It was a close vote: 338-320. Defenders of the status quo called Berlin a symbol of past arrogance, aggression and failure, while Bonn, said Labor Minister Norbert Bluem, was “connected with the longest peaceful chapter of our history.” Berlin advocates asked how a great nation in the heart of the “new Europe” could be governed from a university town turned “provisional” capital in 1949. “Germany doesn’t need a capital just for cocktail parties,” scoffed former chancellor Willy Brandt.
Berlin will have to wait a while longer. It could take 10 years to move all of Germany’s ministries. By then arriving bureaucrats may have to compete with another incoming population: Berlin plans to bid for the year 2000 Summer Olympics.
