Alcohol might be the final resort amid excessive inflation – Austrian chancellor — RT World Information

Europeans may need few choices left if Brussels fails to comprise inflation, Karl Nehammer has mentioned

The EU is dealing with an “enemy” within the type of “absurdly excessive” vitality prices and inflation, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer mentioned at a conservative OVP occasion assembly within the state of Tyrol final week. Nonetheless, if the bloc’s leaders fail to satisfy these challenges, he mentioned, Europeans is perhaps left with few choices to assist overcome their hardships – aside from alcohol and medicines.

The EU has to take measures to fight costs hikes and vitality prices “in such a approach that we don’t drive inflation up however attempt to rein it in collectively,” the chancellor informed his fellow occasion members on Saturday, including that it’s “something however straightforward.”

Nonetheless, the EU leaders can’t simply depart issues as they’re, Nehammer warned. “If we proceed like this, you’ll solely have two choices afterwards: alcohol or psychotropic medication.” He added that “alcohol is principally OK. However… the principle factor is that you just make a toast when you find yourself feeling good.”

His phrases have been meant in jest, however largely fell flat with each politicians and the general public. Nehammer’s “flippant remarks” solely reveal the “full failure” of his authorities and the truth that it’s “overwhelmed” with the hardships it’s dealing with, Austrian MP and Basic Secretary of the right-wing Freedom Social gathering (FPO) Michael Schnedlitz mentioned, calling Nehammer the “fallacious selection” for chancellor and demanding early elections.

Social Democrat Franz Schnabl, who’s the second deputy head of the state of Decrease Austria, took to social media to decry what he referred to as “the depravity” of the OVP. He referred to as Nehammer’s jokes “insufferable” in a state of affairs by which “a big a part of the nation is sliding into poverty.”

Many atypical Austrians look like essential of the chancellor. One lady mentioned on Twitter that she “was puzzled” over Nehammer’s feedback, and one other particular person referred to as his selection of phrases “Kafkaesque.”

The chancellor’s workplace sought to easy issues over by telling Austria’s Kronen Zeitung that Nehammer was solely attempting to “convey confidence” together with his joke, even when it was formulated in a flippant approach. The reason was mocked by some on social media. “If you end up in a gap, cease digging. While you cease digging, you’re nonetheless in a gap,” famend skier and political activist Nicola Werdenigg tweeted.

The developments come as Europe witnesses hovering vitality costs and inflation triggered partly by the standoff with Russia over its army operation in Ukraine. The EU has positioned sweeping sanctions on Moscow, notably focusing on coal and oil exports, whereas looking for alternate options to vitality imports from Russia.

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