Western and Southern Europe have become depressingly close to everything that we Hungarians have recently experienced under wars, communism or left-wing governments. Skyrocketing energy prices, fear of power outages and the heating being turned off. These have now become everyday life in some Western countries, writes Alexandra Szentkirályi on her social media page.
"In both Germany and Austria, educational videos are being used to prepare the public for expected power outages, the lack of heating, and the accompanying inconveniences. The condition of the European energy markets may worsen if a colder winter arrives on the continent as expected, but the exceptionally low gas storages will not help to solve the situation either.
In Austria, the price of gas has increased by 70 percent at several service providers since November. In Vienna and Berlin today, electricity and gas cost two or three times more than in Budapest , and in Sweden people pay eight times the price of gas in Budapest.
In Hungary, we don't have to worry about utility price increases or heating or power outages. The filling level of gas reservoirs in Hungary is high, i.e. 86 percent, which is well above the European average. In addition, continuous piped supply is ensured on the basis of the 15-year natural gas supply contract with Gazprom, which entered into force on October 1st , and which also includes a lower price than the previous contract.
We, here in Central Europe, often looked to the West as an example to be followed, a goal that we also wanted to achieve. This has changed considerably in recent years, as the West is unable to stand still in the age of crises. Not only can it handle the financial, migration, and health crises, but now it can't even handle the recession.
We Hungarians, on the other hand, are still safe because, thanks to the policy and practice of utility reduction, energy prices have not fallen, the gas reservoirs are full, and the long-term gas purchase contract guarantees the security of Hungary's energy supply for another fifteen years."
2022plus: Here, candles will be lit on Christmas trees (also electric candles), maybe in the West, at the same time, shivering citizens will warm their hands by candlelight?
