On April 23, 1998, after a seven-hour debate, the German Bundestag voted by a large majority for Germany’s accession to the European Monetary Union and thus for the introduction of the euro currency. 575 MPs voted in favor of the euro, while 35 voted against, including the entire PDS parliamentary group. Chancellor Kohl, who spoke of a “once-in-a-century event” in his speech, excerpts from which can be heard here, had deliberately avoided a referendum. Other excerpts from the debate include the speeches of Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FDP) and Gregor Gysi, then chairman of the PDS parliamentary group.