Robert Habeck (Greens), Economics and Climate Action Minister of Germany, yesterday invoked the second alert level concerning the national supply of natural gas. He put the blame for that on Russia, claiming that “we mustn’t kid ourselves, this is the consequence of an external economic attack by Putin.”
The second alert level is the last stage before national emergency management of gas supplies, involving the rationing of gas, and—even more vicious—the drastic rise of gas prices determined by the speculative free markets (they are to blame—ed) which can be unlimited, as there are no regulations involving a cap on prices. Already now, an average household must face an increase in its energy bill for heating with gas, in the range of 1,000 to 2,000 euros in the coming late autumn/winter season. That is the equivalent of an average monthly income for families, which is most of the population.
