Germany – Stuttgart Station gets popular ‘Go!’

The construction of Stuttgart 21, the billion-Euros station project in the capital of Baden-Württemberg, can finally go ahead. Yesterday a 58,8 percent majority of the 7,6 million voters gave their green light.

For Winfried Kretschmar, the Green president of the southern German Land, the decision is difficult to swallow. He owes his position partly to his parties’ fierce  opposition against a project that, it has always argued, will turn the city centre into a construction site for years whilst putting a heavy demand on environment and public resources. 

The turnout was, with 48,3 percent, 10 % higher than average for popular votes. Surprisingly, even in Stuttgart, where people will experience most problems during construction, 52,9% voted in favour, whereas in “Green fortress” Freiburg, 66,5 percent voted against.

Kretschmann spoke of “a tough decision”, which he nevertheless will “accept” because “the people have spoken”. Government partner SPD (social democrats), and opposition leader CDU (Christian democrats) however, celebrated their victory. CDU leader Thomas Strobl told the TAZ with barely concealed glee, that Kretschmann „should explain the stubborn S21 adversaries, who have announced to continue their resistance, how democracy works”.