Prime Minister Luc Frieden has come under criticism by environmental organisations for changing positions on nuclear power.
In a parliamentary question, the prime minister has also been asked whether he had discussed this with the government council or not.
Environmental organisations criticise the government's new stance on nuclear energy and speak of a taboo breach. After the nuclear summit in Brussels, CSV Minister Luc Frieden had surprisingly declared that the issue should not be approached ideologically, but with a view to the future. All nuclear centres should be closed, but investment should be made in research.
President of the environmental movement, Blanche Weber, expresses their shock in receiving Luc Frieden's statements.
"If there is one country that really has a long tradition against nuclear power, where society stands behind it by consensus, where communities such as in Remerschen have said in unison that they do not want nuclear power, then it is Luxembourg. However, if Luc Frieden is now questioning this consensus in this way, then we find that absolutely unacceptable and a very, very bad direction from this new government - if it was a government decision and not just Mr Frieden's position."
The environmental organisation doubts this because CSV Environment Minister Serge Wilmes had said something different at the environmental movement congress on Thursday:
"Mr Wilmes has not yet heard Mr Frieden and said quite clearly, 'Yes, this government stands by the position of the previous governments: No to nuclear power.' That's what Mr Wilmes made clear."
The energy transition is necessary now, so it would be better to invest money in renewable energies which are ready now, instead of researching nuclear power, says Blanche Weber. Roger Spautz, responsible for the nuclear campaign at Greenpeace Luxembourg, agrees.
"For 30, 40, 50 years, research has been carried out into nuclear power, which costs massive amounts of money, wasting funds on new so-called 4th generation reactors, because there are still no results. In other words, you can clearly say that the money has been wasted over the last few years and it would be better to invest in alternative technologies."
Europe would also not become less dependent on Russia by expanding nuclear energy, says Roger Spautz, because a large proportion of uranium is imported from Russia and Kazakhstan.
In a parliamentary question by Corinne Cohen and Barbara Agostino, the prime minister was asked to explain his statements. The DP deputies were especially concerned about the safety of the population, and future safety, and whether this new stance was even discussed with the government council at all.
