Chancellor Scholz wants to "solve" the nuclear dispute within the traffic light by next week. For the Greens, a "red line" would only be crossed when purchasing new fuel elements. The FDP demands the long-term continued operation of at least three reactors. Is there a compromise?
In the coalition dispute over the continued operation of German nuclear power plants, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that a decision will be made soon. "We will quickly solve the very specific practical question by next week," said the SPD politician in Berlin.
A reporter had asked the Federal Chancellor whether he ruled out the procurement of new fuel elements for the nuclear power plants that are still in operation and whether there would be an internal coalition agreement by the end of this week, as demanded by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. Klingbeil said on Thursday on the ZDF program "Markus Lanz" that he wanted "it to be cleared this week".
The Green Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck, wants to ensure the continued operation of the Isar 2 nuclear power plant in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg until mid-April 2023 at the latest in order to secure the energy supply. Whether the power plants are actually needed will not be decided until November or December. New fuel elements would not have to be purchased for the so-called stretching operation. The third Emsland nuclear power plant in Lingen, which is still active, is scheduled to go offline by the end of the year at the latest.
The FDP, on the other hand, calls for the continued operation of these three and, if possible, also those nuclear power plants that have already been shut down, until at least 2024 and demands that new fuel elements be ordered in return. Party leader and Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner is currently blocking a change in the law that is necessary for the drafting operation. According to current law, all three remaining nuclear power plants must be shut down by December 31st.
The Greens have been meeting in Bonn for a three-day federal party conference since this afternoon. The delegates also discuss the question of energy supply for the winter. Green leader Ricarda Lang told the magazine "Spiegel". "If we bought new fuel rods now, that would mean long-term investments in nuclear power. That's not the way forward." She added new fuel rods are a "red line" for the Greens. Her co-chairman Omid Nouripour had previously made a similar statement. The Greens would support it if the two nuclear power plants were needed for grid stability in winter, he told the "Rheinische Post". At the same time he assured: "We remain an anti-nuclear party."
Lindner criticized Lang's categorical rejection of the purchase of new nuclear fuel rods. It is not helpful if the Greens describe the new procurement of fuel rods as a "red line", said the FDP politician to the Welt television station. The question of energy security "should not be about party politics". "I can only say for myself: When it comes to averting damage to our country, reducing the ruinously high energy prices, preventing blackouts - then there are no red lines for me."
