Chancellor Olaf Scholz has staunchly defended Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022, even as the energy landscape was dramatically altered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

During a recent hearing before the Bundestag's committee on nuclear policy, Scholz reiterated his commitment to the decision made in late 2022 to extend the life of the country's remaining nuclear power plants only briefly, until April 2023. This strategy, described as a 'stretch operation,' was implemented amidst instant calls, from some sections of the political spectrum, to revisit the nuclear exit entirely or prolong the reactor operations in response to the war-induced energy situation.

On January 16, 2025, Scholz appeared before the parliamentary committee to articulate the rationale behind his approach.

He emphasized that the decision was aligned with a longstanding political consensus within Germany and served as a 'necessary compromise' in bolstering energy reliability during a tumultuous period.

The Chancellor highlighted that extending plant operations beyond the brief extension would have contradicted the broader goal of transitioning away from nuclear energy.

The suggestion to equip the reactors with new fuel rods, advocated by the Free Democratic Party (FDP), was decisively turned down by Scholz, as it implied a prolonged nuclear dependency that was incompatible with Germany's energy transition goals.

Originally, the final nuclear facilities were scheduled to end operations by the end of 2022; however, the extension pushed this deadline to mid-April 2023.

The inquiry focused heavily on Scholz’s leadership approach and the role of key Green party figures, including Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck.

The investigation, initiated in the summer of 2024, has scrutinized claims about impartiality in the phase-out discussions and highlighted tensions between different political factions regarding nuclear policy.

A prominent topic in the hearings was Habeck's extensive nine-hour questioning by the committee, during which he refuted assertions that decisions were pre-determined.

He noted the minimal impact of the reactors on Germany’s overall energy security at the time and applauded the government’s strategies to rectify the Russian gas shortfall.

However, he faced critiques from FDP's Frank Schäffler, questioning his memory of consultations with Scholz, amid suggestions of lack of transparency.

The handling of Germany’s nuclear phase-out has been contentious, with its roots tracing back to the initial SPD-Green coalition moratorium in 1998, followed by extensions under Chancellor Angela Merkel, and later acceleration after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Chancellor Scholz underscored his executive authority by resolving ministerial stalemates using a rare leadership directive comparable to those historically employed by Konrad Adenauer, demonstrating a significant assertion of chancellorial power.

As Germany steps into a post-nuclear era, bolstered by renewable energy frameworks under active development, its strategy continues to be a focal point within the broader European energy transition discourse.

The testimony and investigation outcomes underscore an era of pivotal energy policy decisions for the nation.