Sunday, June 13, 2010

Berlin's castle : victim of budget's cut

The construction site of the castle of Berlin will not begin before 2014. Tageszeitung reports, following the decision of the chancellor Angela Merkel to delay the works which had to begin at the beginning of 2011. The first effects of the rigor thus are to be seen on the culture programs. The chancellor justifies this decision, confirming that the country simply can't afford it. The project of reconstruction of the facade would cost up to 552 million euro, so is a very consequent budget. Impossible to reconcile this expense with budget cuts, according to the government. Indeed, Berlin announced on Monday to want to save 80 billion euro by 2014. The main savings will not be realized in the cultural domain, but in the social domain: the social budget will be amputated by 30 billion euro. The German chancellor announced cuttings in the social-security benefits, new taxes and job losses in the public service. But It's not the first polemic for Berlin's castle, far from there. Alternately symbol of former Prussia, and GDR, the ancient Palace of the Republic was closed following a contamination in the asbestos in 1990. After several years of procrastination on the future of the building, it had been decided to reconstruct the facade on the baroque model. For some people, it is the choice which privileges the Prussian inheritance to the East German inheritance. For the mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, member of the opposition, this decision to postpone the works is unacceptable: "It is the symbol of the poverty of this cultural policy". In the left of the left, on the other hand we are delighted of the news. An ex-assistant in the Cultural affairs of Berlin, member of the Left-wing party (Die Linke), says it is a precious time gained to think to alternative architectural projects. And ironically, there is indeed a castle on the place but only in picture. The information pavillon presenting the project of the Humboldt's forum which must be sheltered behind the litigious facade was made on time.

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