Germans should stop whining and be ready this winter with sweaters and candles in case of a power outage, said veteran German politician Wolfgang Schäuble. In an interview with Bild-TV, the former finance minister and speaker of the German parliament said Germans should “just put on a nightgown or maybe a second one” in case of a freezing winter.
“There is no need to be sad about this, we must admit that many things cannot be taken for granted,” he explained. Reports by various European leaders of blackouts this winter due to power failures were lapidary. “That’s why you should always have candles, matches and a flashlight at home,” Schäuble says.
The 80-year-old politician also warned the Germans not to assume that the government can solve all financial problems, such as rising inflation and energy costs. “If we inspire people that everything is limitless, we are exploring too much. Therefore, people get the impression that the state can do everything – this is unsustainable,” he assured.
In Germany, heated pools and various government benefits are already banned to try and reduce the risk of power outages in the winter.
