KLAUS WOWEREIT INTERVIEW - Wednesday 21st June, 2006
GEORGE NEGUS: Mr Mayor, thank you very much for your time
because I
realise you are a very busy man. How important is the World Cup in
showcasing what you think Germany has achieved or not achieved in the
last 16 years?
KLAUS WOWEREIT, BERLIN MAYOR (Translation): It is it a good
opportunity
for Germany to show the world how Germany looks 16 years after
reunification. In Berlin, especially, we have the chance to show the
world how East and West have grown together. We're looking forward to
this chance. It is a really great event for us.
GEORGE NEGUS: But there are still huge problems - political
problems,
social problems, economic problems. As I understand it, unemployment is
between 10% and 40% in different parts of the country. And you have
spent something like 1.25 trillion euros on the reunification process.
KLAUS WOWEREIT: You're quite right, the problems haven't yet
been
solved. There are big differences between what used to be East and West
Germany. There is very high unemployment in the East, 20% in some
places. The economic situation is worse in the East than in the West.
We will need the transfer payments the West currently gives the East
for the next few years. But Germany is growing together, more slowly
than we hoped, but what belongs together is growing together.
GEORGE NEGUS: 1.25 trillion euros is a lot of money, even for
a wealthy
nation like Germany. But Germany has been called "the sick man of
Europe" because of the amount of money that is being spent on aid to
the East. I mean, will it continue to be the sick man of Europe or will
Germany ever recover? I mean, is Berlin still in debt, is Germany still
in debt because of reunification?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: Many transfer payments have been made and a
lot are
still needed but in Germany is a rich industrial nation. We must find
this money and we can do it. Germany's economic problems are partially
linked to reunification but not wholly. We are undergoing a
restructuring process which we would have had to do even without
reunification. Our social security system needs changing. It is a very
difficult process. Enacting radical change requires courage and
resolve.
GEORGE NEGUS: A very strange government - to those of us
looking at
Germany at the moment, a very strange government, this grand coalition
between Angela Merkel and your party - the Social Democratic Party,
which is much further to her left. How in the heaven's name is that
going to make things easier? Is that going to make things more
difficult than they need to be, this strange coalition of left and
right?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: People here love grand coalitions because they
think
they solve grand problems. That can happen and it's what a grand
coalition strives for, but it is not automatic. In Germany the major
parties are too alike in many ways so there is a risk of their blocking
each other and making too many compromises. The grand coalition is on
probation. It has to solve major problems like the health system and
tax law. Time will tell whether the coalition with its big majority can
make big decisions or whether the parties will block each other and
pitiful compromise will be the result of big debate, or whether they
can really get something done.
GEORGE NEGUS: How would you do things differently if you were
leading
not just Berlin but Germany at the moment?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: It is hard to answer that because Angela
Merkel is a
conservative so she naturally has different policies from mine but I
would give greater emphasis to issues of social justice. I think
Germans are prepared for change, even if it hurts, but these changes
must be socially just, that is people with broad shoulders must be
given a bigger load than weaker people. If social justice is seen to be
done, tough measures will be accepted. At the moment the balance isn't
quite right. You can't just pursue pure business policies. Politicians
must also convince the broad majority of people, for example, on the
issue of tax, that a socially just solution is being found.
GEORGE NEGUS: On a personal note, that's really also a
political note,
you have been described as one of the most openly gay politicians in
the world. That famous quote - and I'm going to try and speak some
German here, which could be ridiculous. “Ich bin schwul und
das is auch gut so.” "I am gay and that's OK." Is that what
you actually said?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: Yes, that is the sentence what I said at my
nomination
by the nomination convention.
GEORGE NEGUS: So that is when you came out, as it were, when
you
nominated for this position?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: Yeah, that is true.
GEORGE NEGUS: Why did you feel that you needed to do that?
Because
politicians in many parts the world aren't quite so open about being
gay, if they are.
KLAUS WOWEREIT: I would prefer it not to be a talking point. I
wish
society was so tolerant that it made no difference whether a politician
is homosexual or heterosexual. But it was a special situation, and I
thought it more honest to pre-empt those people who might have
exploited it for their political propaganda. Outing myself made me less
open to attack. It was also to send a signal "That's how it is. I
needn't hide myself and I needn't justify myself. It is the most
natural thing that some people are different from the majority."
GEORGE NEGUS: Does it mean that Germans, and Berliners in
particular,
are very tolerant people?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: They are tolerant, especially Berliners, but I
have no
illusions. Having a gay mayor doesn't mean that all gays live free
lives. We have to work for tolerance every day. Even in an open and
tolerant society there are daily cases of discrimination at work, at
school, at the child care centre, in public life or within the family.
It still happens every day in Berlin. We must be alert and fight for an
open society every day. In Berlin we have come further than other
places, but we are not at the end of the process.
GEORGE NEGUS: So no doubt you want to be remembered more for
your
politics, your policies than your sexuality?
KLAUS WOWEREIT: Of course it is most important that the accent
be on
politics. We have worked hard for five years. Berlin was facing major
problems and, despite the calmness that I radiate, a lot of hard work
has been done here. It is really important to move Berlin forward. It
is a wonderful city but one which for centuries has had both good times
and bad. From now on we want only good times, and we're working hard on
it.
GEORGE NEGUS: It is wonderful to talk to you. Thank you very
much for
your time.
KLAUS WOWEREIT: Thank you very much. And all the best for your
team and
good luck for the championship.
GEORGE NEGUS: We hope Germany does well but not quite as well
as
Australia.
KLAUS WOWEREIT: OK, we will see.
GEORGE NEGUS: Thank you, Mr Mayor. Thanks for your time,
appreciate it.