Bonn At their party conference in Bonn, the Greens cleared the way to keep the two southern German nuclear power plants Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim connected to the grid until spring 2023. That was decided by a majority of the delegates late on Friday evening.
Previously, both Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke had promoted this decision. “What the federal board has presented is an impertinence, even for me personally,” said Lemke. When she took over responsibility for the environment department last December, she was convinced that nuclear power would end at the end of 2022. “And now I’m asking for your approval of this impertinence.”
But if these power plants could make “even a small contribution” to securing the energy supply in winter, “then we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to it,” Lemke continued. There should not be an extension beyond April 15th. Habeck promised: “A return to nuclear power: That will definitely not happen.”
The nuclear dispute had already been omnipresent at the meeting of the Greens: Party leader Ricarda Lang categorically ruled out the purchase of new fuel rods for nuclear power plants several times on Friday and described this as the “red line”. The background is that only the purchase of new fuel rods would enable the nuclear power plants to continue operating beyond the spring.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
The Greens’ leadership could only imagine the continued operation of German nuclear power plants – but no turning away from the exit. The nuclear power plant in Emsland, Lower Saxony, is also scheduled to cease operations at the end of the year as planned.
Criticism from the FDP
The Liberals, on the other hand, have not let up until the end of urging the Greens to continue operating for a longer period of time. FDP leader Christian Lindner accused Lang on Friday of excluding the procurement of new fuel rods. “I can only say for myself: When it comes to averting damage to our country, reducing the ruinously high energy prices, preventing blackouts – then there are no red lines for me,” emphasized Lindner to the broadcaster “Welt”. “This is not about party politics.”
However, the vote at the Green Party Congress does not end the dispute within the coalition over the operating times of the remaining nuclear power plants. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Berlin on Friday that the questions would be resolved by next week.
On the first day of the federal delegates’ conference, the Greens also debated “fossil inflation” and “social cohesion”. Party leader Lang emphasized that her party was “ready for political responsibility”.
The federal chairwoman of the Greens at the party conference in Bonn: “We will not give way, because we are needed.”
(Photo: Reuters)
At the same time, however, she conceded: “We imagined things differently.” After 16 years of opposition, the Greens thought, “We can now make everything we asked for become reality”. A lot turned out differently.
“I don’t want to sugarcoat the fact that there are sometimes problems in many places, and it’s not nice at all, sometimes it’s not nice to look at,” said former party leader Habeck. And yet stated: “It pays to be in government.”
For his party, Habeck claimed pragmatism and a willingness to compromise. “You can only open your arms and be generous if you know where you stand and where you want to go. And that’s how we keep the shop together.” It pays off for the Greens that they “do not behave in a partisan small-minded manner, but can be measured against reality”.
support the economy
Lang also emphasized: “We make politics for the reality that is there, and not just for the ones we wished for.” She thinks it’s good that there are also protests against green politics, said Lang. This shows: “We are discussing important issues.” On the subject of Ukraine, she said: “I am convinced that we must deliver more weapons, that we must become faster – the time for hesitation is over.”
There is only one warmonger, Lang said. And the hot Vladimir Putin. Lang accused the previous government of CDU/CSU and SPD of the “brilliant failure of fossil fuel policy”. She accused the Union of being a know-it-all on the sidelines and called her “an opposition that has no concepts whatsoever”.
“Green DNA is justice,” Lang said. “The basis of green politics is justice, the principle is responsibility.” She added: “And we, we seek this responsibility.”
Lang and Habeck also emphasized the will to support the economy in these difficult times. “Many people are afraid of the next energy bill,” said Habeck. “And I say as Economics Minister: the companies too.” These are the places “where people find wages and work,” said Habeck. “The economy and society, they belong together.”
More: “Nuclear power? No thanks” – Greens before a difficult party conference