The nuclear power plant ban falls: The National Council now supports Federal Councillor Rösti

Switzerland's National Council has reversed its earlier decision, voting to lift the ban on building new nuclear power plants. This move aligns the council with the upper house, the Council of States, and the Federal Council's energy minister, Albert Rösti, who advocates for the repeal of the construction ban.

This latest vote represents a significant shift after the National Council had, just days prior, narrowly decided that the Federal Council must first clarify the financing of new nuclear facilities. The Council of States, however, had maintained its stance in favor of lifting the ban. Now, the National Council has followed suit, signaling a potential new direction for Switzerland's energy policy.

The decision was met with opposition from an alliance of Green, Green Liberal, and Social Democratic parties, along with a majority of the Center party. Conversely, the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the FDP, and a handful of Center party members actively campaigned for the lifting of the ban.

Federal Councillor Albert Rösti proposed lifting the ban as a countermeasure to the "Blackout Initiative," which aims to anchor a secure energy supply in the Swiss Federal Constitution. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between different political factions regarding the future of nuclear energy in Switzerland, particularly in the context of ensuring a stable energy supply.