Poll finds huge support for nuclear opt-out
A survey has found that 80 per cent of people approve of the government’s decision to phase out nuclear power in Switzerland by 2034.
The poll, published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper on Sunday, apparently shows the highest support yet for opting out of atomic energy.
In all, 503 people were surveyed by Isopublic between May 26 and May 28. The government announced its decision on May 25.
A previous poll, carried out two and a half months ago, shortly after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, found 74 per cent in favour of opting out.
Energy Minister Doris Leuthard has meanwhile said in an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag that atomic energy could not be ruled out in the future should nuclear fusion be successful and the advantages of atomic power prevail. She said that in any case Switzerland could not avoid nuclear power completely, as it would be importing electricity from elsewhere.
On Saturday Leuthard rejected criticism from business and the electricity industry over the opt-out, saying the industry had been sluggish and slow to invest in the electricity network.
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