The unprecedented blackout that struck mainland Spain and Portugal earlier this week has reignited the cultural and political battle over the future of nuclear energy, El Pais reported.

The Spanish-language daily said Spain’s current energy roadmap – endorsed by the European Commission – outlines a gradual phaseout of the country’s five commercial nuclear power plants.

However, the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox have long championed nuclear power and vehemently oppose the government’s decommissioning plans.