Finland and Britain, and now Sweden, have paved the way for a renaissance of nuclear power. Sweden wants to end plans to phase out nuclear power, and has thereby rekindled debates in Germany. The Christian Democratic Union wants to extend the permits for existing nuclear power plants. The market-oriented Free Democrats is even open to building new plants. Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel, SPD, is adamantly opposed. He wants to stick to the plan to phase out nuclear energy by 2021. The CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, plan to end the phase-out if they win the 2009 parliamentary elections.