Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler is causing a stir with her investigation into Vladimir Putin’s dependence on natural gas and an action in the middle of the election campaign. Former Chief Justice Irmgard Griss wants to shed light on the background. And see if you can get out of the Gazprom contract, which runs until 2040.
Griss is a woman for all delicate matters. The former OGH president and NEOS politician led an investigative commission into the billion-dollar bankruptcy of Hypo and child welfare – and now the one to come to terms with Austria’s dependence on Russian gas is next. Climate Minister Gewessler (Greens) has asked the former supreme court judge to join a high-profile group of experts to investigate the events surrounding the 2018 contract extension between OMV and Putin’s Gazprom until 2040 and thus Putin’s dependence on Russian gas. An interim report should be ready by the end of the summer. Just in time for the elections on September 29.
After her provocation by voting ‘yes’ to the renaturation law, Gewessler causes political commotion again. In the middle of the election campaign. This angers the Turkish government partner again. Finally, the contract extension took place under turquoise blue. In this respect, the pink Irmgard Griss becomes the election worker of the Green Party – albeit involuntarily.
Ceremony at the Hofburg
Griss says she is only interested in the case. ‘Up until then, I did not know Mrs. Gewessler personally. She called me and asked if I wanted to lead the committee together with Andreas Kletecka (professor of law at the University of Salzburg, note). We want to be able to present an interim report by the end of the summer. And have concrete findings by the end of the year.’ According to Griss, the central questions are: can you get out of the contract? Are there any legal possibilities for this? ‘We will take a closer look at it.’
Secondly, how and why did the contract or the early extension from 2018 to 2040 come about in the first place? Putin was a guest in Vienna at the time. Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Co. welcomed him warmly. At the ceremony to mark the 50th wedding anniversary of Gazprom and OMV, celebrities such as Putin’s intimate and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder were guests, and the Russian State Ballet danced. Thirdly, Griss says: “This is particularly important to me: what can we learn from this for the future? What guidelines can be drawn up for such contracts?”
OMV is a private company and operates independently, despite owning shares in the state. However, the political connections are also being looked at. “What role did politicians play in extending the contract? It is a complex problem in any case.” It cannot be that Austria is still more than 90 percent dependent on Russian gas. Germany has managed to turn things around, “we should be able to do that too.”
Former OMV boss Groiss: “Many matters need to be clarified”
Gerhard Groiss sees it that way too. The former OMV boss is considered a fierce critic of Putin’s dependence on Gazprom. He welcomes the commission, he tells the “Krone”, but politicians should have reacted long beforehand. One thing is certain: the billion-dollar contract has been extended without the Supervisory Board having submitted it for assessment or having approved it. Roiss: “Late, but still. Much remains to be clarified.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
