The naming ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, together with the federal government's Autobahn GmbH, which is responsible for naming the area on the border of the two districts of Bonn and Bad Godesberg. Bonn's Lord Mayor Katja Dörner and Willi Kolks, Head of the Cologne branch office of Autobahn GmbH, performed the inauguration in the presence of numerous guests - including Stefan Hagenberg, Head of the Bonn branch office of the Federal Highway Authority, Jochen Reeh-Schall, District Mayor of Bonn, and Gabriel Kunze, Deputy District Mayor of Bad Godesberg.
Mayor Dörner: "We must protect and shape democracy together"
The Basic Law, which was proclaimed 75 years ago in Bonn in the final session of the Parliamentary Council, forms the basis of social coexistence in Germany: "The rule of law, human rights and democracy were negotiated in Bonn and have repeatedly proven their reliability in the face of social upheaval and political crises over the past decades. Democracy is the best basis for our coexistence. Protecting and shaping it is a joint task for our future in peace, freedom and mutual respect! We want to take on this special responsibility from our city's role as the cradle of the Basic Law," emphasized Mayor Katja Dörner. She was pleased "that by naming this square, we are also expressing the importance of the Basic Law for Bonn and our democracy on the city map." At the same time, she thanked all those involved for their good and constructive cooperation.
"We need to stand up for our Basic Law! The inauguration of the Basic Law Square is a strong commitment to democracy and the rule of law - and the federal government's Autobahn GmbH is happy to contribute its land to this cause," said Willi Kolks.
Wing walls of the bridge structure are designed
The celebratory speech was given by well-known cabaret artist Rainer Pause (Pantheon). In the coming weeks, Andrew Friedrich and Lukas Zimmermann, students at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter, will be working with Autobahn GmbH to artistically design the wing walls of the bridge structure at Platz des Grundgesetzes. The two young men presented their project together with the Rector of Alanus University, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Pieper. Andrew Friedrich and Lukas Zimmermann explained that their design focuses on the diversity of people and their equal rights enshrined in the Basic Law. The words Platz des Grundgesetzes will also appear on the highway walls.
By the way: Originally, the Platz des Grundgesetzes was commonly called "Platz der Vereinten Nationen" (United Nations Square). However, this name has belonged to the square in front of the UN Campus, between the buildings of the World Conference Center Bonn, for several years now. Naming the square Platz des Grundgesetzes will therefore also lead to clarity in communication and orientation in Bonn.