3/29/2011

Nuclear safety shocked German politics

March 17, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Schäuble at the German Parliament to participate in the discussion on nuclear energy policy. Merkel has announced the closure of seven nuclear power plants, the opposition accused him of election in order to meet changes in policy.

March 27, in Germany a year, the most important local elections - Baden - Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg) parliamentary elections, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met the leadership of the historic failure of the CDU, which is the first time in 58 years the party in the state election defeat. Baden-Württemberg is Germany one of the most economically developed states, is considered the traditional stronghold of the CDU, the German media generally believed that the defeat is a major blow to the ruling coalition.

According to preliminary results, the ruling Christian Democratic Union won the last 39% of the vote than the last election by about 5 percentage points, which is the CDU since 1952, the lowest in the state vote. Its coalition partner Liberal Democratic Party was only 5.3% of the vote, the two parties was 44.3% of total votes. The sudden emergence of the Green Party in the election, votes 11.7% from last soared to 24.2%, Social Democratic Party vote was 23.1%. The total number of votes the Green Party and Social Democratic Party is the ruling coalition over rate. If nothing else, will first appear from the German Green Party governor. German public opinion generally believe that this election is not only the ruling party, the CDU's defeat, it can be said that the opposition Green Party's historic victory.

Currently, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel is still rarely mentioned in the Government's future will be seriously threatened. The main opposition Social Democratic Party parliamentary group leader Steinmeier said that since the prior Merkel said the election is to determine the Baden-Württemberg CDU "future" of the election, so she should be re-held national elections. But the German "World News" is that no one thought would follow the example of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Merkel 2005, lost the parliamentary elections due to NRW ahead of national elections approach, was defeated by Gerhard Schroeder in elections default risk Kerr. However, Baden-Württemberg election results further the ruling coalition's majority in the Senate has been weakened, the Federal Government in the internal and foreign affairs will be severely constrained.

Germany's ruling coalition in Japan after the nuclear accident measures taken, is led to the "earthquake" the direct cause of nuclear security policy has therefore become the touchstone of this election. At present, Germany has 17 commercial nuclear power plants, nuclear power generation capacity accounting for about 1 / 4. The federal government is now the goal is to extend the life of nuclear power plants, while to make renewable energy sources by 2050 80% of the total electricity supply. In 2002, the SPD and Greens formed by the German government through the legislative decision, the average operating time of the German nuclear power plants 32 years. Click here to request about the German nuclear power plants will be closed by 2020. CDU coalition with the LDP in 2010 after the adoption of legislation, the operation of nuclear power plants 12 years longer, on average.

After the nuclear accident occurred in Japan, Germany to re-examine nuclear safety requirements are growing louder. So Angela Merkel announced that the federal government last year passed legislation to suspend the implementation of 3 months. She also said it would start operating before the end of 1980 the seven nuclear power plants temporarily closed until June 15 this year, the introduction of the Expert Committee report before a final decision. Germany's "World News" commented that it was clear that the German Federal Government to make policy adjustments of this confirmation by the voters expect.

German public opinion analysis, policy adjustments to be ineffective for two reasons. First, nuclear energy policy within the ruling coalition could not agree on unity. Merkel and incumbent governor of Baden-Württemberg, CDU candidate Mapps could have been a strong supporter of the development of nuclear energy, they think that even though nuclear power is the energy transition, it is a reliable source of energy. Therefore, a sudden shift their policies to voters for their actions have a "political opportunism" of the doubt. In addition, some of the CDU and Merkel most powerful figures disagree. Such as the CDU / CSU parliamentary group chairman Kauder had strongly supported the nuclear power, but now doubt it. These contradictory information that led voters to psychologically disturbed and do not trust the government. Second, due to the Green Party rally. Green Party in Baden-Württemberg has deep roots in the mid 70s last century, successfully prevented the construction of a nuclear power plant in the state. The use of party nuclear accident in Japan campaign, launched in the country several rounds of large-scale anti-nuclear demonstrations, meet some of the German electorate psychology.

Lost in the event of Baden-Württemberg, the Merkel government's nuclear power and energy policy will change, the Federal Government decided to permanently close some nuclear power plants, and even back to around 2020, the original plan to close all nuclear power plants, all of the future The political trend.


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