SPD Secures Control of Historic Reichstag Room
In a significant victory, the SPD’s Bundestag faction has successfully negotiated the allocation of the Otto-Wels room in the Reichstag building, a space named after the prominent Social Democratic politician who stood against National Socialism. The decision was made at a meeting of the Bundestag’s Ältestenrat on Thursday, according to Dirk Wiese, the First Parliamentary Business Manager of the SPD faction.
“We are very relieved that we can stay in the Otto-Wels room” Wiese told the Rheinische Post. “As we are once again a governing faction, we have a large number of participants from ministries and state representations attending our faction meetings, which is why we need the space.”
Not only the SPD faction, but also the family of Otto Wels, expressed relief at the outcome. Wels’ niece personally approached the faction, urging them to keep the room, which is a symbol of his courageous stand against National Socialism, from the AfD. Wiese was delighted to inform the niece over the phone that the room would remain under social democratic control.