The energy crisis mobilizes the French government and, beyond that, it weighs on the whole of Europe. This was the main concern of Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen during her State of the Union address yesterday.
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Behind this energy crisis and the threats of shortages, a heavy political issue: how long will Western public opinion support the sanctions against Russia? Marine Le Pen seized on the risk of power cuts to be indignant about the mode “We are not a third world country!”
And the leader of the far right calls for the lifting of sanctions against Russia. According to her, they would only penalize Westerners.
This is also what Vladimir Putin says. But a detailed report by the Commission has demonstrated the effectiveness of the six sets of sanctions that have plunged Russia into a deep recession: minus 6% of GDP in 2022.
It’s true, and it makes sense, inflation increases as the Russian gas tap closes. This is why Emmanuel Macron urged the French in August to agree to “pay the price of freedom” and therefore support for Ukraine. The opposition has seized on this theme of inflation. Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to organize a “big march against the high cost of living” in the fall, and yesterday, in Strasbourg, the rebellious MEP Manon Aubry brandished invoices received by individuals to castigate these “unbearable rises”.
“Send those bills to Moscow!”, replied Ursula von der Leyen, accusing Putin of being solely responsible for the crisis. The President of the Commission was also dressed in yellow and blue, the colors of Ukraine, and accompanied by the wife of President Zelensky.
Especially since on the military level, the facts prove him right. The Ukrainian army regains ground in a spectacular fashion and inflicts heavy losses on the Russians. And it is in particular thanks to the deliveries of American weapons, but also European. Marine Le Pen, like Jean-Luc Mélenchon for that matter, were hostile to it. However, on the political level, the shock is already programmed for the EU. If in ten days, the extreme right wins in Italy, to the delight of Vladimir Putin, the assaults of all those who demand the lifting of sanctions will redouble.