He criticizes the environment ministry for clinging to old green doctrines and calls for a more flexible environmental policy, while praising openness from some ministers and urging reform.

Germany should rethink its energy mix and industrial policy to boost the economy, emphasizing a greater role for domestic gas, potential domestic rare earths, and a diversified portfolio that could include nuclear energy.

Critically, the plan targets reducing long-term subsidies for energy, arguing current subsidies for gas power and renewables hinder affordable energy and economic revival.

MarcSöder proposes building small, smart nuclear reactors—mini-reactors—as a way to spur recovery without the heavy subsidies tied to traditional large plants.

This debate sits against Germany’s nuclear policy history, from the 1998-2000 Atomkonsens to the Fukushima impact in 2011, the accelerated exit, and final reactor closures by 2023.

Industry observers note that former reactor operators see nuclear as expensive, contrasting with Söder’s push for a more nuanced approach.

Söder’s remarks were delivered in an interview with Welt am Sonntag, where he criticized the government’s energy strategy and subsidies and connected the discussion to broader European debates on nuclear energy.

He reiterates a long-standing opposition to a full nuclear phase-out, stressing costs and affordability while acknowledging the ongoing debate over nuclear power in Germany.

The article places Söder’s stance within a wider context, noting parallels with Canadian and Swiss work on small modular reactors and Germany’s historical resistance to large-scale nuclear projects.

Söder warns that the federal environment ministry clings to traditional green ideologies and subsidies, urging a more modern environmental policy that accommodates nuclear energy.

Public debate continues, reflecting a broader dispute over energy strategy, subsidies, and Germany’s industrial competitiveness.

Politically, Söder aligns with a pro-business, pro‑gas and nuclear mix approach and with CDU leadership on competitiveness, while opposing a unilateral nuclear phase-out.

He cautions that shifting too quickly to electric vehicles could undermine the automotive industry and cost thousands of jobs unless policies protect competitiveness and the viability of combustion engines.

In line with that stance, he argues against constraining the auto sector through an exclusive focus on electric propulsion, advocating a balanced path that safeguards jobs.

Citing examples from Canada and ongoing work in Switzerland and elsewhere, Söder argues mini-meilers could be deployed without the subsidies associated with earlier nuclear projects.

He envisions mini-reactors as a subsidy-light alternative to legacy plants, positioned as a practical bridge in Germany’s energy transition.