Work on the extension to the Federal Chancellery, which was decided years ago, begins. At a time when citizens are anxious about the winter, this is at least instinctive. The question these days also applies to the 800 million building: does it have to be now?
The Federal Chancellery is called the "Federal Washing Machine" in Berlin jargon, because that's what the clumsy, angular building with the round window facade looks like from afar. The architect sees it as a work of art, those who work in it as an undersized office building.
That is why a kind of second chancellery was planned and decided years ago. Then you get all the chancellery officials under one roof, and the German chancellor isn't supposed to live under the sofa like Hempel's. The costs are now estimated at almost 800 million euros, and the work has started.
800 million euros for a government building. Since probably everyone swallows. Right now?
It's almost unbelievable that apparently no one at government headquarters asked themselves: What kind of impression is that making these days? What does a decision like this do to the citizens? It's called politics to think like that. Or call it instinct, flair, maybe even compassion.
But no. In the face of a winter that is worrying and scaring millions of people in the country, the Federal Chancellor, seemingly unperturbed, has such a mega-government building begin. He should have asked himself: Does this really have to be the case now?
That is precisely the question that is being asked in almost every German household: does it have to be now? The winter vacation? The new couch? The new TV?
"Does this really have to be now?" is the question that stands like no other for this crisis, in which so many should or have to save because otherwise there would not be enough money for heating, eating and driving. And in many households in the near future it will be: No, it doesn't have to be now, we can postpone it, we have to do without it for the time being.
The Chancellor, who by no means comes from a wealthy background, knows that too. But he doesn't act on it. The visible and alert feeling for the needs of the people is missing. That's terribly aloof.
