Traffic light government dabbles in nuclear policy: the chancellor's word of power comes too late and isn't enough

Created: 10/17/2022 10:16 p.m

By: Georg Anastasiadis

Chancellor Olaf Scholz bears the main responsibility for the fact that the coalition is deeply divided over the question of the supply of affordable energy.

A commentary by Merkur Editor-in-Chief Georg Anastasiadis.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa/Klaus Haag

While his coalition disintegrated over nuclear policy, the chancellor remained silent.

His word of power comes too late.

A commentary by Georg Anastasiadis.

The nuclear incident, which the Greens have been warning about since they were founded, has now happened in the Berlin traffic light coalition of all people.

The chancellor's word of power comes late, too late.

The damage is already irreparable, for everyone involved.

Ironically, the coalition has proved to be deeply divided over Germany's crucial issue – supplying Europe's largest industrial nation with affordable energy.

The chancellor bears the main responsibility for this: Although it became clearer from week to week how much the Greens and the FDP were at odds over the question of the continued operation of the nuclear reactors, Olaf Scholz remarked to himself instead of forcing a compromise early on by referring to his policy competence - before the Greens and FDP had walled themselves in their positions.

After the Green Party Congress has now banned the ordering of new fuel rods under threat of the death penalty, the coalition's only remaining option as the lowest common denominator was four months of continued operation of the third nuclear power plant (in Emsland), which was still active, as an emergency reserve.

Scholz has now instructed him.

However, this minimal solution in no way does justice to the drama of the situation and in the end is of no real use to anyone: the Greens, who remained unrepentant to the last, are accused of being ideologically obstinate – even more so after the chancellor’s word of power.

The FDP, which rightly demanded the continued operation of the three nuclear power plants until at least 2024, has to admit that it has once again been ripped off.

And the SPD chancellor has to fear the winter after next (at least) as much as the coming one: the next electricity blackout will then be his blackout.

The trouble will probably start much earlier, however, when the opposition happily accuses him of being to blame for the skyrocketing electricity prices.

George Anastasiadis