The German government knew shutting down nuclear plants during the Ukraine war energy crisis was a bad idea but did it anyway, and the Green party minister may have been been deceived by his own people to make sure the closures went ahead, a magazine that sued the government to get internal documents released claims.
26 April 2024, Berlin: Robert Habeck , Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, takes part in a press conference on progress in the energy transition. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa Russia had invaded Ukraine a month before, and signs of a looming gas supply crisis were already clearly visible.
The claims are already brewing into a scandal in Germany, but the Green-left coalition government insists facts are being misrepresented. Their right-liberal coalition partners the FDP also advise caution, if only to prevent handing a victory to their conservative-populist political opponents.Their spokesman said: “I find it difficult to imagine that in such a controversial debate in a ministry the minister would not be aware of it. That wouldn’t reflect well on the leadership of the house”.