Minister presidents against referendum on the Basic Law

Woidke and Haseloff reject referendum

Minister presidents against referendum on the Basic Law

Doesn't think much of Article 146: Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Brandenburg.

(Photo: picture alliance/dpa)

Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow proposes abolishing the Basic Law and enacting a constitution instead. There is criticism of this plan from Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt.

The Minister Presidents of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, Dietmar Woidke and Reiner Haseloff, reject a referendum on the Basic Law. In a report by the magazine "Stern", they opposed a corresponding proposal by their colleague from Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow. "75 years after its promulgation, the aim should not be to hold a referendum on the Basic Law, but rather to continue to fill it with life, to respect and preserve it," said Haseloff according to the report.

Ramelow had pointed out in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that such a vote was already provided for in Article 146 of the Basic Law. The article limits the validity of the Basic Law to the day "on which a constitution comes into force that has been freely adopted by the German people". Such a step would help to overcome an "emotional alienation" towards the Basic Law in East Germany and was also necessary because there were many conspiracy theorists who deduced from Article 146 that the Federal Republic did not exist. This Thursday marks the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law, which refers to the promulgation of the Basic Law by the Parliamentary Council in 1949.

"There are still existing injustices between East and West that must finally be reduced," Woidke is quoted as saying by Stern magazine. "Not a single East German has anything to gain from referendums on Article 146 of the Basic Law." The Basic Law has been the basis for freedom, prosperity and development in Germany for 75 years. He considers the abolition of Article 146 to be the better way forward, said Woidke.

The Basic Law had also proven itself over decades in the East, Haseloff told Stern magazine. "We East Germans don't want to be considered at celebrations and speeches, but where decisions are made: for example in management positions in companies, committees and federal authorities." East Germans are still underrepresented here.