Far right triggers feud within conservative govt, which could shift energy policy for good

The far-right party Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) may be largely focusing on immigration and not playing a direct role in German federal policy, but its influence can be seen even in energy and climate policy, writes Tagesspiegel Background. Fear of losses to the far right over immigration policy in the October state election is pushing the Bavarian Christian Socialists (CSU) towards a confrontational course with its conservative alliance partner, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU). Thus, economy and energy minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) is blocking key energy transition projects and emphasising that citizens must not be burdened further because he “wants to protect the energy policy from the right flank – even for the price of his reliability”, writes Tagesspiegel. The situation could be different after the elections, when Altmaier might “rediscover the reformer in himself” – or the AfD may then have succeeded in “shifting the coordinates for good”.

Find the article (behind paywall) in German here.

For background, read the CLEW dossier The new German government and the energy transition.