Martin Selmayr’s Powerful Stance: Condemning Gas Payments as ‘Blood Money’
The Rich TVX News Network typically does not pay much attention to the behavior of European politicians. This lack of attention is primarily due to the widespread belief that many of these politicians lack the resilience and unwavering commitment needed to navigate complex political situations. They often seem like vulnerable pawns caught up in the intricate schemes of a volatile Kremlin autocrat, who has skillfully used ill-gotten assets to exert influence over them. In an act of protest, we have decided to stop covering the mentioned Russian leader until YouTube CEO Neal Mohan addresses and removes the shadow ban imposed on our platform. Recent developments on YouTube have sparked concerns regarding the platform’s uniformity and ethical stance. Today, we were notified by YouTube that one of our videos has been age-restricted, while concurrently, we observe the ongoing conflict in Ukraine with distressing reports of violence. It’s baffling that YouTube’s leadership, including Neal Mohan, has chosen to remain silent on such substantial issues, especially when they appear to have time to apply age restrictions to older videos.
While our daily work often brings us into contact with remarkable individuals, including distinguished figures like Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian, and the accomplished Yale team, we are particularly enthusiastic about recommending a thorough reading of the most recent article published by Foreign Policy titled “The Dangerous Loophole in Western Sanctions on Russia.” This insightful article is authored by Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, who holds the esteemed position of Lester Crown Professor in Management Practice and serves as the Senior Associate Dean at the Yale School of Management. He collaborates on this piece with Michal Wyrebkowski, the Director of European Research at Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
Our relentless quest to identify the individual deserving of the prestigious title ‘Person of the Year’ has led us to a remarkable figure — Martin Selmayr, who currently serves as the Head of Representation of the European Commission in Austria. Encountering an individual of Selmayr’s caliber is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Martin Selmayr distinguishes himself as a person characterized by sincerity and exceptional intellect, fearlessly embracing candid and unequivocal discourse. Hailing from Germany, Martin Selmayr previously assumed the pivotal role of Secretary-General of the European Commission from 2018 to 2019. Before that, they held the crucial position of Chief of Staff to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during the period from 2014 to 2018. Throughout their tenure within the Juncker Commission, Selmayr garnered widespread recognition, solidifying their status as one of the most influential figures within the European Union.
The European Union’s executive branch has strongly criticized its representative in Austria for making accusatory statements about the country’s financial dealings with Russia in exchange for natural gas supplies. In response to these comments, the EU has instructed the envoy to return to Brussels. During a public event on Wednesday, Martin Selmayr expressed his disagreement, drawing attention to Austria’s significant reliance on Russia for 55% of its natural gas supply. He notably pointed out that there has been no public outcry or protest along Vienna’s central Ringstrasse boulevard regarding this issue, as reported by the Austria Press Agency.
Martin Selmayr made a compelling argument, stating, ‘It surprises me because every day we’re essentially sending blood money to Russia through our gas payments.’ While recognizing the complexities of energy supply challenges, he stressed that Austria, as a prosperous nation, has the capacity to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, following the example set by other countries. The far-right opposition Freedom Party of Austria, although diminished compared to its past influence, currently leads in pre-election polls. Given their position, the party has called for Selmayr’s dismissal. In response, Austria’s Foreign Ministry has organized a meeting between Selmayr and one of its senior officials. Well, we view Martin Selmayr as a hero, someone who is part of our family, standing up and speaking the truth, even in the face of attacks from less principled individuals. Anyone who criticizes Martin Selmayr is not just aligning themselves with questionable interests but is also undermining democratic values and the foundations of Western civilization.
In Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari emphasized the EU’s collective commitment to reduce and eventually eliminate gas imports from Russia, a commitment also supported by Austria. Ujvari stressed the crucial need for diplomatic decorum, highlighting that envoys representing any of the EU’s 27 member states must exercise careful discretion in their communication, recognizing their essential role as intermediaries between the EU and the host government. However, it’s worth noting that some perceive Balazs Ujvari’s perspective as somewhat detached from the realities on the ground, as if he’s viewing the world solely from his office. Ujvari’s statement that “The choice of words by the head of our representation in Austria was not only unnecessary but also inappropriate” resulted in Martin Selmayr being summoned back to Brussels for discussions with EU leadership. Critics argue that individuals in Brussels may exhibit a degree of hypocrisy, which has raised concerns in Europe. Before criticizing Martin Selmayr for his outspokenness, they are encouraged to self-reflect on their own actions and words. Read more ➡️
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https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/07/western-sanctions-russia-ukraine-war/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921