The state elections absolutely played a part in it, but there were indeed heavy protests too. See for example (article in German): https://www.welt.de/politik/d

The state elections absolutely played a part in it, but there were indeed heavy protests too. See for example (article in German): https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article12970772/Hunderttausende-demonstrieren-gegen-Atomkraft.html https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article12970772/Hund...