During the private session held on 17 June 1990 by GDR People’s Chamber, the coalition partner DSU submitted a draft providing the annexation of the GDR into the territory of FRG under article 23 of the Basic Law of the FRG. This vital submission, which is described as the end of the GDR, has been put on the agenda by a two-thirds majority.
With regards to that development, it has been stated that if the draft is adopted, the GDR Council of Ministers will be repealed because the Basic Law recognizes only one council. Furthermore, it has been stated that President de Maizière3 will have to lay down his office on the same day and this office will be taken over by Chancellor Kohl4.
While advising to be calm and cautious, President de Maizière has explained that he also supports an early annexation. However, it was pointed out that a second unification treaty including the general conditions should be made beforehand. Moreover, the need for federal states to also be established in the GDR before the annexation has been underlined.
It has been asserted that in case of the adoption of GDR’s draft, this will be a “fait accompli” and 2+4 meetings will no longer be needed. SPD Parliamentary Leader Richard Schröder5 argued that political union should be made through agreement with the “super powers”. CDU/DA Chief Negotiator of the Financial, Economic and Social Unification Treaty Günther Krause6 noted that the annexation should be carried out in the summer and the annexation procedure will be determined by the second unification treaty.
According to Krause, this second unification treaty will enter into force following the election which will be held for the whole of Germany on the 2nd or 16th of December in 1990. Before that, GDR federal state elections will be held on 23 September 1990.
The draft has been referred to the Constitutional Committee and the Inter-German Committee by a two-thirds majority.