Looking back: Lively exchange at participatory talks on the future of the Basic Law
Live recording for the new podcast episodes "In good shape? The Basic Law for tomorrow"
At the beginning of September, the Stiftung Forum Recht and the podcast radio station detektor.fm to two interactive panel discussions in Leipzig. The evening focused on the question: "35 years of the Peaceful Revolution: Was a historic opportunity to create a common constitution missed?"
Podcast host Rabea Schloz took to the podium in the Foundation's offices to discuss the issue with three guests from the worlds of justice and politics. The audience had the opportunity to participate with questions and by voting. The talks took place as part of the joint podcast series "In good shape? The Basic Law for Tomorrow" by detektor.fm and the Stiftung Forum Recht. You can listen to the talks in the next episode, which will be released on September 25.
A self-determined reunification
Rabea Schloz first looked at the situation together with the legal scholar Prof. Dr. Alexander Thiele and the lawyer Prof. Dr. Maria Wersig and in a second interview with Markus Meckel, theologian and the first freely elected Foreign Minister of the GDR (1990), looked back on the events of 1989/1990 and the negotiations surrounding German reunification. In addition to personal memories, the conversation focused intensively on the question of why no new common constitution was developed at the time and what consequences this political decision has had to this day.
The desire to join the FRG as quickly as possible was a consensus at the time and was democratically desired by the citizens of the GDR, emphasized Prof. Dr. Alexander Thiele, referring to the results of the Volkskammer elections in March 1990.
Markus Meckel also saw the election results of March 1990 as a strong mandate for rapid unification. In conversation with Rabea Schloz, he provided insights into the democratization processes, from his own involvement in the founding of the Social Democratic Party SDP in 1989 to the negotiations of the Central Round Table. He emphasized: "We entered German unity with self-confidence and self-determination. I want this to be recognized more strongly in the culture of remembrance."
Prof. Dr. Maria Wersig described the reunification as formative for everyone in her generation, a time that was associated with major economic upheavals: "There was no roadmap." East and West are still unequally represented in many areas and have still not caught up economically.
Have we overcome the division into East and West?
Host Rabea Schloz used two rounds of voting to gather the opinion of the audience during the talks. The question of whether the division into East and West had now been overcome was answered in the negative by the vast majority. The majority of those present agreed that an opportunity to create a common constitution had been missed. A more active involvement of the citizens could have created a sense of identity, according to a comment from the audience.
Was the opportunity for a common constitution missed?
The fact that there was no public debate about the Basic Law as an all-German constitution back then has had repercussions to this day, Markus Meckel also said: "I believe this has led to many people being hurt to this day." He had taken the position of going through the Basic Law together once again. Nevertheless, he personally concluded that he would not want to swap constitutions with any country.
Rabea Schloz and her guests not only looked back, but also towards the future. Both Maria Wersig and Alexander Thiele mentioned strengthening and safeguarding the Federal Constitutional Court as an important point. Both also advocated an active discussion practice on political issues.
The conversations to listen to
You can hear more from the conversations from September 25 in the 9th and penultimate podcast episode of "In good shape? The Basic Law for tomorrow" and in the last episode on October 9. You can watch all episodes here on the website or listen to it wherever podcasts are available.
The podcast
This year, the Basic Law turns 75 and celebrates its 35th anniversary in a reunified Germany. Our live podcast "In good shape? The Basic Law for tomorrow" explores the question: What is the state of the Basic Law and its status in German society? What threatens it from outside, what from within - from the consequences of climate change to infiltration by right-wing extremists. How can it be better protected, but also shaped? And what role do the rule of law and the Basic Law actually play in our everyday lives? Since May 8, 2024, we have been publishing a total of ten episodes every two weeks, which we develop together with the podcast radio station detektor.fm.
The episodes bundle the results of the discussions thematically and are thus a new, independent experience for the participants and first-time listeners. You can find all episodes on our Website and wherever podcasts are available.
