Energy New survey shows majority in favor of building new nuclear power plants

A majority of 53% support the Federal Council's plans to lift the ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland. This reveals a gender gap: Only 44 percent of women are in favor of the change of course compared to 63 percent of men.

This is the result of a new survey commissioned by "20 Minuten" and Tamedia and reported by the "SonntagsZeitung". The Federal Council reignited the debate on nuclear power plants at the end of August with its plan to lift the ban on new builds, after this had been approved by 58% of the electorate in 2027.

In the survey conducted from September 19 to 22, 43% of all participants stated that they opposed the construction of new nuclear power plants. No information was provided by 4 percent. This was a turnaround compared to a survey conducted from September 6 to 10, in which 51 percent were against new nuclear power plants.

In addition to the gender divide, the survey published on Sunday revealed the familiar right-left divide on nuclear energy. The Greens rejected the lifting of the ban on new builds with 81%, compared to 73% for the SP and 59% for the Green Liberals.

Centrist supporters tilt to the Yes camp

The center-ground supporters tipped into the Yes camp with 52 percent. Party President Gerhard Pfister had criticized the Federal Council's decision. The national government apparently did not want to accept the 2017 referendum. SVP supporters backed the lifting of the ban with 82% and FDP sympathizers with 77%.

The online survey was conducted from September 19 to 22, 2024 by the Leewas Institute on behalf of "20 Minuten" and Tamedia. 19,552 people from German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino took part. The sample error range is ±1.7 percentage points.

SDA