Referendum Fails To Attract Enough Voters

Supporters of Berlin's Tempelhof Airport say they won't give up fighting to preserve the historic field, even after a weekend referendum fell short of requiring the government to reconsider its decision to close the airport.

Over 530,000 people cast ballots in the referendum, reports The Associated Press, and of those voters a decided majority wanted to keep Tempelhof open. Despite what sounds like a relatively strong turnout, however, that number represented just 21.7 percent of the city's 2.4 million eligible voters; for the results to be binding, at least 25 percent of voters needed to cast ballots.

On Monday, Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit -- who opposes efforts to keep Tempelhof open -- called the referendum a success, and urged Tempelhof voters to "respect the majority" of residents who either didn't support the airport, or who stayed away from the polls entirely (a rarely-heard political endorsement for voter apathy -- Ed.)

As ANN reported, Wowereit wants to close Tempelhof and shift air traffic to a new international airport at the edge of Berlin. Supporters counter the airport has historical significance -- Tempelhof was the staging base for Allied operations during the 1948 Berlin Airlift -- and today provide necessary travel alternatives for residents. Tempelhof is a short distance from downtown Berlin.

In a message on its website, the Society for the Protection of City Airport Tempelhof reiterated calls for federal and local lawmakers to meet with airline representatives and Berlin residents, to end what it termed a "political standoff."

Local politician Friedbert Pflueger, leader of the conservative Christian Democrats in Berlin, criticized Wowereit's resolve to close Tempelhof, and the lack of a plan to redevelop the field while preserving its historic, Third Reich-era horseshoe terminal.

"He has up to today provided no concept for an alternative use" of the airfield, Pflueger said.

Those who want Tempelhof closed say the airport's time has passed... and while the airport was needed in the time Berlin was split in two, today there's little need for a downtown airport.

FMI: www.berlin-airport.de/EN/index.html