German Upper House Votes For Berlin

Thirteen of Germany's 16 regional states represented in the Bundesrat backed the proposal to move to Berlin later this decade reversing their decision five years ago to stay in Bonn.

If the federal government, the Chancellor, the President and the Bundestag work in Berlin, then the Bundesrat must work there too purely as a matter of self-respect, Bernhard Vogel, the premier of Thueringen state, said.

But Bonn's mayor Baerbel Dieckmann, fighting to maintain a high profile for the city after the government move, said she was extremely disappointed that the Upper House failed to keep its promise to stay.

Bundesrat members have complained that the Upper House would lose influence if it stayed behind in Bonn, while the 672-member Lower House moved to the seat of government in Berlin, 600 km away.

Many argue it would also be a waste of money if officials had to shuttle between the two cities.