(Virtual Parliament)

211th Session of German Parliament

Bonn, February 25, 1994

Page 10 of 10

The last one to speak in the debate is our colleague Freimut Duve.

Freimut Duve (SPD):

Mrs. Speaker! Dear colleagues! All in all, a good debate. But Mr. Schäuble, you have broadened the dimension by speaking about this subject in terms of nationalism. If the arguments which you have presented and the warnings which you have expressed were to be taken earnestly, we would not be allowed to rebuiild the Reichstag.
(Applause from the SPD and BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN MPs)

It would have to remain exactly as it stands, untouched by builders, untouched by architectural plans. That would then be the symbol of the wounds of our history. The soft signal that can come from the wrapping and that each interprets differently - Peter Conradi said it - is certainly also an answer to the wounds of our history, colleague Schäuble.

(Peter Conradi [SPD]: He does not discuss, he only preaches!)

I do not think we have the right to super-elevate it the way Mr. Schäuble has done here.

(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as CDU/CSU and PDS/Linke Liste MPs)

We are going into a new Reichstag building: We have a highly interesting proposal. For me as a politician there is a basic element in this interesting proposal. I have reviewed all of Christo's projects. There was passionate opposition everywhere. Frequently, this passionate opposition, such as in the city of Paris, was exactly as excessive as the passion of Mr. Schäuble this morning. Thereafter, there was passionate but relaxed, cheerful, amiable endorsement from everyone, even from the critics.

(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as CDU/CSU and F.D.P. MPs)

To us Germans, this moment - this only concerns a short moment in our history -

(Parliamentary Undersecretary of State Horst Günther: undignified!)

this moment of relaxedness, this moment of cheerful association does us somewhat good. It will also do the world good to get such a symbol from us,

(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as CDU/CSU and F.D.P. MPs)

that we can function in such a relaxed manner with such a thing. These are other images in the television archives than those about Rostock and Mölln which are taken out when Germany is reported on. That is another image, a good image. Mr. Schäuble, it is frequently the opposite with politicians. We mobilise the people for our visions and ideas - Mr. Kohl knows what I'm talking about - and if the ideas are realized, the people are disappointed. The people were never disappointed with Christo; they were were always impressed.

(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN as well as CDU/CSU and F.D.P. MPs)

This is exactly what we will achieve. I am thus asking those, who have just said, Schäuble has hit my democratic-patriotic chord: Think it over a bit more. Let us approach the question calmly.

(Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl: Yes!)

Let us attain a new German democratic composure with a great symbol for 14 days.

(Eduard Oswald [CDU/CSU]: We will vote no with great composure!)

Then we will go into the new reconstructed Reichstag with great pleasure and great earnestness , when we form the government, Mr. Chancellor.

(Applause from the SPD and the BÜNDNIS 90/DIEGRÜNEN as well as from F.D.P. and PDS/Linke Liste MPs , Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl: Very good! That was the best!)

Ladies and gentlemen, I am closing the debate. A declaration on the vote according to § 31 of the Rules of Parliamentary Order has been submitted by colleagues Lammert, Koschyk, Grüner, Bierling; Türk, Brecht, Schmidt (Fürth), Bühler (Bruchsal), von Stetten and Homburger.

We now come to a vote on the motion of parliamentary members Johannes Gerster, Heribert Scharenboich, Peter Kittelmann and additional parliamentary members with the title "Wrapped Reichstag , Project for Berlin", printed paper 12/6767

The CDU/CSU party has requested a roll-call vote. I open the vote.

- Has a member of the house not yet voted? - This is obviously the case.

- I am closing the vote. I am asking the secretary to begin counting the votes. The voting results will be officially announced later.

Final outcome

Votes casted: 525;
distribution:
yes: 292
no: 223
abstained: 9
invalid: 1

The motion has been passed

(Applause from the members of parliament of CDU/CSU, SPD, F.D.P., PDS/LINKE LISTE, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN and of MP Ulrich Briefs (independent) - Shout from the SPD: We have shown courage!)

---

---

Translation © 1995 M. S. Cullen

Foto: Aleks Perkovic © Wolfgang Volz