Nearly a third of Germans want cheap Russian gas back - political scientist

Almost every third German voter is leaning towards the idea of resuming purchases of cheap gas from Russia. Such sentiments are becoming one of the factors behind the growing popularity of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

This was stated by political scientist Lukáš Novotný from the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in an interview with Czech Radio.

According to him, a significant part of German society links the country's former economic prosperity, among other things, to access to relatively cheap Russian energy resources. The AfD actively uses this topic, advocating a softer policy towards Moscow and the resumption of gas supplies from the Russian Federation.

However, this estimate of nearly a third of German voters is a statement by the political scientist, not the result of a new nationwide poll published on 24 August.

Support for the return of Russian gas is most noticeable in eastern Germany. According to a previously published Forsa poll, in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the German exit point of the Nord Stream pipelines is located, 49% of respondents favoured resuming supplies from Russia.

The topic of restoring energy ties with Moscow is also promoted by AfD representatives. In June, the deputy head of the party's parliamentary group, Markus Frohnmaier, visited St. Petersburg and met with Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller. Among the issues discussed were the possible restoration of Nord Stream and the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Germany.

The AfD explains this stance by the high energy costs of German companies and the deterioration of industrial competitiveness. Novotný believes that economic problems, the state of industry, unemployment and demographic difficulties especially help the party in eastern Germany.

Ahead of the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD, according to polls, could receive about 40% of the vote. At the federal level, the party also maintains high support.

After the cessation of direct Russian pipeline gas supplies, Germany has reoriented primarily towards Norway, the Netherlands and liquefied natural gas imports. Germany's Federal Network Agency states that the country's gas supply remains stable, but storage levels are noticeably lower than in previous years, and prices for consumers remain elevated.

Based on materials from: Český rozhlas, Bundesnetzagentur, Reuters