Debate about the Kunsthaus Zürich – a hair-sharp decision on the controversial Bührle collection
A hair-sharp decision on the controversial Bührle collection
Center-right wanted to prevent a move in the cantonal council that demanded a complete research into the origin of Emil Bührle’s pictures. It was a nail-biter.
“Nazi admirers”, “hypocrites” – the buzzwords are not missing in Monday’s lively debate. A postulate from the AL, SP and Greens was on the agenda in the cantonal council. They demanded that the cantonal government support a complete, independent provenance research on pictures from the Bührle collection in the Zurich Kunsthaus.
And there was almost a no. The advance was approved with 83:82 votes.
The GLP makes it exciting
Initially, it looked like a clear no, because the GLP spokeswoman had announced that her party had decided to allow voting after controversial discussions. If several Green Liberals had rejected the initiative, a rejection would have been sealed. Shortly before the vote, however, GLP Group President Michael Zeugin (Winterthur) intervened and spoke out in favor of a yes. In the end, only a green liberal presses the no button.
SVP/EDU, FDP and the center voted negatively, while the GLP majority SP, Greens, EVP and AL voted in favor. A social democrat voted no by mistake, which temporarily increased the tension, especially since a few opponents were still in the foyer during the vote.
“We also demand a complete clarification, but this is already on track.”
While SVP spokesman Rochus Burtscher (Dietikon) spoke of a populist initiative and Lorenz Habicher (SVP, Zurich) had fundamental concerns (“completely is probably not possible”), Sonja Rueff (FDP, Zurich) explained the rejection of her party differently. “We also demand complete clarification, but this has already been done,” she said. The postulate is therefore superfluous. Like said the spokeswoman for the middle.
In fact, the city of Zurich, the canton and the Kunsthaus have taken steps to clarify the origin of all pictures from the collection of Emil Bührle, who had made his money, among other things, from arms deals with Nazi Germany. “The Kunsthaus should become a world leader in provenance research,” confirmed government councilor Jacqueline Fehr (SP).
Criticism of the Kunsthaus
Nevertheless, postulant Judith Stofer (AL, Zurich) wanted to double. Although the Zurich municipal council already 500,000 francs spokenshe said. But the canton is also challenged, as it has a seat on the board of directors of the Kunsthaus-Gesellschaft. Stofer spoke the «disastrous press conference» from last December, which – according to Stofer – teemed with “historical blindness” and at which “untruths” were conveyed by those responsible at the Kunsthaus.
Fellow postulant Sibylle Marti (SP, Zurich) also criticized the Kunsthaus Society’s “reluctant attitude towards learning”. The public has the right to be informed, she said. The third fellow postulant, Selma L’Orange Seigo (Greens), put it this way: “There is no such thing as black and white, but that shouldn’t be a free pass to look the other way.”
Pascal Unternurer is an editor in the Zurich Politics & Economy department. Since 2012 he has been reporting primarily on political issues from the city and canton of Zurich. Before that, he worked exclusively for the Winterthur “Landbote” for 12 years.
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