Prodi bought by Gazprom?

Estonian MP Marko Mihkelson refers to the Russian paper Kommersant which suggests that the outgoing Italian prime minister Romano Prodi is going to be offered a lucrative job as a board member of the company projecting to build the pipeline South Stream. Gazprom director Andrei Miller is going to meet Prodi in Rome today.

Gerhard Schröder was unable to resist the temptation when he was ousted as chancellor of Germany by the German people. Buying up Prodi would be even a fatter catch for the government run Russian oil mafia. Not only is Prodi a former Italian PM, he is also a former president of the EU commission.

I hope that Mr. Prodi is not for sale. It would be a serious blow for anything even resembling a common EU foreign and energy policy. Romano Prodi is rich enough as it is and he can make all the money he needs without selling his integrity to Russia.

Update: Prodi has apparently refused the offer. I am glad to note that not everybody is for sale.

Tags: energy, gazprom, romano prodi