Doskozil Delivered Government Statement: "We Have Difficult Times Ahead of Us"

The Burgenland governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) appealed for cohesion in his government declaration in the state parliament on Thursday. Politicians are role models for society, and therefore the right way of dealing with each other is needed - especially in view of the upcoming "difficult times," said the governor. The central themes of the presented red-green government program are health and care.

"We really have difficult times ahead of us. Some speak of a turning point. It is no longer comprehensible how world politics is conducted." From a European perspective, one is a "passenger" in world events, said Doskozil, warning against a division of society. The parties in the state parliament have different approaches and goals, but in the past, accusations have been made "not based on facts," "just to smear the opponent" - he did not exclude anyone here, criticized the governor and emphasized: "I want to draw attention to this urgently: We are exemplary for the population in how we interact with each other."

"Health Initiative" Continues

Regarding the content of the government program, Doskozil stated that the state's "health initiative" will continue. This includes, among other things, that the state positively balances the "guest patient system." The competencies of hospitals at all locations will be expanded, and the Gols hospital will be newly built. To combat the shortage of doctors, a private medical university is planned. Initial organizational steps have already been taken, and then it will continue "with full speed" towards accreditation, announced Doskozil: "This is a huge challenge, I am aware of that. But at the end of the day, we will be a model region in healthcare because we will train everything ourselves, from nursing to doctors."

In care, Doskozil announced facilities in every Burgenland municipality and defended against blue criticism that these could merely be "park benches." "Polemics" are not appropriate here, he said. At the total of 71 care support points, care will be offered around the clock up to care level 4. In the remaining municipalities, there will be basic care through "genuine assisted living combined with elements of day care centers," Doskozil spoke of "social meeting points" and stated: "This is far more than a park bench."

Doskozil Against Asylum Payment Card

In the area of asylum and migration, Doskozil once again spoke out against a payment card for asylum seekers. Especially on this topic, polarization is not appropriate. Clear legal possibilities are needed: "We say there is a duty to bring and a duty to take. Reasonable integration is needed."

Important partners for the state government are the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Agriculture, and also the churches. In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, for example, new training workshops are to be implemented to train the skilled workers of the future. Whether the polytechnic still "fits" is to be discussed.

Doskozil wants to talk again with municipal and city representatives about measures for the municipalities. "There will be an offer, and we want to discuss it in partnership," it should be assessed in terms of content, not politically, he demanded.

"Reliability and Cleanliness"

As far as the politicians themselves are concerned, Doskozil insisted on "reliability and cleanliness" and expressed his complete disagreement with the existing federal legal framework. Therefore, it should be decided at the state level that the political office is to be suspended when a legally binding indictment is present: "Pressure should be created there, I say quite openly." Cleanliness is also needed in dealing with taxpayers' money: "There should be clear boundaries: This is taxpayers' money, and this is the private cash register. They must not be mixed." It should therefore be legally stipulated that public funds are available for the exercise of office and may not be used for private purposes. Doskozil was "surprised" that this clarification is necessary.

With the Greens, the SPÖ has found a partner with whom the next five years can be shaped "on equal footing." Doskozil once again praised the cooperation with the junior partner: "We have put a government program on the table where each partner stands 100 percent behind every point, there is no division. This is a program of the two coalition partners." SPÖ and Greens will now approach the other factions for constitutional talks. They will also ensure that legislative proposals are discussed early enough: "This is our offer and the request to stay with facts and realities in this house and not to tell fairy tales. That is important to me."

Climate Protection Law This Year?

Deputy Governor Anja Haider-Wallner (Greens) emphasized the good cooperation with the SPÖ in creating the joint program. "It was and is not about who wins or loses here, but about what we can advance for Burgenland and its population," she stressed.

An important measure is the planned climate protection law, which she has already commissioned. This should, if possible, be initiated in the first half of the red-green term. Also planned are a de-sealing premium, a soil protection initiative, and a de-sealing competition. Transitional housing for women affected by domestic violence is to be expanded, and financial support for abortions offered. The Deputy Governor wants to work constructively with the opposition parties. Her invitation stands, she said towards FPÖ and ÖVP: "Let's sit down together."

Hofer's Garden Fence Issue

FPÖ club chairman Norbert Hofer criticized that Doskozil spoke of care facilities in all communities during the election campaign, but of assisted living in his government statement. "That's a difference," he said. A possible pumped storage power plant at Geschriebenstein also meets with little approval from the Freedom Party. "A pumped storage power plant in a nature park. That's an idea that is peculiar," said the club chairman. However, he views the private medical university positively.

Hofer felt personally attacked by the SPÖ. The criticism that his garden fence was paid for with FPÖ party funds "deeply affected" him. The fence was erected for security reasons because he had received death threats and feared for his family. Several times people had tried to break into his house. Furthermore, he could not understand why the SPÖ criticized him for the case involving his former office manager René Schimanek. There is no indictment, and he does not understand why he is being held responsible for it, he stated.

ÖVP Criticism of the Greens

"The program has a lot of light and a lot of shadow," said ÖVP leader Christian Sagartz. He views the local health care, the promotion of renewable energy, and strategies for digitization, dealing with artificial intelligence, and violence prevention in the education sector positively. The ÖVP disagrees with the fact that the state parliament still has little insight into the state holding and that the state undermines "market economy principles" with it. Sagartz also criticized a lack of direct support for the communities.

He criticized the Greens for several "180-degree turns," such as in asylum policy, at the Gols hospital, and in transparency. However, he is ready for constructive cooperation. The ÖVP will "measure the state government by its actions."

(APA/Red)

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