On the authority of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the German government has initiated the requested life extension of the three remaining nuclear power plants. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs and the German Ministry of the Environment drafted a bill on Tuesday, according to which the furnaces Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland can operate until April 15, 2023. Scholz’s decision was discussed intensively on Tuesday.
While German Green Party leader Omid Nouripour emphasized that he respected the decision, environmental groups sharply criticized Scholz. German energy companies, on the other hand, applauded the chancellor’s power.
Scholz declares the dispute in the coalition over
Scholz had declared the dispute within the traffic light coalition, particularly between the Greens and the FDP, over on Monday. The chancellor had instructed the responsible ministers to make legislative proposals, thereby making use of his powers of direction. Accordingly, the Chancellor “sets the guidelines of politics and bears the responsibility for them”.
“No contribution to the energy supply in Germany”
Nouripour emphasized on rbb24 Inforadio on Tuesday that the Greens did not believe in running the Emsland nuclear power plant in addition to the two southern German nuclear power plants, “also because we see that this makes no sense technically, because we see that it does not contribute to the energy supply in Germany.” The nuclear power plant is located in the state of Lower Saxony with an energy surplus, where renewable energy sources are well developed, but: “The bottom line is that I think the result will be something that will also be the case with respect for the chancellor’s power to issue guidelines to set.”
The group of the Greens should support the compromise, said group leader Britta Hasselmann in Berlin on Tuesday. It is therefore clear that the nuclear phase-out will be binding by mid-April 2023. No more new fuel elements would be purchased. “That’s good and important.”
“Questionable decision”
Former German Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin and the Greens in Lower Saxony saw this more critically. The decision was “highly questionable politically,” Bundestag Greens member Trittin told ZDF. “I think that will still be a very difficult operation.” The Lower Saxony Greens described the chancellor’s actions as “extremely irritating”.
“Powerword as Symbolic Politics”
The environmental association BUND described the “power word” as symbolic politics. “At first glance, the chancellor’s decision only seems to be a necessary rescue operation for the coming winter,” said Antje von Broock, director of the BUND on Tuesday. In reality, however, the chancellor had to use his authority to draft guidelines to align his coalition partner, the FDP.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
