“Olaf Scholz (SPD) has shown authority on the issue of the extension of the last three German nuclear power plants”announcement The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. After weeks of debate between members of the “traffic light” coalition, the Social Democratic Chancellor chose to keep them active until spring 2023, when they were originally due to close their doors at the end of the year. .
“It is thus turning against its Green partners, who, during their congress this weekend, had again expressed themselves in favor of the extension of only two power stations, in the south of Germany.” That of Emsland, in Lower Saxony, had not been integrated into the initial plan of the Ecologist Minister of Economy and Climate Robert Habeck.
But Olaf Scholz does not completely satisfy the FDP liberals either, who wanted “the three plants will operate until the end of 2024”. The latter nevertheless welcomed the news with enthusiasm, deeming it more realistic than the plan of the Greens which they opposed.
“Surprisingly sharp decision”
“With this surprisingly decisive decision, Olaf Scholz intends to put an end to the recurring conflict between the two junior parties of his coalition”, comments the conservative newspaper. To enforce this compromise, the Social Democrat announced that he was appealing to the “Guidelines Competence”a legal provision that allows the Chancellor to set the guidelines for German government policy.
After the announcement, the energy company RWE undertook to “immediately take all necessary steps to allow the operation of the Emsland power plant until April 15”.
Olaf Scholz has also confirmed that several coal-fired power plants in North Rhine-Westphalia will be extended until spring 2024, another subject of significant political disagreement. The objective of phasing out coal by 2030 nevertheless remains valid.