News round-up, June 28, 2023
Editorial…
The "Wagner's Little Mad Army" and Russia's Cryptic Summer Equinox of 2023
What It’s really unleash —2023 Russian Equinox started — is still in limbo, but there is no doubt that it was not a “coup”. In fact, all signs point to a "putsch," a "self-coup," or a "Röhm purge."
According to the Reuters and New York Times report from today, the current Russian Summer Equinox seems comparable to a "Röhm purge", and the outcome could be the same as Nicholas II and Rasputin fate.
Germán & CoMost read…
The "Wagner's Little Mad Army" and Russia's Cryptic Summer Equinox of 2023
What It’s really unleash —2023 Russian Equinox started — is still in limbo, but there is no doubt that it was not a “coup”. In fact, all signs point to a "putsch," a "self-coup," or a "Röhm purge."
By Germán & Co, June 28, 2023The Spying Scandal Inside One of America’s Biggest Power Companies
A private investigator surveilled Southern Co.’s CEO, prompting an internal investigation into whether it was commissioned by another executive
WSJ By Katherine Blunt, June 28, 2023 European Green Pact under threat after vote in EU Parliament
On Tuesday, the European Legislative Assembly's Environment Committee voted to reject the Nature Restoration Bill as the right is trying to convince governments on its side to call for a pause in the implementation of the Green Pact.
Le Monde By Virginie Malingre(Brussels, Europe bureau), today
At the COA Spring Gala 2023, Andrés Gluski, the CEO & President of AES and Chairman of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, presented President Lacalle Pou with the prestigious Gold Insigne. This award was given in recognition of President Lacalle Pou's outstanding leadership in successfully transforming Uruguay into a prominent technology and innovation hub, all while upholding a thriving democracy and robust economy.
Image editing by Germán & CoThe "Wagner's Little Mad Army" and Russia's Cryptic Summer Equinox of 2023
What It’s really unleash —2023 Russian Equinox started — is still in limbo, but there is no doubt that it was not a “coup”. In fact, all signs point to a "putsch," a "self-coup," or a "Röhm purge."
By Germán & Co, June 28, 2023A "putsch" is a political and military maneuver carried out by a minority group with the goal of overthrowing a government or gaining control. In 1960-61, French soldiers, especially the legionnaires, were perplexed by President de Gaulle's proposal to abandon Algeria. Algeria had been a part of France since 1848. Despite the military victories achieved between 1958 and 1960, the soldiers were confused. In May 1958, the French Army successfully staged a coup in Algiers to install de Gaulle as President and maintain French control over Algeria. The Putsch —des généraux—, also known as the “April 1961 Generals' Putsch of Algiers”, was an unsuccessful military coup aimed at preserving French Algeria, the insurrections group was led by Challe, a French legionnaire.
A “self-coup”, also known as an autocoup (derived from the Spanish term "autogolpe"), or coup from the top, refers to a type of coup d'état wherein the leader of a nation, who initially assumed power through legitimate channels, attempts to retain power through unlawful methods. The leader has the potential to dissolve or incapacitate the national legislature, thereby unlawfully acquiring extraordinary powers that are not typically granted under normal circumstances. Other potential measures could involve the nullification of the nation's constitution, the suspension of civil courts, and the assumption of dictatorial powers by the head of government.
The “Röhm-Putsch” is a disinformation strategy in which false information about an ongoing coup was purposefully disseminated in order to justify violent acts (Assassinating the Insurgents). The Röhm-Putsch, also known as the Night of the Long Knives, occurred in Germany in 1934 and had significant political ramifications. Adolf Hitler and the Schutzstaffel carried out a purge of the Sturmabteilung (SA) leadership (SS).
1991 failed Soviet coup marked —decisive moment—
The hardliners within the Communist Party assumed power over Gorbachev and orchestrated a coup d'état due to their perception of diminishing authority. Their actions can be seen as a desperate attempt to regain control over the nation and impede Gorbachev's reform agenda.
The coup took place amidst a period of economic and social turmoil in the Soviet Union, which left a significant portion of the populace disenchanted and disheartened with the government. Gorbachev had devised a dual-pronged reform strategy with the objective of modernizing both the Soviet economy and political structure. The prolonged suppression of the freedom of speech and expression resulted in a surge of social upheaval, as a significant number of individuals demanded greater political autonomy and participation in the governance of their nation.
“Nevertheless, their strategy had unintended consequences as widespread protests erupted across the Soviet Union, with the populace mobilizing to demand the liberation of Gorbachev and the reinstatement of democratic governance. Ultimately, the attempted coup d'état was unsuccessful, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 31, 1991.
The occurrence of that summer marked the end of a significant era and the beginning of a new chapter in the historical trajectory of Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union had profound and far-reaching consequences for the international community, as it signified the conclusion of the Cold War and inaugurated a new era of global politics. (2)
Wagners Demands to the State of the Russian Federation...
Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?
Yevgeny Prigozhin was born on June 1, 1961, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Soviet Union, has been a subject of interest in academic circles. His mother, Violetta Prigozhina, provided financial support for him and his sick grandmother by working at a nearby hospital, as his father died early.
It is noteworthy that Prigozhin's paternal and maternal lineage can be traced back to Jewish ancestry. During his formative years, he harbored aspirations of becoming a professional cross-country skier and subsequently enrolled in renowned athletics boarding school, from which he successfully completed his studies in 1977.
However, his professional trajectory in sports proved to be unsuccessful in the end. In 1990, Prigozhin commenced vending hot dogs at the Apraksin Dvor open-air market in Leningrad, in collaboration with his mother and stepfather.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Prigozhin initiated or participated in numerous entrepreneurial ventures. In 1995, Mr. Prigozhin commenced his foray into the restaurant industry.
The mercenary group leader is a key figure in Russia's escalating domestic conflict.
During the conflict in Ukraine, the paramilitary force experienced a significant expansion, with tens of thousands of combatants under its command. Instances of conflict have arisen between Prigozhin and high-ranking military officials in Russia. He has produced videos that challenge Russia's portrayal of a triumphant military campaign. He frequently claims that his forces have played a leading role in the conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, they have expressed doubts regarding the capabilities of the Russian military, specifically directing harsh criticism towards the Minister of Defense, Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu.
“For Prigozhin It is worth noting that Shoigu is known for his close relationship with President Vladimir Putin, whom he considers a trusted confidant. Shoigu was a member of President Boris Yeltsin's inner circle of advisors, like President Vladimir Putin. It is worth mentioning that President Boris Yeltsin was betrayed by his Dauphin, i.e. Vladimir Putin on the same night he was elected premier and this made it unjustifiable that Yeltsin had deposited his succession in his hands four months earlier.
In addition to the criticisms, Prigozhin further escalated tensions in May by releasing a video depicting deceased individuals in military attire and denouncing the leadership for their lack of preparedness.
What is Prigozhin's relationship with Putin?
Putin and Prigozhin hail from the same hometown of St. Petersburg. Putin rose from KGB insider to Russian leader, while Prigozhin served a decade in prison as a teenager before starting a hot dog stand.
During the first decade of the 21st century, Prigozhin established a closer relationship with President Vladimir Putin. In 2003, he left his business partnerships and proceeded to establish independent restaurants. It is worth mentioning that Concord Catering, a company owned by Prigozhin, has been successful in securing multiple government contracts. In 2012, a contract was awarded to him for the provision of meals to the Russian military, with a total value of US$1.2 billion for a duration of one year.
He quickly gained influence in hospitality and caught Putin's attention. Prigozhin earned the nickname "Putin's chef" for assisting in serving state dinners, including one with then-President George W. Bush in 2006, while Putin was in the highest echelons of the Russian government. Putin provided state-funded loans to help Prigozhin open a school-lunch factory. Prigozhin partially owned Concord Management and Consulting, which was suspected of funding pro-Trump trolling during the 2016 election.
What drove Prigozhin's actions?
In a video on Telegram, Prigozhin criticized Russia's leadership for starting the war and admitted that Ukrainian forces were successfully pushing back against the Russian army. On Friday, Prigozhin claimed that Russian military leaders had ordered strikes on his men, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Prigozhin claimed that the war was a chance for scumbags to display their military might and for the defense minister to get promoted.
Russia’s response?
Russian officials launched a criminal probe against Prigozhin for his controversial statement. A Russian military leader warned of a "state coup."
State officials believe that Prigozhin's statement and actions could incite armed civil conflict in Russia.
Who is the much-hated defense minister for Prigozhin?
Serguei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, the Minister of Defense, is a multilingual individual and a talented artist. He has achieved a remarkable career progression within the communist party, starting from a lower position and advancing to a higher position.
The bad news for Prigozhin is that Shoigu has been close to President Vladimir Putin since 2008, whom he considers a trusted confidant. In addition, he was a member of President Boris Yeltsin's inner circle of advisors, like President Vladimir Putin. Shoigu was born on May 21, 1955, in Chadan, Tuvan Autonomous Oblast, which is his birthplace.
Shoigu has a diverse ethnic heritage. His mother is of Russian origin but has Ukrainian roots, while his father is a newspaper editor with Tuvan ancestry. Alexandra Shoigu resides in Kadiivka. She became a member of the Tuva Regional Council of People's Deputies, and his father was a prominent figure in the Communist power structure of the Tuvan Republic. Everything indicates that Prigozhin miscalculated politically by demanding the removal of such a notorious defense minister.
In this unexpected and extraordinary performance, two political figures take the stage.
If we're talking about two —political animals— with battle scars from the countless political conflicts they've experienced.
The first...
The rise of Recep Tayyip Erdogan…
President Erdogan's rise to prominence is a compelling story that began with modest beginnings of selling lemonade and sesame buns. For an extended period, he has been a vocal proponent of Islamist causes, concurrently demonstrating a proclivity to stifle his detractors and adversaries and assert Turkey's influence as a regional hegemon. Despite causing division within his population, Erdogan has consistently exhibited his proficiency in winning elections, thereby earning him the endearing title of "reis" or "chief" from his devoted followers. The culmination of his political career resulted in his status as a powerful figure, leading Turkey for a period of twenty years.
Despite encountering numerous crises and accusations of worsening Turkey's already dire cost-of-living situation, Erdogan has emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election.
Putin-Erdogan relationship complex, involving Russia-Turkey dynamic interplay.
A $100 billion deal to… And all this for what?
The transportation of Gazprom natural gas through a hub in Turkey, which is financed by Russia, as well as the trade of strategic weapons and their mutual participation in conflicts, have substantial implications for both nations and the global political environment.
And what is its goal?
Prevent Finland and Sweden from joining NATO...
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened in Sochi, Russia for a meeting. During these discussions, the two leaders have augmented their partnership and reached a consensus on economic collaboration that has the potential to reach a value of $100 billion.
The current relationship between Erdogan and Putin has elicited concerns from Erdogan's NATO allies, who are apprehensive that Erdogan's actions may provide Putin with a substantial means of circumventing the sanctions that have been imposed against him by the West.
The have raised doubts regarding Erdogan's genuine allegiance, which extends beyond his personal interests.
Despite the existing concerns, the current relationship between Putin and Erdogan seems to be mutually advantageous. Putin derives advantages from the sale of energy and arms, in addition to investment prospects. Furthermore, the affiliation of Russia with a member of NATO offers significant strategic benefits. Turkey is currently experiencing several benefits, including cash infusions, access to affordable energy, global significance, a vast export market, and apparent support from Russia in its endeavors to quell Kurdish separatism in Syria. It is noteworthy to mention that the two leaders maintain a relationship of both friendship and enmity, commonly referred to as "frenemies," which is of significant magnitude. Both individuals exhibit characteristics of authoritarian leaders, having accumulated significant authority and maintaining a closed circle of advisors. Additionally, they are known for their assertive and uncompromising demeanor. The bilateral relationship between the two nations is contingent upon the rapport established between their respective leaders. It is noteworthy that the discussions held between them are treated with utmost confidentiality.
It is evident that President Erdogan could not passively accept the risk of losing all the geopolitical and economic gains he had obtained from President Putin.
According to reports, during a complex phone call between the Turkish president and his Russian counterpart, it is claimed that the former emphasized the importance of utilizing —common sense—.
The second one is…
Who is Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus?
He has been in power since 1994. Alexander Lukashenko was born in northern Belarus after World War II. His father left the family, leaving him and his mother to fend for themselves. Alexander Lukashenko's early dedication to Leninist ideology led him to attend the Mogilev Teaching Institute after high school. Before politics, he was in the Soviet Army and directed a state-owned farm. Lukashenko spent three years as a political officer in the Soviet Border Guards after graduation. Lukashenko married his childhood sweetheart upon returning home. Lukashenko led the Communist Youth Wing's Komsomol. Lukashenko joined a state-owned farm to support his family.
Lukashenko had a successful career managing a construction materials plant and state-run farm complex before becoming a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus. He later chaired an anti-corruption committee.
A year after the Soviet Union's collapse, Lukashenko's anti-corruption stance led to his unexpected win in Belarus' first independent presidential election. Lukashenko has held onto power for decades by relying on his ideological beliefs from his youth,
Europe’s last autocrat leads Belarus. Lukashenko has been president for almost 29 years, starting in July 1994.Lukashenko, 68, started his sixth term after the controversial August 2020 Belarusian presidential election. Western countries deemed the Belarus election fraudulent, leading to widespread protests by hundreds of thousands of Belarusians against Lukashenko's power grab.
“Lukashenko is a close ally of Putin…
Putin offered military support to Lukashenko after the 2020 Belarusian election. Lukashenko backed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and allowed the Russian military to enter Ukraine through Belarus.
In reciprocity, Lukashenko acts as a mediator..., preventing Russian bloodshed.
Today, Reuters published a note stating that Lukashenko claimed Putin wanted to "wipe out" Wagner chief Prigozhin during a mutiny attempt. And New York Times, post at Russian General Knew About Mercenary Chief’s Rebellion Plans, U.S. Officials Say.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, may have believed he had support in Russia’s military.
In response to what the Kremlin portrayed as a mutiny that could have led to civil war, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin not to eliminate mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Putin initially promised to put down the mutiny, comparing it to the wartime chaos that led to the 1917 revolution and subsequent civil war. However, a deal was struck shortly afterwards that allowed Prigozhin and some of his fighters to relocate to Belarus. On Tuesday, Prigozhin flew from Russia to Belarus.
During his conversation with Putin on Saturday, Lukashenko used Russian criminal slang, using a phrase that means to kill someone, like the English phrase "wipe out."
I also understood that a harsh decision had been made (which was implied in Putin's address) to eliminate the mutineers," Lukashenko stated during a meeting with army officials and journalists on Tuesday, as reported by Belarusian state media.
"I advised Putin to take his time."
He said to me, "Listen, Sasha, it's pointless." "He refuses to answer calls and avoids all conversations. “Putin used the same Russian verb in 1999 to describe his determination to eliminate Chechen militants, stating that he would "wipe them out in the shithouse."
These remarks have since become a widely quoted symbol of his strong personality.
The Kremlin has not yet commented on Lukashenko's remarks, which provide a rare glimpse into the discussions within the Kremlin as Russia, as stated by Putin, faced a level of turmoil not witnessed in decades.
Lukashenko remark at this is the most highly trained unit in the army," quoted Lukashenko by the BelTA state agency.
"Who would argue with this?"
Later, Lukashenko informed his military that "people do not comprehend that we are taking a practical approach to this... Wagner, who has experienced it firsthand, will provide us with insights on the effectiveness of different weapons - what worked well and what didn't. Prigozhin stopped what he referred to as the "march of justice" on Moscow from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, which is about 200 kilometers away from the capital, after Lukashenko intervened.
Conclusions
Based on the information provided in the Reuters and New York Times report, it can be inferred that the current Russian Summer Equinox bears similarities to a "Röhm purge" that is currently in progress.
The definitive outcome of the Russian Summer Equinox provides strong indications regarding the fate of Nicholas II and Rasputin, with a significant level of certainty.
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ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDRA CITRIN-SAFADI/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL; IMAGES FROM AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT DOCUMENTING TOM FANNING’S SURVEILLANCEThe Spying Scandal Inside One of America’s Biggest Power Companies
A private investigator surveilled Southern Co.’s CEO, prompting an internal investigation into whether it was commissioned by another executive
WSJ By Katherine Blunt, June 28, 2023 On a late spring day in 2017, a private investigator parked outside a fitness center in an Atlanta strip mall and covertly recorded video of a personal trainer as she entered her business.
Forty-five minutes later, the investigator took photos as the woman returned to her car, stowed her gym bag and drove away. He next followed her for 25 minutes to the home of her then-boyfriend, Tom Fanning, who, as chief executive of Southern Co., SO -1.57%decrease; red down pointing triangle had for years been one of the energy industry’s most powerful figures.
The following day, while parked in Fanning’s neighborhood, the investigator photographed the executive running up a hill near his house. The investigator compiled the innocuous findings from his four days of surveillance into an eight-page report and billed his client more than $6,800 for the work.
Atlanta-based Southern, one of the largest utility companies in the U.S. and one of the most prominent corporate brands across the Southeast, has been bedeviled for much of the past year by the peculiar espionage effort, which led to an internal investigation but no public explanation.
Word of the surveillance surfaced last summer in a lawsuit between consultants in a firm that for decades has done work for Alabama Power, a Southern subsidiary. One of them alleged that, at the direction of Alabama Power officials, the other consultant had ordered surveillance of Southern executives in order to possibly gain internal leverage.
When Fanning learned of the effort last summer, he was incensed, according to people familiar with the matter. He hired outside law firms to probe the allegation that someone within Alabama Power was behind it.
Now, nearly a year after the spying became public, the investigation is largely complete—and the company says it has no idea who ordered the operation or why.
Fanning, 66, retired last month after more than a decade atop the massive utility company. He remains Southern’s executive chairman. Last winter, the CEO of Alabama Power stepped down.
The episode marks a bizarre coda to Fanning’s career, and has contributed to turmoil within Southern, which operates utilities in Mississippi and Georgia as well as Alabama.
The company’s board of directors, which has been briefed on the results of the investigation, has discussed how to implement better oversight of Southern’s operating units and the consultants they engage, according to people familiar with the matter.
“We conducted a thorough internal investigation of this matter and were unable to substantiate the allegation that the highly inappropriate surveillance of Tom Fanning was authorized by any employee of the company,” a Southern spokesman said in a statement. “We have moved on.”
Through the spokesman, Fanning declined to comment.
In November, about three months after the start of the investigation, Mark Crosswhite, then CEO of Alabama Power, abruptly announced plans to retire at the end of the year. The 60-year-old told employees he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Crosswhite had been a serious contender to succeed Fanning as Southern CEO, people familiar with the matter said. The people said the surveillance allegations and subsequent investigation played a role in his decision to leave.
Crosswhite, who stayed on as a consultant and, according to securities filings, drops off the company payroll at the end of this month, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The Southern spokesman said the spying allegations played “zero factor” in succession planning.
Southern recently reached a milestone when one of two new reactors at a nuclear-power plant in Georgia produced electricity for the first time. The reactors, the first in the U.S. to be built from scratch in decades, are billions over budget and years behind schedule.
Among other things, the alleged motivation for the spying was based in part on issues related to the plant’s troubles.
The allegations spilled out of a lawsuit filed in 2021 stemming from an acrimonious split between Joe Perkins and Jeff Pitts, who had worked together at an Alabama-based consulting firm called Matrix. Pitts alleged in court filings that Perkins, at the direction of Alabama Power executives, had ordered surveillance of Southern executives to influence corporate decision-making.
Pitts signaled his intent to subpoena Southern and Alabama Power for surveillance-related documents. Within days, lawyers for the companies sent a letter to Pitts demanding that he cease to make any requests or disclosures that would involve the companies in the lawsuit. Pitts and Perkins soon settled their dispute.
Southern then hired attorneys with Atlanta law firm King & Spalding, as well as Birmingham, Ala.-based White Arnold & Dowd, to perform an internal investigation into the allegations, according to people familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
In communications reviewed by the Journal, Pitts conveyed to Southern’s attorneys that Perkins consulted with Crosswhite before ordering surveillance on Fanning and his then-girlfriend, the personal trainer.
The idea, Pitts alleged, was part of a plan to put pressure on Fanning and the company’s board of directors as they contemplated corporate restructuring.
At the time, Fanning was under significant pressure. The company had lost $1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2017, its first loss since 1998.
Southern was struggling to build a power plant in Mississippi designed to run on coal and capture much of the carbon dioxide emitted in the process. The project’s costs had ballooned, and the Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating its accounting practices and cost-control measures. The company said at the time it was cooperating with the investigation, which ended without the agency taking any enforcement action.
Southern was also facing serious challenges in expanding the nuclear plant in Georgia.
The plant, known as Vogtle, was supposed to have been completed by 2017 but had been substantially delayed. Construction costs had surged to nearly double the original estimate, and the company revised its completion estimate to 2021 at the earliest.
As the projects bled money, Southern began considering whether to consolidate certain functions of Southern’s three utilities to save costs over time.
Bain, a consulting firm, began exploring the potential benefits of consolidation, according to a person involved in the effort. Executives within Alabama Power were resistant to the idea, the person said.
Pitts alleged that Perkins and Crosswhite were concerned that consolidating resources, such as consulting and legal services, could result in job losses and potentially affect succession planning across the company. Pitts included what he said were handwritten notes from Perkins.
“Need more intel,” read an annotation next to the name of Fanning’s girlfriend at the time. Fanning wasn’t married at the time.
Pitts alleged that Perkins told him to undertake surveillance of Fanning and his girlfriend, saying that “the company wants this.”
The surveillance began on a Wednesday, June 14, 2017, with findings that were less than explosive.
“Through discreet methods, we determined that the fitness center was closed due to the installation of a new air conditioning system,” the investigator wrote after finding that the girlfriend wasn’t inside the facility as expected.
Two days later, after following the trainer from the gym to Fanning’s house, the investigator parked and waited for Fanning to arrive in his blue Lexus. He lingered outside for hours after the car pulled into the driveway.
Construction costs for the expansion of Georgia Power’s Vogtle nuclear power plant are now more than double original estimates, and the project is years behind schedule. PHOTO: JOHN BAZEMORE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The next day, a Saturday, the investigator drove by Fanning’s house at 10:45 a.m. and noted a newspaper on the driveway. He returned at 2:30 p.m. and noted it had been picked up.
Just before 4 p.m., the investigator spotted Fanning running and noted he appeared to be interval training.
“We elected not to pursue Fanning to the top of the hill,” the investigator wrote.
The private investigator billed Matrix for the surveillance work and listed Pitts as the recipient on the invoice. He charged $150 for finding license-plate numbers for both Fanning and his girlfriend, $4,275 for the surveillance and $127.50 for producing a report and video, plus other miscellaneous expenses.
Southern said it found “no indication” that the company or its subsidiaries paid for the operation.
David Pomerantz, executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute, said since the surveillance came to light in local media coverage, investors and watchdogs have been puzzled about the whole affair, including whether any customer money was used. He said that it adds to his longstanding concerns about the industry’s corporate governance and use of consultants, which has led to other scandals in recent years.
“What we actually need—and what the company’s customers are entitled to—is an external investigation by regulators who can compel the production of information,” he said.
The Alabama Public Service Commission, the agency tasked with overseeing Alabama Power, said it has “no information regarding this matter.”
Image: Germán & CoCooperate with objective and ethical thinking…
Image by Germán & CoEuropean Green Pact under threat after vote in EU Parliament
On Tuesday, the European Legislative Assembly's Environment Committee voted to reject the Nature Restoration Bill as the right is trying to convince governments on its side to call for a pause in the implementation of the Green Pact.
Le Monde By Virginie Malingre(Brussels, Europe bureau), todayEach side has one victory under its belt. On Tuesday, June 27, after completing its article-by-article examination, the European Parliament's Environment Committee rejected the bill on nature restoration. Less than two weeks earlier, on June 15, the same MEPs had voted against an amendment to reject the same legislation, which aims to enshrine in European Union law the Montreal Agreement on biodiversity and its objectives, such as restoring 30% of degraded land and marine areas by 2030.
In both cases, 44 elected representatives voted in favor and 44 against. On Tuesday, this meant there was no majority for those in favor of the bill. On June 15, it was the defenders of the rejected amendment who missed their target by one vote. A third round of voting is due to take place at the July plenary session, to be held in Strasbourg from July 10 to 13, which will be called upon to confirm (or not) Tuesday's vote. Or perhaps we will have to wait until September, as requested by the conservatives of the European People's Party (EPP), who argue that the agenda of the next Strasbourg session is already very full.
A battle of rare intensity is being waged in the European Parliament between Manfred Weber, the chairman of the EPP group, allied with the far right, and Pascal Canfin, the Emmanuel Macron-allied chairman of the Environment Committee, behind whom the Greens, the Social Democrats (S&D) and some of his political friends, the liberals of Renew Europe, have rallied. The first group is calling for the law on nature restoration to be withdrawn outright, while the latter group wants to save it.
'European Trumpism'
Beyond the issues at stake in this bill on biodiversity, the future of the European Green Pact is at stake, against the backdrop of a campaign one year ahead of the European elections scheduled for June 2024. Until now, the EPP, along with Renew Europe and the S&D group, had supported the various bills presented to them by the Commission in the name of the Green Pact, notably to combat climate change (reform of the carbon market, creation of a carbon tax at borders, end of the combustion engine by 2035). Some 30 of these bills (out of a planned 50) have already been adopted.
However, in September 2022, Weber called for a moratorium on the environmental aspects of the Green Pact, explicitly attacking the legislation on nature restoration and pesticide reduction. The Bavarian CSU member argues that they threaten agricultural production, jeopardize food security and drive up the cost of living. Between the war in Ukraine and rising inflation, he said, "There's an urgent need for a break." Especially as the European elections are approaching and the CDU-CSU is now in opposition in Berlin. "For months now, we've been warning about the dangers of the nature restoration regulation. The Commission needs to get back to work and present a new copy," said EPP MEP Anne Sander.
In recent months, the EPP, the largest political force in the European Parliament, has methodically tried to kill the Nature Restoration Bill. Referring to the fact that some EPP MEPs, who sit on the Environment Committee and were fairly supportive, have been replaced by colleagues more in keeping with the group's position, Canfin accused Weber of "manipulating the vote" and "making the vote meaningless." "So I'm optimistic for the July plenary: Manfred Weber won't be able to replace the EPP members." Regarding the EPP and its far-right allies, he went on to say, "We are witnessing the emergence of a European Trumpism that is anti-environmental, anti-immigration and anti-feminist."
Within Renew Europe, the Nature Restoration Law is not unanimously supported. In fact, on Thursday, four of the 12 Liberal members of the Environment Committee voted against it. This ratio is likely to be repeated during the plenary vote, as the group has not given any voting instructions, unlike the EPP.
'I am asking for us to press the pause button'
It is not only the European Parliament that is questioning the need to continue with the Green Pact. Until now, only the heads of state and governments of certain Eastern European countries with high-carbon economies have voiced their reluctance.
Now, liberal leaders are also voicing their doubts. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a regulatory pause after 2024, infuriating some of his supporters. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo followed suit: "We must avoid (...) overburdening the boat by adding to the CO2 emission targets new standards," notably "in the field of biodiversity." I am asking for us to press the pause button, except for CO2." In the Netherlands, the success of the Farmers' Party, an anti-Green Pact movement that made a real breakthrough in regional elections in March, has prompted his counterpart Mark Rutte to advocate for a degree of caution.
Weber, who is also president of the EPP, Europe's right-wing party, is trying to win over the heads of state and governments to his cause. As they meet in Brussels on Thursday ahead of a European Council meeting, he is trying to convince them to call for a regulatory pause in the implementation of the Green Pact.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who also comes from the ranks of the EPP and has made the Green Pact one of her priorities, is keeping a close eye on these movements. For Angela Merkel's former minister, who plans to run for a second term as the head of the EU executive after the European elections, the outcome of these negotiations will be crucial. "Von der Leyen's political group is withdrawing from the Green Pact. She hasn't said anything yet. She must react before the July plenary," said Spanish Socialist MEP César Luena.
Seaboard: pioneers in power generation in the country…
…“More than 32 years ago, back in January 1990, Seaboard began operations as the first independent power producer (IPP) in the Dominican Republic. They became pioneers in the electricity market by way of the commercial operations of Estrella del Norte, a 40MW floating power generation plant and the first of three built for Seaboard by Wärtsilä.