Kohl Makes Post-Scandal Appearance in Parliament

Helmut Kohl appeared Friday in Parliament for the first time since a financial scandal involving his party broke in November, a comeback timed to coincide with an anniversary linked to his greatest achievement: German unification.

The majority of Germans, however, felt that the ex-chancellor should have stayed home: a Forsa poll released Friday found that 73% of the 1,003 people surveyed opposed Kohl’s return. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 3%.

Although he wasn’t scheduled to speak, all attention focused on the statesman--who led Germany for 16 years--as he walked into Parliament on the 10th anniversary of the first democratic parliamentary elections in Communist East Germany. That election opened the way for Germany’s unification.

Kohl took his seat Friday in the Reichstag’s third row--one row farther back than usual. His seat was changed because of a leadership shake-up in his Christian Democratic Union that was sparked by the scandal.

Friday was the first time since Nov. 24 that Kohl took his Parliament seat.

By returning for the commemoration rather than for a floor debate, Kohl avoided direct criticism from Parliament members.

He was given a cool reception by fellow party members, some of whom were clearly trying to make an awkward moment seem like just another day at the Reichstag, the new seat of Parliament.

Kohl has given up the honorary chairmanship of the Christian Democrat Union but still holds his seat in the Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament. Kohl has insisted that he will keep his seat to maintain the legal immunity granted Parliament members.

The ex-chancellor is facing criminal and parliamentary investigations in connection with the scandal, which has grown from Kohl’s initial admissions of accepting illegal donations to reveal an entire system of corrupt practices by the Christian Democrats during Kohl’s 25 years as party chairman.