Berlin’s Rosa Luxemburg memorial at risk due to cemetery construction delays
The annual commemoration of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht at Berlin's Friedrichsfelde cemetery is facing uncertainty due to ongoing construction. Despite the Left Party's efforts, the event's future remains unclear.
The cemetery's forecourt is currently an active construction site, with only a small section of the forecourt paved with new cobblestones and the main entrance locked. The Left Party has submitted a motion for the district assembly meeting on November 20, calling for the commemoration to be ensured despite the ongoing construction. However, the Lichtenberg District Office stated that a safe, large-scale temporary solution cannot be implemented in time for January 2026. Ellen Brombacher of the LL Demo Alliance alerted officials to the ongoing construction issues before the district office responded. No permits have been issued for information and vendor stalls, signaling that organizers are being turned away. The Left Party's state manager in Berlin, Bjoern Thielebein, finds it incomprehensible that there should be no stalls this year. Access to the cemetery is currently limited to a narrow footpath leading through a smaller gate to the left of the main entrance, alongside an equally tight vehicle access lane. Previously, tram track construction work on Gudrunstraße restricted access in January 2025, but this work has now been completed.
The Left Party plans to vote on a resolution at its party conference this Saturday, aimed at guaranteeing that both the silent commemoration and demonstrations can take place. The district assembly will decide on November 20 whether alternative access and security measures can be organized to ensure the event goes ahead as planned.
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