After the chancellor’s word of power in the nuclear power plant dispute between the Greens and the FDP, the coalition partners who were in a clinch seem to have been brought into line. Scholz reiterated that on April 15 nuclear power in Germany should end. Meanwhile, the opposition and industry are flirting with more.
One day after his word of power in the nuclear power plant dispute, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasizes that the planned continued operation is a temporary measure. According to him, the exact service life of the remaining German nuclear power plants now depends primarily on the performance of the existing fuel rods. A nuclear power plant could run until around the beginning of March, another might make it until mid-April, said Scholz in Berlin. “Now that depends on what else is in the fuel rods.”
The purchase of new fuel rods, on the other hand, is ruled out, Scholz continued. This means that the final end of nuclear power production in Germany on April 15, 2023 is also certain. The continued operation of the remaining power plants only serves to “get through the winter”.
On Monday, for the first time since the traffic light coalition came into existence, Scholz made use of his policy competence as chancellor to end the week-long dispute between the FDP and the Greens on the nuclear issue. The remaining three German nuclear power plants should therefore be able to continue to be operated beyond the original date of the nuclear phase-out of December 31, 2022 until mid-April at the latest.
The Federation of German Industries welcomed the decision. In view of the severe energy crisis, it was correct and overdue, explained the BDI. “Pragmatism instead of ideology is the order of the day in order to get Germany safely through this energy crisis without social upheaval and serious economic damage.” At the same time, the BDI said: “Depending on the supply and price situation in spring 2023, whether it will be necessary to continue running the nuclear power plants beyond April must be discussed openly and objectively.”
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended Scholz’s power word. It was necessary because the Greens and the FDP “got stuck” in the dispute, he said. However, the parliamentary group leader does not expect the chancellor to use this option more often. “I believe that Olaf Scholz is smart enough not to use this opportunity, which is also given to him by the directive competence, in an inflationary manner,” said Mützenich.
One day after Scholz’s decision, Scholz’s government partners, who were previously in a clinch, were by and large in favor. “It is the right decision for our country, because we need stable energy networks,” said Christian Dürr, leader of the FDP parliamentary group in Berlin. Dürr emphasized that the chancellor had expressly spoken out in favor of “power operation” for the three German nuclear power plants until April 15. This “performance operation” is “particularly important” to the FDP, Dürr said. The “reserve operation” advocated by the Greens coalition partner would have meant that nuclear power plants could have been idle before the phase-out date of April 15, 2023, so that electricity production could then be resumed if necessary.
Dürr did not demand continued operation of the nuclear power plants beyond April 15, 2023. The FDP is not generally in favor of extending the term, said the faction leader. The fact that they now demanded that all three German nuclear power plants continue to operate for a limited period was a reaction to the current energy crisis. Dürr showed understanding for the attitude of the coalition partner Greens, with whom the FDP had recently quarreled publicly. “Of course, the Greens come from the anti-nuclear movement,” he said. “That’s why I understand this attitude.”
The Greens are not entirely convinced of the decision, but they also don’t want to get in the way. “Our position on the Emsland nuclear power plant is clear: it is not needed for grid stability, so continued operation makes little sense from a technical point of view,” said party leader Ricarda Lang in Berlin. “The chancellor has now decided to make use of his authority to set guidelines – we will follow this path as a party,” she added.
But it is also clear for Lang: “The nuclear phase-out is coming. No new fuel rods will be procured. All remaining three German nuclear power plants will go offline by April 15, 2023 at the latest.” The future clearly belongs to renewable energies. That will no longer be shaken.
On the other hand, criticism comes from the opposition – combined with a different view of the latest switch-off date. Union parliamentary group manager Thorsten Frei sees the chancellor’s power as a sign of the weakness of the coalition. “He drew this sharp sword and the result was a rotten compromise,” said the CDU politician in Berlin. Frei reiterated the Union’s demand that the reactors should continue to operate until 2024 due to the energy supply shock.
AfD Group Vice Leif-Erik Holm had made a similar statement the day before and spoke of a lazy compromise. “Runtimes only until next spring are too short and not enough, because the critical winter will follow next year.”
The left is convinced that the “traffic light” still has no answer as to how citizens and companies are to be relieved of energy costs this winter. The month-long “egg dance” on the question of the nuclear power plant running times “leads away from the actual question,” said Dietmar Bartsch, leader of the Left Party in Berlin. It is still unclear how the Commission’s proposal on gas prices is to be implemented. Months were “wasted” with nuclear energy, and time was “wasted” with the gas levy, Bartsch complained. “As a result, our country is not winterproof.”
