Scholz speaks his word of power: German nuclear power plants will continue to run until April Several weapons were found: Police arrested a man near the Capitol in Washington

According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany will remain in operation until mid-April 2023.

It is no longer checked whether this is still necessary, the operators can prepare for it, Scholz said on Tuesday in Berlin after a meeting of the “Alliance for Transformation” with representatives of business associations and trade unions. Nuclear power will stop on April 15, Scholz said. He was confident that Germany would survive the winter well.

On Monday, Scholz had declared a day-long dispute within the traffic light coalition, especially between the Greens and the FDP, with a clear announcement. The Chancellor has instructed the responsible ministers to make legislative proposals so that the three nuclear power plants Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland can continue to operate after the end of the year until 15 April 2023 at the latest. According to the Atomic Energy Act, they are only allowed to drive until December 31.

Scholz made use of his directive power. A letter from Scholz literally states that the “energy operation” of the three nuclear power plants must be switched on by mid-April at the latest. Now the Bundestag must vote.

It initially remained unclear whether a decision should actually be taken that the nuclear power plants should continue to run – or whether this should be re-checked, as previously planned by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) for an “operational reserve”. (aeg/sda/dpa)