Akhir 12, 1432 / March 17, 2011, SPA -- A political U-turn by German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week over Germany's nuclear programme could factor heavily into a series of upcoming key state elections, dpa reported. The question is whether the move to put off a decision to extend nuclear power plant lifetimes, designed to respond to public sentiment, will chime with the public or be seen as a nakedly opportunistic move by a nervous politician - a charge she rejects. "This is not a deal. This is not an agreement. This is a usage of the atomic laws under a new environment," she said Thursday. "We shouldn't be accused of legalistic tricks when none can be substantiated." It remains to be seen what voters think when they go to the polls in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday and then, a week later, in elections in the key states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland Palatinate. As Japan's nuclear threat grew, Merkel took action that left eight of Germany's 17 nuclear reactors sidelined - some permanently, as she announced stringent security checks. The move backtracked on a much- criticized decision eight months ago to extend the lifespans of those power plants. Japan, Merkel argued, had forced a re-evaluation of the risks involved in nuclear energy, as scenarios deemed impossible were playing out in real life. Merkel, opponents argued, was merely pulling a political stunt to improve her election chances. The return of the nuclear issue brings back a topic that could play poorly for Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and one that the party likely hoped to lay to rest by dealing with it last year, well ahead of the upcoming round of elections. The state elections are key because, should the CDU lose more power at the state level, it will lose more influence in the upper legislative house, or Bundesrat, further weakening Merkel on the national level. Until now in Saxony-Anhalt, Merkel's the CDU had a good chance of continuing their alliance with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). This arrangement, which has been largely consensual, is contested by the radical Left Party, whose popularity in the former East German state has made them a tempting alternative partner for the SPD. A recent poll in Saxony-Anhalt for broadcaster ARD gave the CDU 33 per cent, the SPD 24 per cent, the Left party 25, Green 5.5 per cent. The far-right NPD polled 5 per cent, which would see them clear the threshold to enter the regional parliament in Magdeburg. The Saxony-Anhalt election had so far been dominated by local issues, according to political scientist Nils Diderich. These include the state's huge public debt and above-average unemployment of 13 per cent, and the challenges of depopulation as young people leave to seek employment elsewhere. But this could change, as rolling TV images of the explosions at Japan's Fukushima reactor, and the growing radiation risks, have prompted strong reactions across Germany, where memories remain vivid of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. In the prosperous southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which is home to four nuclear reactors, it could be harder for Merkel's CDU to win favour ahead of the March 27 election. Last Saturday, a day after Japan was hit by the earthquake and tsunami, a planned anti-nuclear demonstration swelled to 40,000 people, forming a 45-kilometre human chain. More demonstrations have been announced for March 26, a day before the polls. The renewed uncertainty over nuclear power plays into the arms of Baden-Wuerttemberg's opposition SDP and the anti-nuclear Greens, who were already stiff contenders to Merkel centre-right coalition with the Free Democrats. State premier Stefan Mappus of the CDU, who has been a staunch nuclear advocate, was quick to announce that the state's oldest power station would not reopen after the three-month moratorium to re- evaluate Germany's nuclear programme. Across Germany, other state premiers from the CDU have called this week for the country to end its nuclear power programme sooner, rather than later. Losing power in Saxony Anhalt would be tolerable to the government coalition, costing Merkel two seats in the Bundesrat. Merkel's coalition already lost its majority there last year. But losing Baden-Wuerttemberg would be a more serious blow, reducing her coalition's seats by a further six, to a possible 23 out of 69. This would force Merkel to rely ever more on the opposition to push bills through the Bundesrat, severely hampering her ability to implement reform during the government's remaining term in office, which expires in 2013. -- SPA
