Mining labour union calls for “reasonable” energy policy of possible grand coalition

Germany’s mining labour union IG BCE has called on the parties of the so-called grand coalition to pursue a “reasonable” energy and climate policy, news agency dpa reports. IG BCE head Michael Vassiliadis said “more realism” and a “modernisation boost” were needed from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD) if they are to continue their coalition in the next legislative period. Vassiliadis said it was “absurd” to believe that the grand coalition parties had to use compromises on climate and energy found in the failed exploratory talks over a so-called Jamaica coalition between the conservatives, the pro-business FDP, and the environmentalist Green Party - such as the phase-out options for coal-fired power plants. Vassiliadis called for a “reset” on coal policy instead of relying on “extreme demands” of “clientele parties”.

See CLEW’s Coalition Watch and the article Government gridlock – can Germany still act on climate? for more information.