requires a two-thirds majority in the National Council – is intended to force gas suppliers to diversify.
The VP is now taking a stand: On Friday, VP energy spokeswoman Tanja Graf criticized the proposal. “Austria should not go it alone here, but tackle this together with Europe,” she said and warned of possible increases in energy prices. But they are ready for talks with Gewessler.
The minister had criticized the domestic energy suppliers; the share of Russian gas in Austria was 87 percent in February. “If the gas suppliers do not act on their own initiative in the liberalized gas market, then legal obligations are needed,” she said. Austria has committed to phasing out Russian gas by 2027.
“The fairy tale of cheap Russian gas”
The Greens responded by broadcasting: They were “stunned” by the criticism. Gas suppliers would have to use alternative sources of supply. The People’s Party had driven Austria into dependence on “Putin’s gas” and would now still tell “the fairy tale regarding cheap Russian gas”.
The Social Democrats also reacted to the coalition dispute: the government was pursuing “show politics” and was thereby putting the population’s security of supply at risk.
