The German opposition believes that their government is torn by contradictions and is incapable of governing the country.
On April 15, official Berlin made a controversial decision that is sure to hit the pockets of the German citizens again. The country is completely abandoning peaceful nuclear power, the era of which lasted here for 60 years. The order was given to disconnect the last three operating nuclear power plants - Isar 2 (in Bavaria), Neckarwestheim 2 (Baden-Württemberg), and Emsland (Lower Saxony).
An enthusiastic Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) immediately stated: "We have seen that Russia deliberately uses energy dependency to exert pressure. That is why the federal government has called on the European Commission to impose sanctions on its civilian nuclear sector as well. This should be part of the next sanctions package."
In fact, the German nuclear power plants were supposed to be shut down as early as January 1 of this year, but because of the conflict in Ukraine and the situation with energy supplies from Russia it was decided to extend their operation. But, as they say, no party lasts forever.
According to German public opinion polls, six out of ten respondents (59%) think the Berlin cabinet's decision is wrong and only a third (34%) support it.
In terms of party "coloring," supporters of the Greens (82%) and the Social Democrats (56%) welcome the initiative. Voters of the conservative CDU/CSU opposition bloc (83%), the far-right Alternative for Germany (81%) and the liberal FDP, a member of the governing coalition (65%), are against the initiative.
The German media reported that the Greens "pushed through" Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The decision was an echo of the unprecedented consultations of the ruling coalition from March 26 to 28, when the participants had consulted for 30 hours (!). In the opposition's opinion, this shows that the government is torn by contradictions and is not able to effectively govern the country.
Indeed, the head of the cabinet has, figuratively speaking, two weights on his feet, which do not allow him to move normally. I am talking about his government colleagues from the Union 90/Green party - the same Minister of Economy Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. They constantly put a spoke in the wheel, threatening to destroy the coalition if their demands are not satisfied.
So Scholz, to save face, called the decisions of the grueling 30-hour marathon "the largest plan for modernizing the economy," which, however, fit into only 16 pages.
What's in the dry residue? The coalition council participants agreed to develop measures to accelerate the planning and implementation of major infrastructure projects. This is about replacing old bridges and expanding the power transmission network. Particular attention will be paid to the railroads, for the improvement of which 45 billion euros will be spent over the next five years. The Chancellor insisted that 144 projects to upgrade motorways and federal roads will be implemented as "priorities". Earlier, the Greens had categorically opposed. Probably as a result of bargaining, which included the complete closure of the nuclear power plant, they softened their stance. Further: the highway toll for trucks will also be raised, and for the first time up to 80% of the proceeds are to be spent on the development of railways, not highways.
For the development of alternative energy, it has been decided that land adjacent to highways and rail lines must be mandatorily used for the installation of solar panels and wind generators. The federal government has confirmed its goal of putting 15 million electric cars on the roads by 2030. Every gas station is therefore obliged to open at least one ultra-fast charging station for electric vehicles within five years.
It was agreed that from 2024 new heating systems should, if possible, use 65% renewable energy sources - "green" or "blue hydrogen", biomass gas.
But where will Germany get the funds for these initiatives? It is no secret that the global economic crisis is looming, as some experts fear, and Germany itself is on the verge of recession. In addition, the U.S. is trying with all its might to blatantly undermine the German economy, and it is partly successful.
There are already examples of the Chancellor's high-profile projects slowly but surely leaking into the sand. It should be recalled that after the start of the special military operation, Scholz pushed through a parliamentary decision to create a special replenishable fund for the modernization of the Bundeswehr with a volume of 100 billion euros. The financing was to come entirely from loans that were not accounted for in the credit limit of the federal budget. This approach required a change in the constitution. And Olaf achieved it.
However, his idea is not moving forward. The government is now forced to significantly reduce a number of programs to rearm the army due to rising energy prices, record inflation due to the introduction of sanctions against Moscow, the policy of abandoning Russian fuel, and the strengthening of the dollar against the euro. As a result, arms purchases turned out to be more expensive than anticipated.
And now the last nuclear power plants have been shut down…
It's really hard to "get the Hippopotamus out of the mire," if "there's no agreement among comrades."