Nord Stream 2 scandal: Schwesig comes under massive pressure!

Nord Stream 2 scandal: Schwesig comes under massive pressure!

On Friday there will be an important finale in the investigative committee to clarify the events surrounding the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and the associated climate protection foundation. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig is being questioned as a witness and has to ask, among other things, critical questions about her role and the statements she made.

In a recent press release, the State Chancellery in Schwerin responded to allegations that were taken up in an article by t-online. This article, entitled “Witnesses refute Schwesig’s story,” states that the State Chancellery claimed that the Prime Minister only found out about the foundation’s idea on November 5, 2020. However, government spokesman Andreas Timm made it clear that this representation was not true. He emphasized that there was never any claim that Schwesig first heard about the foundation idea on that date.

The background of the foundation

The discussion about the Climate Protection Foundation and the construction of Nord Stream 2 are under a particularly critical light. Matthias Warnig, former CEO of Nord Stream 2 AG and confidant of Vladimir Putin, has questioned the representation of the state government, which is led by Schwesig. According to Warnig, the foundation was founded as a front organization so that the gas pipeline could be completed despite the threat of US sanctions. This was raised in various aspects in the public education committee, which does not make the situation any easier for Schwesig and her team. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder recently decided not to testify at short notice due to illness.

Warnig reported that the idea to establish the foundation came about in September 2020 in the legal department of Nord Stream 2 AG. Christian Pegel, who served as Energy Minister from 2020 to 2021, is also coming under pressure. Because Warnig's statements put his previous assurances about the foundation's independence from Nord Stream 2 AG to a tough test. Pegel had stated that the Climate Foundation's statutes should have been developed without external lawyers, which Warnig denies.

Financial dimensions

The committee made it clear that the foundation has awarded contracts worth a total of around 160 million euros in recent years. Although the pipeline was completed in fall 2021, it has not been put into operation to date. This raises questions about the actual intentions and transparency of the foundation's creation and financing.

The committee of inquiry, which is expected to last a whole year, is led by the Jamaica opposition (CDU, Greens, FDP). It can be assumed that Gerhard Schröder will be called as a witness again when it comes to further clarifying the events surrounding the foundation and Nord Stream 2.

The coming hearings in the committee promise to be extremely exciting. It will be interesting to see whether the Prime Minister can withstand the allegations and what consequences Warnig's statements will have. It remains to be hoped that the truth will come to light and everyone involved will take responsibility for their actions.