STORY: (NOTE: THIS ARTICLE IS WITHOUT SPEAKER TEXT) O-TON UNION FACTION LEADER FRIEDRICH MERZ: “In 2024 we could have around 12 percent lower electricity prices in Germany if the three nuclear power plants were to run longer. And we could save 14 million tons of CO2 in Germany in 2024 if these three nuclear power plants ran longer. I hope that the FDP will prevail in the coalition with its will to let the nuclear power plants run longer, with new fuel rods for at least two years, i.e. until the end of 2024. And I hope that after the federal party conference at the latest of the Greens this weekend, the Greens will also come to their senses and give up their resistance to the longer-running nuclear power plants. In any case, that would be a solution, a contribution to solving the problem we have in Germany. Too little energy, too high costs. All resources really have to be used now, and unfortunately this was ultimately not dealt with in the Gas Commission either, and is now obviously to be dealt with in one of the next meetings. One should have been talking about the supply of available energy and not just how to compensate households and businesses. But maybe that will come at a later date. Perhaps the Greens will then have to hold their party conference before they can come to a corresponding decision within the federal government. In any case, we support the FDP in their efforts to enable and enforce a corresponding extension of the service life in Germany for these three nuclear power plants. We hope that the FDP is strong enough in this coalition to lead to a decision in this direction. Many Thanks.”