Burgenland: SPÖ Enters Coalition Negotiations with Greens
The SPÖ Burgenland will begin coalition negotiations with the Greens following the state election on January 19. This was announced by Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) on Monday. The state party executive committee unanimously made this decision in the morning. A roadmap for the negotiations is to be discussed with the Greens in the afternoon. Meanwhile, a personnel decision has been made in the FPÖ, where Norbert Hofer is to become the club chairman.
Rejection for FPÖ and ÖVP
Doskozil rejected the FPÖ and ÖVP, citing, among other things, a lack of stability and "untruths" spread during the election campaign. He hopes that the new state government will be in place "in one, two, three weeks," said Doskozil.
Organizational matters are to be determined on Monday, and talks are to begin on Tuesday, with regular updates to be provided. "The Greens will get a seat in the state government," Doskozil already announced. All other personnel matters are still open. The red committees will be informed about the status of the negotiations next Monday, and personnel decisions will also be made there, according to the governor.
The governor sees the planned hospital in Gols, which he personally declared a top priority, as a possible stumbling block with the Greens. He doesn't want to send any messages to the "desired coalition partner" today, but he is convinced that there will also be "good talks and solutions" on this issue. "Of course there are issues that divide us. We will strive to find compromises." In addition to the hospital, there will also be an "asylum policy on a legal footing," he emphasized. The red negotiation team will consist of club chairman Roland Fürst, staff from the governor's office, and the respective government members for specific issues, according to Doskozil.
"One Aspect That Played a Role"
Doskozil does not see the fact that the Red-Green coalition has only a one-seat majority as problematic and pointed to the discipline that the Greens have also promised. Doskozil did not want to hide the fact that with Red-Green he can position and prove himself as a counterpoint to the possible blue-turquoise federal government: "This is one aspect that played a role. (...) I feel somewhat more independent in the interest of Burgenland." This would allow for more liberated politics, away from the "constraints" that would have been imposed by the federal ÖVP or FPÖ. With the red-green variant, it would be possible to prove that social democracy and the Greens can together make a policy that is capable of winning a majority. To the left of the center, the issues and fears of the population can be taken seriously "with reason and common sense."
The governor justified the decision against a renewed cooperation with the ÖVP or FPÖ and initially admitted that he had also flirted with an SPÖ-ÖVP coalition at the beginning of last week. However, it was said that the personnel situation with the Türkisen was not stable, while stability was assured in the talks: "That sounded contradictory." The proportion was history, but: "The only goal was to flee into a government and then cover up a lot. But this is the wrong time. Yes, clear conditions (a clear majority in the state parliament, note) would certainly have been better, but the conditions are currently not clear with the ÖVP." In the interest of the economy, agriculture and the municipalities, he regretted the result, but assured that the hand was extended. The responsibility of the state government is to make politics for all Burgenlanders.
Doskozil also justified the rejection of the FPÖ - among other things with reference to increasing polarization. Norbert Hofer himself is "very connecting and a pleasant conversation partner", but the FPÖ acted with false reports during the election campaign and Hofer did not stop "this hustle and bustle". Burgenland stands for cohesion and it is the task of politics to live this as well.
"Roller Coaster Ride"
Green top candidate Anja Haider-Wallner was pleased on Monday that the SPÖ had chosen the Greens. "We want to go into the negotiations constructively, but also critically," she told journalists. The negotiation team will consist of herself, club director Gerhard Mölk and state parliament member Wolfgang Spitzmüller. They will be joined by Felix Ehrnhöfer, chief of staff in the Ministry of Climate Protection, and his deputy Irmi Salzer, who are to bring negotiation experience to Burgenland.
Die Entscheidung Doskozils habe sie "sehr überrascht", meinte Haider-Wallner. Generell seien die vergangenen Wochen eine "Achterbahnfahrt" gewesen: "Noch vor etwas über einer Woche war es ja ganz unsicher, ob die Grünen überhaupt im Landtag verbleiben."
Sie gehe jedenfalls davon aus, "dass wir zu einem positiven Abschluss kommen. Sonst würde ich nicht verhandeln." Die Grünen hätten einiges mit der SPÖ Burgenland gemeinsam - Stichwort Klimaschutz und Sozialpolitik. Unterschiede ortete Haider-Wallner etwa bei der Transparenz, die sie zuletzt auch im Wahlkampf immer wieder kritisierte. Aber: "Da sind wir zuversichtlich, dass wir in den Verhandlungen tragfähige Kompromisse finden können." Verbesserungen will sie etwa auch in das Projekt rund um den geplanten Neubau eines Krankenhauses in Gols verhandeln.
Ob die Grünen das Amt der Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreterin oder eine Landesrätin bekommen, wollte Haider-Wallner am Montag noch nicht diskutieren. Dafür sei es zu früh. Fix scheint aber, dass sie es sein wird, die in die Landesregierung einzieht. "Davon gehe ich aus", betonte sie.
Kogler sieht "gute Nachrichten"
Für Grünen-Bundesparteichef Werner Kogler sind die rot-grünen Koalitionsverhandlungen "gute Nachrichten". Im Burgenland bestehe nun die Chance ein "fortschrittliches Bündnis" zu schmieden, für soziale Sicherheit, Transparenz, lebendige Ortskerne sowie Klima- und Naturschutz. "Rot-Grün ist eine klare, positive, vernünftige und zuversichtliche Antwort auf die drohenden Rückschritte auf Bundesebene", so Kogler, der Haider-Wallner und den Verhandlerinnen und Verhandlern "viel Erfolg" wünschte.
Kritik an der Entscheidung kam von den Freiheitlichen, die in einem ersten Statement "konsequente Kontrollarbeit" ankündigten und auf das Wahlergebnis vom 19. Jänner verwiesen, bei dem sie zweitstärkste Kraft wurden. Er hätte mit Doskozil eine "Koalition der Wahlsieger bilden können", betonte Norbert Hofer. Die Entscheidung der SPÖ, eine Regierung mit den Grünen einzugehen, habe ihn "wirklich sehr überrascht", stellte Hofer gegenüber der APA fest. Eine konsequente Asyl-Politik sei mit den Grünen nicht umzusetzen, erklärte er weiters. Der Spitzenkandidat kündigte nun an, die Regierung "ordentlich auf Trab zu halten". Geplant ist bei den Freiheitlichen, dass Hofer selbst Klubobmann wird. Der bisherige, Johann Tschürtz, soll demnach Zweiter Landtagspräsident werden. Den Blauen steht der Posten aufgrund des Wahlergebnisses zu, die ÖVP hat diesen verloren.
"Doskozil wählt den billigsten Partner"
ÖVP-Landesparteiobmann Christian Sagartz erklärte in einer Aussendung: "Doskozil wählt den billigsten Partner": "Es ist offensichtlich, dass es Doskozil nicht darum geht, die besten Lösungen auf breiter Basis für die Menschen im Burgenland zu finden, sondern um den leichtesten Weg für seine eigene Machtpolitik."
Die NEOS, die den Einzug in den Landtag bei der Wahl am 19. Jänner erneut verpasst haben, kritisierten, dass das "rote Netz unter Duldung der Grünen weitergesponnen" werde, wie Landessprecher Christoph Schneider in einer Aussendung festhielt.
(APA/Red)
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