Nuclear phase-out: Habeck and Scholz in the U-Committee on the nuclear phase-out

In the Bundestag’s committee of inquiry into the nuclear phase-out, the final and possibly decisive witness interviews are taking place today. Both Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will answer questions from MPs about the background to the nuclear phase-out during the day.

In particular, MPs hope that Habeck’s questioning, which is scheduled to begin in the morning, will provide answers to questions about the controversial decisions that preceded Germany’s nuclear phase-out in April 2023.

Weeks of argument and the Chancellor’s word of power

Against the background of the energy crisis as a result of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, the last three nuclear power plants in Germany ran a few months longer than originally planned – the nuclear phase-out was postponed from December 31, 2022 to April 15, 2023.

Before that, after a dispute within the then traffic light coalition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had a say in the fall of 2022. Ex-Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) said in his questioning in the U-Committee on Wednesday that Scholz’s decision was subject to intensive consultation with him and Habeck went ahead.

Lemke emphasizes the importance of nuclear safety

In addition to Lindner, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) and Chancellor Wolfgang Schmidt (SPD) were also interviewed in the investigative committee on Wednesday.

During the interview, which lasted several hours, Lemke emphasized that the issue of nuclear safety had always been a priority for her ministry. This was the benchmark for any “responsible government action” in 2022, when the decisions on possible term extensions were examined.

Accusations to Green Minister

In March 2022, a joint review by the Ministry of Economics and the Environment showed that extending the operating times of the remaining nuclear power plants could only make a “very limited contribution to solving the problem, and this at very high economic costs, constitutional and safety risks.”

The Union in particular accuses Lemke and Habeck of not having examined the continued operation of nuclear power plants in an “open-ended” and “unbiased” manner, but of having decided for ideological reasons. Lemke firmly rejected the accusation.

Lindner criticizes former traffic light partners

Lindner criticized the course of the Green ministries. The FDP leader said that the Greens’ willingness to make undogmatic decisions on the issue of nuclear energy had reached its limits. From today’s perspective, party political and tactical considerations would have played a greater role than he thought he had observed at the time. The Green parliamentary group looked at the issue of nuclear energy “in terms of identity politics”.

With a view to autumn 2022 and the Green ministries, Lindner said that doubts had grown in the Ministry of Finance that it was a fully open-ended audit.

From his point of view, maximum pragmatism would have been necessary to ensure additional electricity supply in view of the sharply rising prices. His position was that all three nuclear power plants should continue to operate at least until and through the winter of 2023/24, said Lindner. He also saw an option to bring nuclear power plants that were shut down in 2021 back online, if possible. These positions of Lindner were known.

Chancellor’s Office Chief Schmidt told the committee that the decision to extend the term was the right one. The federal government had to ensure the energy supply under all circumstances. Thanks to this measure, Germany got through the winter well.

Numerous witnesses have been questioned in the committee in recent weeks and months. According to committee chairman Stefan Heck (CDU), including Scholz and Habeck, there will have been 40 witnesses since the interviews began in October 2024. The fact that this was possible despite the shortened legislative period was a “remarkable achievement,” said Heck. “We’re glad we were able to finish it at all.”

A final report is also planned in the coming weeks – albeit different from the regular procedure. The report, which will then contain statements from all parliamentary groups, is to be presented to the President of the Bundestag in February before the federal election. Heck criticized the previous surveys in the committee: “Everyone who worked in crucial positions took a clear anti-nuclear course.”