German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) rejected the idea of a nuclear‑energy comeback in Germany, sparking disagreement within the Union.
The CSU regional group leader, Alexander Hoffmann, told “Stern” that Germany’s exit from nuclear power in the 1970s and 1980s should not bar the country from exploring new technologies. “We are investing in research on fourth‑ and fifth‑generation nuclear power and see the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) as sensible” he said. “SMRs are climate‑neutral, safe, and cost‑effective, and they would strengthen our energy independence”.
Earlier, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) had called for a renaissance of nuclear power in Europe, describing the retreat from it as a “strategic mistake”. Merz replied at a press conference on Tuesday evening that previous federal governments had decided to phase out nuclear power and that this decision is irreversible.
