(Virtual Parliament)

211th Session of German Parliament

Bonn, February 25, 1994

Page 3 of 10

Our colleague Heribert Scharrenbroich will speak next.

Heribert Scharrenbroich (CDU/CSU):

Mrs. Speaker! My esteemed colleagues! Just for the record - something else would most certainly be rejected by us all -: the Bundestag is not deciding on art today. We are only deciding if art should be presented on this monument of German history. Only this permission is being dealt with today, nothing else.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the F.D.P. and SPD MPs.)

I would like, my dear colleague Mr. Hirsch, to also consider your arguments. You say that you are surprised that the arbitrariness of the arguments here is simply accepted. I believe that it is thus so typical for a work of art that the audience, the viewers, those who are impressed by art, they have the right to also interpret the work of art differently than the artist himself has done.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the SPD, F.D.P., PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

How often have we interpreted the poems of the old Goethe and certainly interpreted a lot into them that he had not thought of at all. That is indeed the right of one who deals with art. I thank my colleague Mr. Hirsch also for the fact that he also considered the history which is tied to this building. Even if I would gladly express my enthusiasm for this work of art as speaker for the indeed considerable amount of Union representatives who are for this project,
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the SPD, F.D.P., PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

although I would happily speak about the aesthetic, I would like to express as a politician which interest we should have as German Bundestag that the this wrapping takes place. One can certainly present what a great utility the wrapping has for us to the doubters in the populace, for parliamentiaranism, for Germany and for Berlin. One can attach it to the question which is always asked again, most probably today also, Mr. Hirsch also said it: why not the Houses of Parliament, why not the Capitol?
(Acclamation from the F.D.P.: Why not the Brandenburg Gate?)

In the first place, the artist has to suggest the object himself,
(Applause from the SPD MPs)

and it is not for us to suggest to him what he should wrap and what he thinks is adequate for his art.
(Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers [CDU/CSU]: But we can say no!)

- We can say no, naturally. That is up for debate today. Colleague Rüttgers, considering that you have now interjected this, I would like to also deal with another objection from our colleague Mr. Hirsch, I also regret, that today, with regard to this question, which we should actually be discussing withsomewhat more lightness, we have been forced into a roll-call vote by those opposing the project. I do not think this is good.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU and the F.D.P., as well as from the SPD, PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

Maybe we should also deliberate on this stylistic question during the vote.
(Hans Klein [Munich] [CDU/CSU]: Who contributed this proposal then?, Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers [CDU/CSU]: Who began then?

- It is certainly our right to consider the artist's thoughts. Mr. Rüttgers, this also serves the reputation of this parliament.
(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

I would also like to clear up another misunderstanding. It is often asked: Does the German Parliament have nothing better to do? One could argue the point. But I would like to make it clear that all supporters were of the opinion that the steering committee should decide. It was those who rejected the project who were of the opinion that we should debate here. We can look at it that way.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the F.D.P., the SPD, PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

It is certainly good that one is of the opinion that one should expound why one is for or against it in public. We are now using this opportunity.
(Hans Klein [Munich] [CDU/CSU]: ... and then wait!)

First. Why not the other parliament buildings? - Only the Reichstag is the parliament-building of a state which has overcome its division.
(Gerhard Reddemann [CDU/CSU]: And for that reason we have to cover it up?)

That is why it is so interesting for me that this building be wrapped. That is precisely Christo's thought, Christo, who fled from the East, who wants to wrap this building because it stands on the border between east and west. In my opinion, we should show him our openness.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the F.D.P., the SPD, PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

This building now finds itself on the turntable between east and west. I also say: this parliament embodies as nothing else highs and lows on the path to democracy. Particularly in the current dramatic situation, in which the eastern and middle European countries are struggling to build democracy, is it possible to demonstrate with this example how difficult it is to achieve democracy. The wrapping will be a grand opportunity for us to discuss parliamentarianism and to invite our citizens to discuss parliamentarianism with us. We should not let this chance slip by.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, the F.D.P., the SPD, PDS/Linke Liste and BÜNDNISS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

We should remember - that will occur during this time, but it has already happened before - the parliament wrested democracy from the monarchy in the Reichstag, that the brown despots muzzled democracy in it and that history was wriiten in it which in turn became the basis of our law, one of the best constitutions in the world. These experiences are concentrated in this building. That is why I say, clear the way, dear colleagues, so that our citizens can come square with our history, so that they will be invited to look it, if they are forced to do this by the rest of the world. For those of us who support the project, the world will not come to an end if the decision today were to be negative. We are discussing if art should be permitted. That is why I also ask that the opponents come to terms more quietly with these arguments.
(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

We should give Germany and Berlin the chance to return to the world stage of art. Maybe this is the reason why all governing mayors of Berlin, whether Social Democrats or Christian Democrats, have committed themselves to this project. We should take notice of this.
(Applause form the CDU/CSU and SPD MPs, the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as from PDS/Linke Liste MPs)

The enthusiasm, which actually developed for all of Christo's works after they were completely executed, which also embraced those opposing them -
(Peter Conradi [SPD]: True!)

just think of the story of the Pont Neuf - that should give us something to think about. Dear colleagues, we should anticipate this somewhat, that should be a lesson to us and we should allow ourselves to somewhat infected with this enthusiasm. One has to just imagine how this building will appear in the light after the wrapping. Plastic foil will not be used. Permit mit to take the liberty of showing you the material. With the material that I have here in my hand - it is transparent - the building will be wrapped in a very dignified form.
(Applause from the SPD MPs).

I will gladly pass it around so that you can touch it. Ladies and gentlemen, particularly with respect to this decision which stands before us, it is still fantastic to see how the main lines of the Reichstag building become distinct because of this wrapping. Whoever looks at the model of the Reichstag building will see how much it still lacks and what a block there is that remains. I want to misuse my pleading for the Christo project in order to ask you to look at the models and think over if it is not obvious that something is missing. Just after I looked at Christo's models I became an enthuasiastic supporter of the view that the Reichstag building needs a dome again so that it does not stand around so clumsily in the world. One can also use this work of art for that.
(Applause from CDU/CSU and SPD MPs)

Ladies and gentlemen, I am asking you to please give us Germans the chance to upgrade the Reichstag again and to increase the public's interest for Reichstag even more. My sincere thanks.
(Applause from the CDU/CSU, F.D.P., SPD, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as PDS/Linke Liste MPs)

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Translation © 1995 M. S. Cullen

Foto: Aleks Perkovic © Wolfgang Volz