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Popular opposition to Merkel’s government’ nuclear plans

Anti-nuclear groups challenge Merkel – New Europe, 26 September 2010 Anti-nuclear groups claimed a turnout of 100,000 at their first big demonstration on 18 September against German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plans to extend the running times of nuclear power plants. Under current German legislation, the 17 plants are to be retired after generating a pre-ordained quota of power, probably by 2022. Merkel has promised to add an average of 12 years to the mandated lifetimes of the plants.“This is a signal,” Claudia Roth, the head of the opposition Green Party, the group that championed the anti-nuclear movement in Europe, told German news channel N-TV.The opposition says the current agreement, struck on 5 September after marathon talks in the chancellery, is but a gift to the country’s four main utilities — Eon, RWE, EnBW and Vattenfall Europe.

Sigmar Gabriel, a former environment minister who leads the opposition Social Democrats, called for a national referendum to decide the nuclear issue.  “Angela Merkel’s nuclear deal is driving people into the streets because it is a stimulus program for political disaffection when the head of a government cuts a backroom deal with four energy bosses that’s worth hundreds of billions of euros and safety issues for old nuclear plants are sorted out on the side,”

Anti-nuclear groups challenge Merkel – New Europe

September 27, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors