‘I Love the Smell of Russian Gas’: Controversial Polish Politician Backs Nord Stream

Polish far-right politician Grzegorz Braun has backed the restoration of the controversial Nord Stream pipelines and Poland's involvement in the Russian-German energy project. The politician, who leads the Confederation of the Polish Crown Party, expressed his support during a conference in Lubmin, Germany, alongside German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmakers.

Braun stated that he hoped to declare, "I love the smell of Russian gas in the morning," emphasizing his belief that Russia's gas will be flowing westward to prevent Europe's economic collapse. He strongly advocated for Poland to participate in the project rather than oppose it, suggesting that the country should become a shareholder in Nord Stream.

The Polish Energy Minister, Miłosz Motyka, strongly condemned Braun's position, calling it an act of anti-Polish betrayal and treason. Braun's comments contradict Poland's long-standing opposition to the Nord Stream project, which was built to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany without passing through Poland or Ukraine. The Polish government has repeatedly warned that dependence on Russian energy enables Moscow to finance its war against Ukraine and use gas supplies as a form of political leverage against European nations.

The AfD party in Germany, led by Braun, has called for the lifting of sanctions on Russian energy and for the resumption of gas imports from Russia. However, Germany's federal government opposes reopening Nord Stream, stating that the country has secured alternative energy sources. Any attempts to restart the pipelines would face significant legal and political hurdles, as the pipelines are under US and EU sanctions, and require approval from the German government.