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Election battle looms over Merkel’s plan to extend nuclear power in Germany

Opposition parties and environmentalists have vowed to fight the planned extension in the lifetime of Germany’s 17 nuclear reactors….the opposition has vowed to challenge this in Germany’s highest court…..Even if the extension becomes law, the opposition Social Democrats (SPD), co-authors with the Greens of 2000’s decision to exit nuclear power, said they will reverse Merkel’s changes if they return to power.

Merkel sets stage for nuclear power battle, Google hosted news, By Simon Sturdee (AFP) – 7 Sept 10, BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday hailed government proposals to postpone Germany’s exit from nuclear power as a “revolution,” setting up what one opposition MP called a “fiery autumn” of protests…….
Opposition parties and environmentalists have vowed to fight the planned extension in the lifetime of Germany’s 17 nuclear reactors for an average of 12 years beyond the scheduled shutdown of around 2020…..

Merkel, 56, hopes to be able to avoid putting the necessary legislation through the upper house, where her coalition has lost its majority, but the opposition has vowed to challenge this in Germany’s highest court.

Even if the extension becomes law, the opposition Social Democrats (SPD), co-authors with the Greens of 2000’s decision to exit nuclear power, said they will reverse Merkel’s changes if they return to power.

Ministers arriving at Merkel’s chancellery on Sunday evening were greeted by protestors waving banners and blowing whistles, and a demonstration in Berlin on September 18 is expected to draw protestors from all over Germany…..

With no permanent storage site for radioactive waste in place and fears about a repetition of a disaster in Germany like the Chernobyl meltdown in Ukraine in 1986, polls indicate a majority of voters oppose an extension….

Merkel “has created an election issue. The SPD and the Greens are going to make full use of it in 2011,” when Germany holds six state votes, the Die Welt daily said in an editorial.

AFP: Merkel sets stage for nuclear power battle

September 8, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, reactors