German Far-Right Pushes Europe Toward Russian Gas and Away From Clean Energy

Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has unveiled a sweeping energy manifesto that would pivot the country back toward fossil fuels and Russian gas, a sharp reversal of the European Union's green transition and a direct challenge to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government. The policy blueprint, released following an AfD parliamentary caucus meeting in Cottbus, commits the party to reactivating the sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline, scrapping subsidies for solar and wind infrastructure, and extending the life of coal plants beyond 2038—all moves that would isolate Germany from its EU partners and deepen economic uncertainty.

Why This Matters

• Energy dependency: AfD wants to restore gas imports via Nord Stream, a pipeline that remains inoperative after underwater explosions in 2022 and whose partial reconstruction is opposed by Berlin and Brussels.

• Subsidy cuts: The party pledges to eliminate state support for renewable energy projects, threatening thousands of jobs in a sector that employs 4 M people across Europe.

• Nuclear revival: AfD proposes a moratorium on decommissioning nuclear plants, repairs to dormant reactors, and a full reassessment of atomic power—contradicting Germany's decade-long phase-out.

• Political friction: The platform puts AfD on a collision course with the European Commission's Green Deal and mainstream German energy policy, amplifying divisions ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The Nord Stream Gambit

At the heart of the AfD's program is a commitment to "enable the reactivation of existing supply routes, including the Nord Stream pipeline," as the party's policy document states. The twin undersea conduits—Nord Stream 1 and 2—were Germany's primary arteries for Russian gas until explosions tore through them in September 2022, rendering one branch completely unusable. At the time of the sabotage, no gas was flowing; Moscow had already halted deliveries months earlier, and Nord Stream 2 never entered commercial operation.

The AfD has repeatedly lamented the loss of this supply corridor and criticized what it calls the German authorities' inaction in clarifying the incident. Some party members have gone further, demanding compensation from Ukraine or Poland, citing unproven theories about their involvement in the blasts.

Yet the Germany Federal Government under Merz has taken the opposite stance. Berlin suspended certification of Nord Stream 2 in February 2022 in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and has since explored regulatory measures to prevent any attempt to restart the pipelines, including tighter monitoring of ownership changes. Both Merz and the European Commission have categorically rejected reactivation. Informal discussions about repurposing Nord Stream 2 for green hydrogen transport from Finland have been denied by government spokespeople, who insist there are no formal plans to revive the project for gas deliveries.

The investigation into the sabotage continues exclusively in Germany, after Sweden and Denmark closed their cases in early 2024. German prosecutors have identified suspects involved in the operation. A former member of Ukrainian secret services remains in custody in Germany awaiting trial, accused of coordinating a group of divers who planted the explosives. Ukrainian officials have consistently denied state involvement, while Russia has welcomed the investigation's progress.

Dismantling Renewables and Reviving Coal

The AfD's energy agenda extends far beyond gas pipelines. The party has vowed to terminate subsidies for the construction of solar and wind facilities and opposes any further expansion of renewable energy. It frames climate change as a non-crisis and argues that climate policies damage the economy, echoing a broader narrative that the Energiewende (energy transition) has "ruined the German landscape" and inflated electricity costs.

Instead, AfD proposes to prolong the use of lignite coal and natural gas well past 2038, when Germany's current phase-out of coal-fired power is scheduled to conclude. The party also advocates for building new coal plants as a bridge solution until nuclear capacity can be restored.

This stance is a stark outlier in Europe. The EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 (relative to 1990 levels) and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. In 2023, clean energy accounted for nearly one-third of EU GDP growth, while fossil fuel imports cost the bloc €1.8 trillion between 2021 and 2024—a burden driven by geopolitical shocks and price volatility. Countries like Spain have seen industrial competitiveness improve thanks to lower wholesale electricity prices fueled by renewable expansion, and the renewables sector across Europe has created millions of jobs.

Analysts warn that implementing AfD's vision would increase Germany's vulnerability to fossil fuel price swings, erode its innovation edge, and jeopardize employment in green industries. It would also put Berlin at odds with EU climate mandates, risking investor confidence and political isolation.

Nuclear Power as a Cornerstone

The AfD's document calls for a comprehensive political reassessment and technological revival of nuclear energy. Specifically, it demands:

• A moratorium on the dismantling of decommissioned nuclear plants

• Repair and reactivation of existing facilities

• Extension of operational lifespans for reactors still online

• A review of modern reactor designs for potential new construction

Germany shut down its last active nuclear reactors in 2023, completing a phase-out that began after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Reviving this capacity would require massive capital investment, regulatory overhaul, and years of construction and safety certification—commitments that clash with the urgency of the EU's decarbonization timeline.

The party's nuclear push is framed as a hedge against energy insecurity, but it also reflects a broader ideological rejection of renewables. By contrast, France derives roughly 70% of its electricity from nuclear power and has used "price shields" to protect consumers from energy inflation, while Poland—historically coal-dependent—is gradually adding renewables and planning nuclear capacity to secure long-term supply and reduce emissions.

What This Means for Residents

For people living in Portugal and monitoring European energy dynamics, the AfD's platform signals potential turbulence in the continent's largest economy and a key trading partner. If the party gains influence or enters a future coalition, Germany could become a source of policy friction within the EU, complicating unified climate action and infrastructure projects that span borders.

Energy prices across Europe are interconnected through the single electricity market. A German retreat into fossil fuel dependency could amplify price volatility and undermine the collective bargaining power that has helped the EU diversify away from Russian energy since 2022. Portugal, which has invested heavily in solar and wind capacity and benefits from stable, low-cost renewable power, could see its competitive advantage diluted if Germany's policy reversals destabilize the broader market.

Moreover, EU climate legislation—such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and emissions trading system—relies on member states moving in tandem. A Germany that abandons renewables, extends coal, and refuses carbon pricing would create regulatory gaps and enforcement challenges, potentially slowing down green finance flows and cross-border energy infrastructure projects like interconnectors and hydrogen corridors.

For expatriates, investors, and businesses in Portugal with ties to German markets or supply chains, the AfD's rise introduces a new variable: political uncertainty that could affect everything from industrial input costs to the attractiveness of German partnerships in clean technology sectors.

A Party Competing for Power

The AfD is currently vying for votes with Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), positioning itself as the defender of "rational" energy policy against what it calls ideological green overreach. The party has succeeded in polarizing public discourse, framing climate action as economically ruinous and culturally elitist, even though it remains in opposition.

Despite lacking government authority, AfD's rhetoric has already influenced debate, making it harder for centrist parties to implement ambitious climate measures without facing populist backlash. The party's Cottbus meeting and the subsequent policy release are part of a broader strategy to consolidate support in eastern Germany, where energy costs and industrial decline are acute concerns.

Yet the path from manifesto to reality is steep. The German Federal Government has actively worked to block any Nord Stream restart, and the European Commission has signaled zero tolerance for backsliding on climate commitments. The investigation into the pipeline sabotage, meanwhile, continues to implicate Ukrainian nationals, complicating AfD's narrative and exposing the party's alignment with Russian energy interests.

The European Context

While Germany debates its energy future, the rest of Europe is moving ahead. Spain is targeting 100% renewable electricity by 2050. Sweden maintains one of the world's highest carbon taxes without harming economic growth. Poland is transitioning away from coal despite historical reliance. Even France, a nuclear stalwart, is expanding renewable capacity alongside its atomic fleet.

The AfD's vision would reverse this trajectory, substituting diversification with renewed dependence on imported fossil fuels and resurrecting infrastructure that the continent has spent years weaning itself off. For Portugal and other EU members, the stakes are clear: Germany's energy choices will shape the continent's climate credibility, economic resilience, and geopolitical posture for decades to come.