German populist politician Sahra Wagenknecht is campaigning for the nation to renew importing Russian oil for the PCK refinery within the jap German metropolis of Schwedt.
Wagenknecht, who launched the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) earlier this yr, stated her coverage would push for the change in coverage in the event that they do properly in upcoming elections on September 22 within the jap state of Brandenburg, which incorporates Schwedt.
Germany halted Russian oil imports after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and took management of the refinery, which is majority-owned by a subsidiary of Russian state oil firm Rosneft. That has left the way forward for the refinery unsure.
Within the first half of 2024, the plant’s capability utilization was 76.2%, the German authorities just lately disclosed in response to a parliamentary inquiry. Capability utilization was 98.8% in 2021, earlier than the invasion of Ukraine.
Wagenknecht informed dpa on Saturday that purchasing Russian crude oil could be higher than “laboriously and expensively beg for oil with out in the long run having the ability to obtain full capability utilization” on the refinery.
Wagenknecht’s political get together, which mixes some historically left-wing social insurance policies with right-wing positions on points equivalent to immigration, has opposed Germany’s help for Ukraine and struck a conciliatory stance towards the Russian regime underneath Russian President Vladimir Putin.
If BSW manages to develop into a part of the federal government in Brandenburg, Wagenknecht stated they wouldn’t resign themselves to Germany’s embargo towards Russian oil however would actively stress Berlin to reverse coverage.
She referred to as the adherence to the oil embargo towards Russia a “silly coverage on the expense of Brandenburg and your entire nation” which isn’t solely jeopardizing jobs on the Schwedt refinery but additionally making power unnecessarily costly for everybody in Germany.
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Different Brandenburg politicians sharply criticized Wagenknecht’s stance.
Benjamin Raschke, the highest Inexperienced Social gathering candidate within the state, accused Wagenknecht of placing Germany in danger by counting on Russian provides and cozying as much as Putin.
He stated it might additionally put a €400 million ($440 million) funding within the Schwedt refinery by the German authorities in danger.
Brandenburg’s incumbent state premier, Dietmar Woidke of the Social Democrats (SPD), has signalled his openness to talks with BSW after the elections and has not dominated out a possible coalition.
“If the BSW needs to show that it could possibly additionally govern, then we could speak to the BSW,” stated Woidke. “Finally, nonetheless, authorities motion must be pragmatic. The state of Brandenburg doesn’t determine on migration points or the way forward for Ukraine.”
dpa
