Summary

Seven Center MPs plan to support the repeal of the nuclear power plant construction ban in the June session. Together with the SVP and FDP, this would result in a narrow majority of 101 to 99 votes in the National Council. The Council of States has already approved it. However, the Greens have announced a referendum, which would give the people the final say. A central element of the 2017 Energy Strategy is thus up for grabs.

Persons

Topics

  • Nuclear energy and energy policy
  • Parliamentary majority formation
  • Referendum democracy

Clarus Lead

The shift by Center MPs creates a parliamentary majority for the reversal in atomic policy for the first time in years. Energy supply security and climate goals are pushing established positions into the background – but the announced popular vote makes the decision at the parliamentary level a provisional final result. Tensions are emerging within the Center Party, as the nuclear phase-out was significantly shaped by former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard.

Detailed Summary

The survey by the «SonntagsZeitung» of MPs around Ritter and Schneider-Schneiter has revealed that at least seven Center representatives want to support a repeal motion. Within the SVP, unified support is considered certain; in the FDP, uniform approval is expected. This fundamentally shifts the majority constellation: instead of a green blockade against nuclear power, a bourgeois camp for new construction options emerges.

The parliamentary process is thus provisionally complete – should the National Council follow suit – but the Greens' referendum shifts decision-making authority to the people. This corresponds to Swiss referendum law, even if it further delays planning security for energy projects.

Key Statements

  • Seven Center MPs support repeal of nuclear power plant construction ban
  • Narrow parliamentary majority of 101 to 99 votes in the National Council possible
  • Green referendum transfers decision to the people
  • Intra-party tensions in the Center due to ideological repositioning

Further News

  • Rösti and Immigration Initiative: SVP Federal Councillor Albert Rösti attempted to soften critical comments on the immigration initiative in the voting pamphlet – but failed in the Federal Council.
  • Seco Blocks Transparency: The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs refuses to release documents on the customs dispute with the USA and thus comes into conflict with the Information Commissioner.
  • Army Dissatisfied with Ruag: Army satisfaction as main customer dropped from 61 to 51 percent – criticism of price-performance ratio and deadline compliance.
  • Cassis and UN Security Council: Switzerland supports Austria and Portugal instead of Germany – causing confusion in Berlin.
  • Crans-Montana Victims: Families can no longer afford legal assistance; Valais lump sum of 4,000 francs is exhausted.
  • Just Eat and Migros: Delivery couriers earn only 10 francs per hour in some cases; Migros partnership begins Monday in Geneva, Valais and Ticino.
  • Military Message Chaos: Multiple revisions of the 3.4 billion franc proposal due to problems with F-35 and Patriot.
  • Keller-Sutter Plan B: FDP Federal Councillor reserves the right to intervene via own-funds regulation if Lex UBS is diluted too much.
  • France Warns of SVP Initiative: Mayor of Annemasse fears increased cross-border commuter dependence; numbers rose from 30,000 (2002) to 120,000 today.

Critical Questions

  1. Source Validity: On what basis did the «SonntagsZeitung» identify the seven Center MPs? Was there direct questioning or reconstruction from voting behavior?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: What economic or energy policy conflicts of interest could be behind the shift by Center MPs – electricity suppliers, investments, regional energy interests?

  3. Causality and Alternatives: Is the nuclear phase-out really driven by lack of supply security, or do technological advances in renewables play a role that are not mentioned?

  4. Referendum Feasibility: What are the Greens' prospects of success in a popular vote – are there current poll data on voting behavior?

  5. Seco Transparency Conflict: Why does Seco invoke an «international dispute settlement procedure» when the Public Information Act grants the Information Commissioner access rights?

  6. Intra-Party Tensions: How does the official Center leadership respond to the shift – is there a threat of parliamentary group split or are dissenting positions tolerated?

Sources

Primary Source: Sunday News – watson.ch – https://www.watson.ch/wirtschaft/schweiz/167399326-sonntagsnews-mitte-nationalraete-schwenken-um-akw-verbot-koennte-kippen

Supplementary Sources:

  1. SonntagsZeitung (Center voting behavior, Crans-Montana, Military Message)
  2. SonntagsBlick (Rösti/Immigration Initiative, Seco documents, UN Security Council)
  3. NZZ am Sonntag (Ruag customer satisfaction, Just Eat/Migros dumping wages)
  4. Le Matin Dimanche (Keller-Sutter Plan B, France/SVP Initiative)

Verification Status: ✓ 03.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 03.05.2026