German President's summer interview held in Bonn amid Berlin residence renovations

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently conducted his summer interview at the Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn, evoking a sense of the "Bonner Republik," the era when Bonn served as the capital of West Germany.

The interview took place at the Villa Hammerschmidt, the president's second official seat, as the primary residence, Schloss Bellevue in Berlin, is undergoing significant renovations. This classical building on the Rhine has housed German presidents since 1950. Steinmeier noted that the Villa Hammerschmidt now serves a similar symbolic function to Schloss Bellevue during Germany's division, representing the hope for reunification.

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It was the stone memory that we do not give up the hope of reunification.

Schloss Bellevue, after German reunification, became the president's primary residence. However, it is now facing extensive construction work expected to last up to eight years. The estimated cost for these renovations is 601 million euros, with an additional 259 million euros allocated for unforeseen risks and potential cost increases.

Due to the ongoing renovations, Steinmeier has temporarily relocated to an alternative accommodation in Berlin-Moabit. The interview, hosted by ZDF's "Berlin direkt" moderator Diana Zimmermann, highlighted the historical significance of the Villa Hammerschmidt as a backdrop to the current presidential activities.

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The Villa Hammerschmidt is today what Schloss Bellevue was in the years of German division, namely the second official seat of the head of state.