"Habeck's suggestion is the dumbest ever": Dobrindt railed against the nuclear power plant stop

Created: 09/15/2022 05:31

By: Jens Kiffmeier

Nuclear power stop despite the gas crisis: Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) considers that a mistake.

In an interview, the Union Vice settles accounts with Habeck – and warns of blackouts.

Berlin/Hanover - One for all - and all for one: The Union is sharpening the tone in the debate about the lifetimes of nuclear power plants in Germany.

In view of the gas crisis and impending blackouts, Union faction leader Alexander Dobrindt accuses the traffic light coalition of massive failure.

Unfortunately, when it comes to nuclear power, the government is “errant”, says the head of the CSU state group in an interview with

from

.

Above all, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) was obviously overwhelmed with his office.

Extension of nuclear power plant lifetimes: Union accuses Minister of Economics Robert Habeck of making serious mistakes in stopping nuclear power

Despite the energy crisis in Germany, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to largely stick to the nuclear phase-out.

Only two of the three reactors that will be connected to the grid until the end of the year are to be kept in an emergency reserve until April 2023.

Then it's over.

The Union sees a serious mistake in this approach.

Renewable energies and nuclear power: According to Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), Germany must rely on both in the gas crisis.

© Michael Kappeler/Armin Weigel/dpa/Montage

Debate about nuclear power at the CDU party conference: Alexander Dobrindt answers questions in an exclusive interview

At the CDU party conference, the party leaders Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Markus Söder (CSU) buried the Union's hatchet and missed no opportunity to shoot at the Minister of Economics.

Time for a conversation with the head of the CSU state group Alexander Dobrindt about the meaning of nuclear power, Bavaria's own failures in expanding wind power and a possible comeback of the party after the messed up federal election:

Women's quota and social year - these were the exciting topics of the CDU party congress.

Were these the right accents in the current crisis situation, in which the Union accuses the government of great failure?

Both must be possible, overcome crises and develop the party further.

This worked well together at the party conference.

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Where is the Union one year after the failed federal election?

The Union is united and stronger than it has been for a long time.

The pain from the lost federal election has been overcome.

We are the drivers of the government in Berlin, set important priorities and work to ensure that our time in the opposition is as short as possible.

That is why we not only have an eye on the Lower Saxony elections and the Bavarian elections in the coming year, but also the next federal elections.

When it comes to energy, the Union is opting for an electricity price cap and a 1,000 euro energy flat rate - are the CDU and CSU now overtaking the traffic lights on the left?

In the field of energy there is no free market economy, but a war-related market economy.

The war has totally distorted the gas market, which has dramatic consequences for electricity prices.

We urgently need to curb these price increases.

That is why we propose to take gas out of the electricity price calculation.

That would mean a significant price reduction.

In order to visibly relieve families and consumers, we propose an energy saving amount of 3,000 euros and a surcharge of 1,000 euros per child for the years 2022 and 2023, or direct payments where tax relief does not apply.

Exit from nuclear phase-out: Dobrindt and Union insist on extending the terms because of the gas crisis

For its part, the Union can think of a backward-looking proposal: to phase out nuclear energy.

Are you doing this to annoy the Greens and to provoke them in the 2022 Lower Saxony election campaign?

We are experiencing a federal government that is straying astray with an overwhelmed Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck.

His assessment that we have a gas problem but not an electricity problem is a massive mistake.

In the current situation, stopping nuclear power is a bad ideological decision.

And at this stage the chancellor is hesitant and unable to pull the plug on his minister.

A confrontation with the traffic light is unavoidable.

In the end, however, it is only about five percent of the total electricity requirement that the three remaining reactors can still produce.

Why is the debate between the CDU and CSU so emotionally exaggerated?

When the stress test was presented, the grid operators, who were sitting next to Federal Minister Habeck, made it clear that grid stability in Germany is at risk, that the nuclear power plants make a contribution to stability and that by shutting down one is relying solely on grid stability being maintained Imports from abroad can be made possible.

But there is no guarantee that the necessary amount of electricity will then be available in sufficient quantities from our neighboring countries.

That means: Against the recommendation of the experts, Robert Habeck risks a blackout in Germany.

in the middle of winter.

That's just irresponsible.

We are experiencing a federal government that is straying astray with an overwhelmed Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck.

Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) on the nuclear stop of the traffic lights

Two nuclear power plants in the emergency reserve: "Habeck's proposal is the stupidest ever," says Dobrindt

After all, the traffic light keeps two of the three nuclear power plants in reserve over the winter, which is not enough for the Union.

How long do you want to rely on nuclear energy?

Habeck's suggestion is the dumbest ever.

He wants to keep nuclear power plants in reserve against the technical recommendation of the operators.

That means he doesn't want to produce the electricity that would be possible, but he wants to keep it running.

For Habeck, who claims that nuclear power is the greatest high-risk technology, should this be the solution?

Quite apart from the fact that in Germany he branded nuclear energy as morally reprehensible and at the same time asked the French, Czechs and Ukrainians to sell us nuclear power: Habeck should say how long he intends to buy nuclear power from abroad.

The Union likes to point the finger at traffic lights.

Merz called the government the “worst of all times”.

Isn't that a bit cheap after 16 years in government?

The constant reference to Angela Merkel's 16 years is cheap and a helpless traffic light attempt to distract from one's own responsibility.

The decision in the past to rely on energy from Russia had the common goal of securing peace in Europe through networking and trade.

There was an idea in East and West to develop prosperity and economy on both sides through energy cooperation.

Not only did Putin destroy peace in Europe, he destroyed the peace dividend.

So the earlier decisions were a mistake?

This is not to say that past decisions were simply wrong - they were aimed at a peaceful Europe.

I find the fact that the SPD likes to forget to mention this approach to be a maneuver too transparent.

That doesn't justify the hesitant construction of LNG terminals or the sale of gas storage facilities to Gazprom.

These are of course wrong decisions.

That's why I'm also advocating bringing gas storage facilities back into state hands on a permanent basis and not leaving them to the market.

Renewable energies against nuclear power: CSU sees no omissions in Bavaria due to the expansion of wind power

The parliamentary group leader and his deputy: Friedrich Merz (front) with Alexander Dobrindt.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

With a consistent expansion of renewables, Germany would not have such a big problem today.

And the south is not exactly considered a pioneer in wind power expansion.

Or is the impression deceptive?

Bavaria is the state that has the highest expansion of renewable energies.

Bavaria produces the most electricity from photovoltaics and biomass and is at the forefront when it comes to hydropower.

When it comes to wind power, the supply in Baden-Württemberg is only two-thirds that of Bavaria.

So it's a southern German situation, not a Bavarian one.

Economically, wind turbines are clearly more lucrative in the north.

Bavaria does not yet have any shares in the North or Baltic Seas, which means that offshore wind expansion is naturally restricted.

And a look at Google Earth is enough to see: There are no power lines that end at the Bavarian border.

The lines are already missing in the north to bring offshore wind energy to the south.

In the current crisis situation, wouldn't the government and the opposition have to stand together?

To do this, the traffic light must first have a readiness.

In addition, the CDU and CSU are not the claqueurs of the federal government, we are their controllers.

The traffic light clearly lacks the courage to make a decision.

This increases the risk of a cold winter in the apartments and a hot winter on the streets.

The primary goal of a government in Germany should be to get the energy supply and energy prices under control.

But the traffic light refuses to perform this task.

Entire sectors can no longer cope with the high energy prices - and the Minister of Economics raves about the fact that there are no bankruptcies, but that the companies have just stopped producing.

There is obviously a significant lack of awareness of the problem.

Which, according to economists, he is right about according to his teaching.

With all due respect: People don't give a shit, as Habeck puts it, if they lose their jobs.

But they care that this traffic-light government has failed to take effective countermeasures.

With all due respect: People don't give a shit, as Habeck puts it, if they lose their jobs.

Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) on the insolvency debate

Gas crisis in Germany: Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) warns of blackouts and winter rage in Germany

Let's assume there are indeed blackouts and mass protests on the streets.

Will the sanctions then be lifted?

We stand by the sanctions for Russia.

This is the necessary response to Putin's war of aggression, which violates international law.

One must not give in to Putin's blackmail attempts.

That's why it's still the same: we have to support Ukraine with weapons and impose sanctions on Russia.

Interview: Jens Kiffmeier