Bonn Above all, there is one topic that is omnipresent at the federal party conference of the Greens in Bonn: the unresolved nuclear dispute. The Greens can imagine a short-term continued operation of German nuclear power plants – but no turning away from the exit.
The FDP, on the other hand, does not give up urging the Greens to continue operating for a longer period of time.
But they oppose it. More than a stretching operation until spring 2023 does not seem to be possible for the Greens. This is one of the reasons why party leader Ricarda Lang categorically ruled out the purchase of new fuel rods for nuclear power plants on several occasions and described it as the “red line”. Only the purchase of new fuel rods would enable continued operation of the nuclear power plants beyond the spring.
The Liberals immediately objected. 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.”
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Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, on the other hand, only wants to keep two of the three reactors still connected to the grid as a reserve until next spring because of the energy crisis. The nuclear power plant in Emsland, Lower Saxony, is scheduled to cease operations at the end of the year.
Late evening vote on nuclear policy
Lang’s co-party leader Omid Nouripour also promoted this path and at the same time stated that his party was not prepared to make any major compromises in terms of content. How the base decides will be shown later in the evening. Then comes the vote on the course of the Greens in nuclear policy.
At the start of the party congress, the party debated “fossil inflation” and “social cohesion”. 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