Baden-Württemberg Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Protection Peter Hauk
Hauk supported the response to Russia's actions despite the impact it could have on his country's own citizens, who are already struggling with soaring energy prices that make it challenging for them to heat their homes.
"You can withstand 15 degrees [Celsius] in winter in a sweater. No one dies of it. But people are dying elsewhere," Hauk said, referencing the toll Russia has inflicted on Ukraine.
The comments from the politician, who is a member of the Christian Democratic Union party, elicited a strong response from the German Tenants' Association, which retorted that it showed no understanding of the needs of the elderly or those working from home.
Although the association conceded that Europe needed to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, it warned that lowering the room temperature and relying instead on wearing more clothing could lead to people falling ill during the winter months. "With a ministerial salary or a presidential pension, you can afford exploding energy costs and do not need to freeze yourself," Stuttgart state chairman Rolf Gassmann said.
The association went on to remind Gassmann that, with regard to rented accommodation, German landlords have a legal obligation to ensure rooms can be heated to 22 degrees Celsius and to install proper ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and mold infestation.
The European Union is to phase out its reliance on oil and gas from Russia by 2030, beginning by reducing its demand for Russian gas by two-thirds this year. The region "cannot rely on a supplier who explicitly threatens us," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Comment: The minister's response is typical of politicians these days, he's not only completely out of touch with the struggle most people are experiencing - because costs were surging years prior to Russia's incursion into Ukraine - he reveals his lack of understanding of the situation his country is in - because the EU admits it will be relying on Russian fuel for years to come, and the sanctions regime will wreak havoc on just more than home heating - he also shows he has no idea of what's going on in Ukraine - because the vast majority of civilians that are being killed are a result of Ukraine's government and military, not Russia's:
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