An acute coalition crisis over deeper disagreements between the Greens, who wanted only two nuclear power plants to be used until April 15, and the Free Democrats, who have insisted for keeping all three remaining nuclear power plants going until the spring of 2024, was “solved” by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who made use of his special guideline competence, to decree that all three plants will run until April 15, 2023. The decree has been swallowed by the Greens for the moment, because they do not want to endanger the present government coalition. But, since the Green group in the Bundestag does not feel bound at all to accept Scholz’s decree, new obstacles to political sabotage cannot be ruled out.
Scholz’s decision met with criticism from German industry, which is arguing for keeping the power plants running until after the winter of 2023-24. “We must do everything we can to expand the supply of energy, which remains scarce, and thus mitigate the explosion in energy prices—this also applies with a view to the winter of 2023-24,” said the president of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) Peter Adrian, speaking to Rheinische Post. “Therefore, it would be wise to prepare for continued operation with new fuel rods.” The government has so far opposed new fuel rods.
