The union targets Habeck, and his response is already in motion.

The union targets Habeck, as his retaliation is already being initiated.

In the year prior, the Greens were identified as the primary opposition group by the CDU leader Merz. This was preceded by an increasing number of actions targeting them. At the forefront of these attacks was none other than Economics Minister Habeck. With constant pressure from the CDU and FDP, there were rumors of a parliamentary committee being formed to tackle the nuclear exit. The minister, however, is very vocal in defending himself and his decisions.

The German government, which can be compared to a boxer that has just taken a heavy blow, is currently struggling and on the brink of collapse. This blow was the disastrous outcome of the European election. Now, they are on the verge of failing to pass their upcoming budget. If they fail, they will have no choice but to disband. The Union Party is preparing their next strike by proposing the creation of a parliamentary committee focused on the nuclear exit. Their primary target is Economics Minister Robert Habeck.

This occurs around the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the spring of 2022. The gas prices skyrocketed, storage facilities were depleted, and energy shortages became a huge concern for the nation. A major concern at the time was whether the country could survive the winter without experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

The decision regarding whether to shut down the remaining three nuclear power plants - Isar II, Neckarwestheim, and Emsland - was planned for the year's end. The Union and the FDP strongly opposed this decision due to the impending energy crisis. Giving up nuclear power in such circumstances would have been foolish, they argued. Green leaders, specifically Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, disagreed, advocating for an extension of the plant's lifetimes. Chancellor Olaf Scholz ultimately made the decision to extend operation until April 15, 2023.

The Greens and the Nuclear Exit

The events unfolded as follows. The Union was intrigued by the period between March and September 2022, during which Habeck and Lemke promised an impartial assessment of whether the nuclear power plants' operation could continue. The Union entertained doubts on the validity of this promise, considering the Greens' stance on nuclear power. This issue would be addressed by the proposed parliamentary committee. CDU leader Friedrich Merz claimed in a letter to the Union faction that the federal government had not acted in Germany's best interests but rather according to "Green party politics." However, he emphasized that his concerns were not about the decision itself but the transparency of the process.

The "Cicero" magazine filed a lawsuit for the release of files containing the opinions of officials. While some portions support the Greens' arguments, others disapprove. The Union suspects that these opposing views might have been suppressed within the ministries.

Habeck and Lemke deny these claims. They maintain that their decision-making process was guided by ensuring supply and reactor safety and not driven by their party's preferences. In the Bundestag on May 15, they addressed the allegations. Habeck stated that he had inquired with the operators early on about the possibility of extending the nuclear power plants' operation. Their response, supported by a reduction in output, would allow the plants to run longer without producing additional power. Their rationale behind doing this was the possibility of a stress test on the grid: It revealed the potential need for nuclear power plants in winter. However, the extension was only planned until April 15, 2023, as new fuel rods would have been needed afterward.

Lemke, addressing Union MPs in the Bundestag, acknowledged her safety concerns regarding the periodic safety review that had not been conducted in over a decade. She was also concerned about the liability transfer desired by the operators, which the federal government chose not to assume.

Lemke challenged Union MPs: Would they have done it themselves had they been in power? She pointed to a review note from March 7, 2022, confirming their decision to withhold further nuclear operations. This information has been publicly accessible on the internet since then, she argues, to dispel any accusations of opacity.

In a ZDF interview, Habeck confirmed that it would be possible to keep the nuclear power plants running if they truly wished to do so. "That's undisputed," said Habeck. The debate centered around the question of whether they could have significantly reduced gas consumption in the process. However, this was not the case as gas power plants are utilized intermittently based on demand, something that nuclear power plants can't handle.

The SPD politician Helmut Kleebank stated during a debate in May that by the summer of 2022, roughly half of France's nuclear power plants were offline. The German coal-fired power plants faced supplying issues, and Russia had stopped delivering gas to Germany. As a result, there was a significant shift in the situation which prompted the decision to prolong the operation of nuclear power plants. Although it was a political balancing act, it's what politicians are supposed to do.

The opposition appeared to be focusing on Economics Minister Robert Habeck, even though another minister, Lemke, was present. The parliamentary investigative panel has been tagged "the Habeck Files" by the CDU and CSU, which could imply that they're examining Habeck's personal belongings. There could also be electoral motivations behind it. Former CDU heavyweight Wolfgang Schäuble, in his fascinating memoirs, stated that parliamentary investigative panels possess "a fundamentally political character."

And indeed, the committee isn't just targeting Habeck, but also his preferred defense: Habeck is incredibly proud of leading Germany's transition from Russian gas in record time. The winter of 2023 saw no one freezing, an achievement he believes will eventually win over voters. However, he still aspires to convince them.

When the committee begins its work in the summer and Habeck testifies, it will resemble a court hearing, with Habeck on the stand. This will be useful during the election campaign's early stages. Given the intricacy of the matter, it's likely that no one will fully comprehend it, so the Union can count on that. But there's a chance the situation might work against Habeck. He doesn't want to be taken to the slaughterhouse, so he's already retaliating. Habeck is now attacking the CDU's energy policy under Angela Merkel, blaming her for putting Germany in Russia's grip. He has weapons for the campaign too, with seemingly plentiful ammunition. Great, even.

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