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Posts Tagged ‘German elections’

The nominally conservative CDU has vowed not to form a coalition with the “far-right” (actually conservative libertarian) AfD, and will thus have to join hands with the left-leaning SPD and Greens. This doesn’t bode well for the significant changes many believe are needed.

On the plus side for AfD supporters, the party’s growth in just 8 years has been most impressive:

  • 2017: AfD – 0 seats (4%)
  • 2021: AfD – 94 seats (12%)
  • 2025: AfD – 150+ seats (20%)

AfD was dominant in the East which fears a return of the Marxism they experienced prior to the “Wende.”

AfD’s energy policy (p.77) seems pretty sensible given the supply and cost challenges facing Germany. A few highlights:

  • The AfD supports “Protection of the Environment”, but not the “German Climate Protection Policy” and plans for “decarbonization” and the “Transformation of Society”. They want to end the perception of CO² as an exclusively harmful substance and stop Germany’s maverick policy in the reduction of CO² emissions.
  • Because the average output is so variable, renewable energy generators are not viable replacements for conventional large power stations.
  • Renewable sources necessitate a massive expansion of the electric grid systems and jeopardize grid stability.
  • Fracking: Explore Opportunities and Risks, Involve Citizens
  • Nuclear Energy: Explore Alternatives, Grant Lifetime Extensions in the Interim

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Germany’s national elections are on 23 FEB. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, which has gained strength in the polls, supports a Nord Stream restart.

Denmark’s energy agency granted Nord Stream AG permission to conduct preservation work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea (Reuters). One of the two Nordstream 2 lines is undamaged.

-An Equinor executive stated on February 5, 2025, that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is “permanently destroyed.”

-The Swiss canton of Zug extended the moratorium on debt restructuring for Nord Stream AG until May 9. The moratorium is seen as a way for the German government to preserve its influence over the future of the pipeline. If the company is liquidated, investors, including the German state-owned energy firm Uniper, would lose control over the pipeline and the considerable funds invested by German taxpayers in its construction.

-Consideration is being given to transporting hydrogen from Finland via the undamaged Nord Stream 2 string. (The H2 might have to be mixed with methane to prevent embrittlement.)

-Resumption of Nord Stream flow could be part of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal (along with Ukraine’s rare minerals).

-American investor Stephen Lynch continues his pursuit of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Chat GPT was asked what the likelihood was of the US orchestrating the Nord Stream sabotage. Response (see below): 60-80%

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