According to FDP chairman Christian Lindner, Germany must also openly discuss the return to nuclear power in the energy debate.

"People expect that all options will be considered because of climate protection, dependence on Putin and inflation," said the Federal Finance Minister of the "Bild" newspaper.

From an economic point of view, he is not yet convinced that new investments in nuclear power really pay off.

“But Germany must not close its eyes to a debate that is taking place all over the world.

I advise putting the arguments on the table without prejudice.”

Operator irritated

His cabinet colleague and Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens) then said: “There is not much more to say about nuclear energy.

The topic was checked again at the beginning of the legislature in a professional manner free of ideology.

This is decided by the relevant ministries – and politically as well.

This is not a path that Germany will go any further."

Only the Isar 2, Emsland and Neckarwestheim 2 nuclear power plants are still connected to the grid in Germany. They are also to be shut down by the end of the year.

The economy and environment ministries had already rejected an extension of the terms because of the new situation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, the energy transition towards more renewable energy sources should be promoted.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had also spoken out against the continued operation of nuclear power plants.

The operators of the last three operating nuclear power plants in Germany reacted with irritation to Lindner's initiative.

Continued operation beyond the specified end date for German nuclear energy on December 31, 2022 "would be associated with high hurdles of a technical and legal nature," said a spokesman for RWE AG of the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ).

There is "a clear legal regulation for the shutdown of nuclear power plants," said the spokesman.

The federal government and the energy ministers of the federal states also declared in March that an extension of the service life was not an option “in order to increase security of supply and reduce dependence on gas supplies from Russia”.

The EnBW group made similar statements on request.