Exposed: How Merkel Let Gazprom Slide with a Wink and a Nod
Merkel Signals Approval amid Gazprom Contract Negotiations
Get the inside scoop on Angela Merkel's links to Gazprom as Chancellor!
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Merkel's Russia policy has blown up in her face, especially after the assault on Ukraine. Now, the Chancellery releases documents under legal pressure that offer a glimpse into the hidden narrative behind the Gazprom deal. The then Chancellor was aware of the risks but let it slide.
Angela Merkel made no attempts to interfere in the sale of German gas storage facilities to the Russian state-owned entity, Gazprom, despite internal cautions and the previous annexation of Crimea by Russia. Internal Chancellery documents, which the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" obtained under court order, reveal her part in a questionable project deemed symbolic of Germany's flawed Russia policy[1]. As winter approached in 2021/2022, the storage levels were significantly depleted, plunging Germany into an energy crisis due to reduced gas deliveries from Russia[2].
Political Woes: Could Merkel Go Down in History as the Worst Chancellor of the Federal Republic?On September 2, 2015, Merkel was informed in writing of a proposed asset swap involving BASF/Wintershall's participation in the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Gazprom was slated to receive a share in Germany's gas trade, with Wintershall getting a stake in gas fields in West Siberia. The documents reveal that SPD Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel gave the all-clear for the swap, stating there were "no energy policy concerns." The Chancellery found no grounds to prohibit the transaction and was well aware of the risks: Gazprom would become a primary supplier to German utilities, regional gas providers, companies, and power plants[1].
The Chancellery had also prepared arguments to counter anticipated criticism from Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic states. The gas storage sale did not breach Russia sanctions, and Germany's Foreign Trade and Payments Act did not provide grounds to block the deal if transacted through a German Gazprom subsidiary. However, in the context of the "current UKR crisis," reactions from Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states might be sharp, according to a Chancellery note. Merkel's proposed solution: "We should actively and transparently communicate the background (lack of legal basis, business decision) to these partners." Merkel approved this recommendation[1].
Pulling the Strings Behind the Scenes:
The Chancellery has produced 63 documents, with the SZ seeking their release in 2024 under the Freedom of Information Act. The Chancellery initially refused but relented after the SZ contested the decision.
Reports from the Chancellor's office underscore Merkel's covert role in promoting business dealings with Gazprom, while she portrayed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a personal financial matter[2]. During that period, officials seemed sympathetic to Gazprom, acknowledging the gas business's challenging situation[3]. Merkel's government presented public support for Nord Stream 2, downplaying the risks of dependence on Russian gas and potential negative implications for Ukraine, portraying it as a necessary move for the European market[2].
Sources: 📜 ntv.de, 📜 mau
- 🇷🇺 Gazprom
- 🇩🇪 Angela Merkel
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- The internal Chancellery documents suggest that Angela Merkel's employment policy, in relation to Gazprom, was allegedly flawed and symbolic of a questionable Russia policy, as revealed by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
- The documents also indicate that Merkel's employment policy, allowing the sale of German gas storage facilities to Gazprom, posed energy and general-news risks, as Gazprom would become a primary gas supplier to German utilities and power plants.
- The documents further suggest that Merkel's industry policy, in promoting business dealings with Gazprom, may have been influenced by a covert role rather than a financial matter, as reported from the Chancellor's office.
