The extensive refurbishment of the parliament took a long time – longer than expected. Finally, on Thursday, the time had come: the Haus am Ring officially opened its doors, and the new section was celebrated with a dignified ceremony and musical accompaniment by the Philharmonic, choir boys and choir girls.
Sobotka, who has been responsible for the conversion in recent years, said at the start in the historic meeting room, visibly proud: “We have our house back.” He thanked everyone who helped to implement “this project of the century”.
He also thanked one of his predecessors in office, the late Barbara Prammer (SPÖ), who commissioned the conversion, and the second President of the National Council, Doris Bures (SPÖ), who tackled the implementation “courageously”. The architects and the parliamentary administration also received Sobotka’s praise and thanks “with deep respect”.
Memory of Prammer
“Political awareness creates its own space,” says Sobotka. Parliament is the structural heart of democracy for all Austrians. Mutual respect and appreciation should characterize the debates in Parliament. “Our house gives democracy a home and identity,” said the President of the National Council in his short opening speech, which was greeted with much applause.
Five years of parliamentary restructuring
In the five years of renovation work, craftsmen, restorers, preservationists and the parliamentary administration have had a lot to do. On the one hand, the architects followed Theophil Hansen’s choice of materials, on the other hand, completely new functionalities were installed.
Federal Council President Günter Kovacs (SPÖ) also thanked everyone involved in the renovation, and he also recalled Prammer, who had given a “clear signal for parliamentarism”. This signal should now be carried on by the newly renovated house. Kovacs particularly emphasized the opening of the house, such as the new visitor center, which is an invitation for the citizens to participate. “I invite everyone to get an idea of our democracy,” said Kovacs.
Apprentices loaded
Bures recalled the loss of confidence that had occurred over the past five years. Therefore, now that the parliament building has been refurbished, a thorough restoration of trust in democracy and its institutions is needed.
The Second President of the National Council applauded a special group of guests she had invited to the ceremony: the apprentices who were involved in the renovation. “This would not have been possible without you, so you have our respect and appreciation,” said Bures.
Parliament
The parliament was built according to plans by Theophil Hansen between 1874 and 1883. After being severely damaged in World War II, it was rebuilt by the architects Fellerer & Wörle by 1956. At that time, the new meeting room of the National Council was built.
The Third National Council President Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) emphasized that the house will now be handed over to the sovereign, the citizens. Very few would have wanted to be a politician as a child. But it is a great honor and obligation to the people. It is about listening attentively and respecting other opinions, the overall well-being is in the foreground. “The overall well-being of a democracy arises from lively discussion, but also from emotional disputes,” says Hofer. It is also important to be able to change your mind from time to time.
Schäuble: “A cultural monument”
The speech that followed was given by the guest of honor of the day, the former President of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble. It is a great honor for him to be able to speak in Vienna, the home of Karl Popper. “The reopening of this grandiose parliament building, undoubtedly a cultural monument, is also a celebration of parliamentarism, of democracy. According to Germany’s longest-serving member of the Bundestag, he remembers the parliamentary move from Bonn to Berlin well. Therefore, he knew that this undertaking deserves credit.
Now people are living in “permanent crisis mode”, but there is also a crisis in democracy. Citizens withdraw their trust in their political representatives, vote for populist simplifications or turn away completely: “That goes to the core of our democracy.” Of course, not only solutions that sound good should be presented.
Speech by Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU)
The former President of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), gave the speech at the reopening of the Austrian Parliament.
Complaints about democracy are not new, rather as old as democracy itself. However, crises do not automatically lead to decline, sometimes they also lead to necessary adjustments. “Crises are therefore always opportunities.” According to Schäuble, the motto “Semper reformanda” – the need for constant innovation – can also be applied to democracy.
He also spoke out against automatic negative attributions and indirectly took sides with conservative positions, for example on the issue of written gender. Finally, Schäuble congratulated the Austrian representatives on the new house and wished them “many brilliant debates”.
Lots of onlookers
The event featured numerous prominent current and past dignitaries. In addition to the federal government, members of the National Council and the EU, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, ex-Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein, ex-Chancellor Franz Vranitzky (SPÖ) and ex-Chancellor Wolfgang Bowl (ÖVP) were also present. Former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ) also took a seat in the meeting room, and his successor as FPÖ leader, Herbert Kickl, had to pass on Thursday due to illness.
Sobotka also invited a number of representatives from abroad to the ceremony. In addition to Schäuble, high-ranking parliamentary representatives from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary also took part. Diplomatic representatives from all 26 other EU countries were also invited, as well as those from the Schengen area. Unlike the Ambassador of Ukraine, that of Russia was not invited.
New technology and accessibility
The starting signal for the renovation was given in the summer of 2017, but the planned opening had been postponed several times due to the pandemic. Now the National Council, the Federal Council and the employees of Parliament are returning to the Theophil-Hansen-Bau on the Ring. A total of 55,000 square meters of net floor space was renovated in the listed building, 40,000 square meters of floors were demolished and re-laid together with the technical installations, 740 windows and 600 doors were renovated and 500 chandeliers were refurbished.
TV notice
ORF III shows the documentary “Pillar of Democracy – History of Parliament” on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
The floor space has been increased by 10,000 square meters with new rooms and a 1,500 square meter visitor center on the ground floor. Also new are 800 square meters of gastronomy space and four terraces with a total area of 400 square meters.
Safety technology and infrastructure have been improved. It is also said that a high level of accessibility has been taken care of. 1.8 million euros was also provided for art in parliament – and not just with a rented, gold-decorated Bösendorfer grand piano. The highlight of the conversion is of course the large glass dome over the plenum.
Open days and tour of the federal states
Finally, the club representatives of the parliamentary groups August Wöginger (ÖVP), Pamela Rendi-Wagner (SPÖ), Sigrid Maurer (Greens) and Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) spoke on Thursday. Kickl was represented by Erwin Angerer (FPÖ). The importance of parliamentarism and the desire for respectful interaction with one another were also emphasized.
But even after the official ceremony, the celebrations continue. Citizens can visit Parliament on Saturday and Sunday. The starting gun will also be fired for the touring exhibition “Parliament on Tour”. The interactive exhibition on parliamentarianism and democracy will be traveling to the nine federal states starting next week, starting in Eisenstadt.
