In the debate about longer lifetimes for nuclear power plants, the FDP spoke out in favor of extending the lifetime until spring 2024.

“This is the period when we are threatened with energy shortages. That’s why we have to be prepared for it,” said the energy policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Michael Kruse, of the “Bild” newspaper.

The party is thus naming a specific timeframe for its push to continue operating the three German nuclear power plants that are still in operation beyond December 31st. With their demand for an extension of the term, the Liberals had caused resentment in the traffic light coalition. SPD and especially the Greens are skeptical.

The FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr also pushed for an extension of the term. “We expect European solidarity for the winter,” he told the “Bild”. Germany must also show solidarity. “We therefore have to use everything that can contribute to electricity production. Nuclear power plants are one of them,” he added.

The Union is also promoting the possibility of at least limited continued operation beyond the turn of the year. On Monday, the federal government referred to another stress test on the security of the power supply in the coming winter, the result of which it wanted to wait for.