Swiss parties seek referendum to block new nuclear power plants

Switzerland's political landscape is set for a potential showdown over nuclear energy, as a broad alliance of left-leaning parties vows to force a referendum on new nuclear power plant construction. Social Democrats, Greens, and Green Liberals have declared their opposition to the government's initiative to lift the ban on building new nuclear facilities.

The "broad alliance" aims to gather 50,000 signatures to trigger a national vote, a threshold they believe is well within reach. The timing of such a referendum remains uncertain.

Switzerland banned new nuclear power plants in 2018 following a public vote. However, the current government is now arguing for a reversal, citing Switzerland's climate protection goals and the need for reliable energy sources, particularly in light of Russia's war against Ukraine. The country currently operates four aging nuclear reactors, with two at Beznau scheduled for shutdown in 2033 and 2032. Reactor 1 at Beznau, located near the German border, has been in operation since 1969 and is the world's oldest active nuclear reactor.