Perhaps the biggest winner in Germany’s election: nuclear power

Far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party nearly doubled its share of vote from the last election to secure a strong second -place finish.

Europe ’s largest economy shuttered its last reactors two years ago in what was meant to be an irreversible exit from atomic energy.

But surging energy prices and electricity demand are driving calls to revive Germany 's nuclear power industry.

AfD previously stood as the only party to oppose the phaseout pushed by everyone from the center-right, which initiated the shut-downs.