Nelson de Sá: ‘Weakened’, G7 did not foresee ‘exposed western economies’

Top of Bloomberg, with the official photo, “Stunning mountain view does not hide gloomy mood among G7 leaders” (below). It mainly results from the “roaring” inflation, but also from the “anxiety over Biden’s popularity”.

Leaders “struggle with increased energy and food” while “Putin’s coffers continue to grow”. Just below, on the American proposal for a “ceiling on the price of Russian oil”, Bloomberg warns that “it is pure fantasy”.

In American newspapers, the attention was less, but the mood was the same. In the Wall Street Journal, “G7 leaders weakened by inflation and impatience in their countries”.

He emphasizes that “the consequences of the economic war with Russia are starting to hurt”, already with political “setbacks”, including Biden. “But conditions in Europe are worse,” especially in Germany, says the WSJ, echoing Bloomberg and others.

The New York Times gave the headline “Western countries face increasing difficulties, while sanctions have little impact on Russia”. The leaders “did not expect”, had not “designed the western economies so exposed”.

Then the paper turned to the warning that the “race to replace Russian fossil fuels” is victimizing the fight against climate change, with a “resurgence” of coal, oil and gas. The WSJ also stressed that the Western movement threatens the assumed goals.

The two publications reacted to Germany’s proposal to the G7, reported on Bloomberg, for the group to suspend its commitment not to finance fossil fuel projects abroad. If it passes, says the NYT, “it will be difficult to persuade the rest of the world.”

The German government has already returned to financing fossil fuels in Africa, “violating its own commitment”, as well as subsidizing gasoline and extending the use of coal-fired generators – spurring other Europeans to do the same, such as the Netherlands, Austria and Italy.

LEFT HIDES

In German newspapers, the turn of his government gets less attention. The Süddeutsche, from the region where the G7 summit takes place, reported that the protests have dropped compared to the previous edition in the country, seven years ago.

“The low turnout is due to the two government parties”, Social Democrats and Greens, which this time “hide”.

MERKEL TO THE RESCUE

Days before the G7, former German leader Angela Merkel spoke at length to the RND network, with the call “Now I’m free”. She said that her departure from the government six months ago “may have contributed in some way to the outbreak of the current conflict”.

And he didn’t rule out a mediation role with Putin, but “that question is not being asked at the moment.”

HOW LOW IT DOWN

With attention in Spain focused on the NATO meeting this Tuesday (28) in Madrid, it is barely known that 37 Africans were killed trying to enter the country at the end of the week.

An exception is the Süddeutsche, which sees “A new abyss for Europe”, in the south, in front of a Spanish leader who “praised — yes, praised — the extraordinary work of our security forces.” Asks the German newspaper, in front of the image above:

“How low has morale descended in Europe for a leftist politician to speak so callously? Does he approve of border guards piling people up?”