Traffic light dispute about nuclear power plants is getting sharper - now the FDP even accuses the Greens of lying

Created: 10/11/2022 5:29 p.m

The traffic light coalition has long wanted to pave the way for the continued operation of two nuclear power plants in Germany.

But instead, the FDP and the Greens shower each other with accusations.

Berlin - In the traffic light coalition, the dispute over the continued operation of nuclear power plants in Germany is intensifying due to the energy crisis.

The FDP and the Greens now even accuse themselves of lying.

The bone of contention in the whole thing is: Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to keep two nuclear power plants ready for use until spring in the event of bottlenecks in the power supply.

The FDP with its boss Christian Lindner, on the other hand, wants to keep all three nuclear power plants running, and much longer: until 2024.

Nuclear power plant continued operation: Habeck with sharp criticism of Lindner - Mutual breach of word allegations

Habeck now urged the FDP to give in: "If you want the nuclear power plants to be able to produce electricity after December 31, you have to clear the way for it now," the Vice Chancellor insisted in

"Time is of the essence." You can't want longer runtimes and at the same time prevent the nuclear power plants from being able to run.

But that's exactly what's happening, he says, looking at Lindner.

His ministry even stated that the Liberals had breached their word: the traffic light coalition had reached an agreement to get the draft law on the nuclear power reserve through the cabinet on Monday (October 10).

Then the Bundestag could have discussed it afterwards.

It didn't come to that.

Nuclear power plant dispute: FDP spokesman accuses the Greens of lying - "The representation is wrong"

An FDP spokesman, on the other hand, accused the Greens of lying.

"The representation of the Greens is wrong," he said - and referred to statements by party leader Christian Lindner: "The FDP chairman even stated publicly in the press conference on the defense shield that the FDP considers a further decision by the federal government to be necessary.

There was no agreement on the matter.”

But Steffi Lemke's (Greens) Ministry of the Environment also complained that the Minister of Finance was blocked and, when asked by dpa, explained: "It is true that the BMF (Federal Ministry of Finance) has refused to approve the draft law, despite the agreement reached last week." Ricarda Lang is also putting pressure on.

The operators urgently need certainty in order to be able to carry out necessary repairs on the Isar 2 power plant, she emphasized.

In their criticism of the coalition partner, the Greens also refer to the agreement reached by the traffic light coalition on the so-called defense shield at the end of September.

There it says: "We are now also creating the possibility of running the southern German nuclear power plants until spring 2023." It was a written agreement between Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Habeck and Lindner, said Green Party leader Katharina Dröge.

"And this proposal was also unanimous in the cabinet."

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Here Christian Lindner (FDP) and his Franca say yes

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AKW continued operation: FDP sees itself wrongly criticized

The FDP, on the other hand, sees itself unjustly criticized.

FDP Vice Johannes Vogel explained that the "fastest possible timetable proposal" from Habeck's ministry provided for a decision in the Bundestag in the coming week.

"The coalition factions are able and able to act at any time."

At the same time, he defended his party's position of leaving the remaining nuclear reactors online longer than planned.

For the climate, extending the service life is better than having to generate more coal, Vogel explained.

The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, of all people, also pointed out this aspect: In an interview with Sandra Maischberger, Thunberg explained that she thought it was wrong to switch off the nuclear power plants that are still active in Germany.