Germans told to stop whining, wear 2 sweaters and have candles and flashlights ready in case of blackouts this winter

• German politician Wolfgang Schäuble said on Bild-TV people should stop whining in the energy crisis.
• He told Germans to wear two sweaters in cold temperatures and have candles ready for blackouts.

Germans should stop whining and be prepared with sweaters and candles this winter in case of blackouts amid the energy crisis, according to politician Wolfgang Schäuble.

In an interview on Tuesday with Bild-TV, the former finance minister and president of the German government said Germans should "just put on a sweater, or maybe a second sweater" in the event of a freezing-cold winter.

"You don't have to whine about it, you have to recognize that a lot of things can't be taken for granted," he told the news channel.

European leaders have raised concerns about the possibility of power cuts this winter because of the squeeze in energy supplies. "That's why you should always have a few candles, matches and a flashlight at home," Schäuble told Bild-TV.

The 80-year-old also warned Germans not to assume the government could solve financial problems such as soaring inflation and energy costs.

"If we suggest to people that everything is unlimited, we are overexploiting. Then people get the impression that the state can do everything – that is not sustainable," Schäuble told Bild-TV.

Russia continues to hold back natural gas supplies to Europe after the West imposed sanctions on Moscow for invading Ukraine. As a result of the shortages, energy prices have sky-rocketed, leaving some people struggling to afford food and other basic items.

European retailers, banks, and other businesses have already implemented energy-saving measures, such as switching off illuminated advertisements for 18 hours, keeping doors shut, and turning off fountains, ahead of potential shortages.

Meanwhile, some governments have introduced rules aimed to keep energy use to a minimum. For example, Germany banned heated swimming pools and Spain restricted heating to a maximum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius in public buildings.