"Future Forgotten": Gewessler Criticizes Government

The designated Green Party federal spokesperson Leonore Gewessler launched a broadside against the ÖVP/SPÖ/NEOS three-party coalition during her appearance at the regional assembly of the Tyrolean Greens in Innsbruck on Saturday. The federal government is "forgetful of the future" and is on the move with a "demolition excavator," criticized Gewessler. Meanwhile, Tyrol's Green Party regional spokesperson Gebi Mair did not want to commit to another top candidacy for the state election in 2027 when speaking to the APA.

Attacks from Gewessler

Gewessler was received with great applause at the 55th regional assembly in the "House of Encounter," where slightly less than 100 members had gathered. In a kind of "circle seating arrangement," they listened to the words of the former environment minister, who is touring the federal states ahead of the Green Party federal congress on June 29 in Vienna, where she is running for election.

The 47-year-old Styrian did not hold back with fierce attacks on the new coalition partners in the federal government. "We are experiencing a federal government that prefers to clear away rather than save. That is on the move with a demolition excavator. Those who live sustainably are the fools. Those who let the diesel run, however, are spared. This government is forgetful of the future," Gewessler went all out and saw a climate and social policy clear-cut. The federal coalition is cutting "from the weakest, such as family allowances for single parents." However, no savings or cuts are being made in areas where they should be: in road construction, the diesel privilege, and generally for those with "broad shoulders."

"We made mistakes"

Then the likely future Green Party leader and Werner Kogler's successor at the party and club leadership took aim at the individual governing parties: The former Green coalition partner ÖVP has held the finance minister position for the past 25 years but takes no responsibility and instead points the "finger at climate protection." SPÖ Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler, the "Robin Hood of redistribution in the election campaign," is now distributing with his party "from bottom to top." "Where was the SPÖ in the negotiations," asked the deputy club chairwoman. The "neoliberals from the NEOS" are, in turn, "already at the forefront of the cutback packages."

In addition to all this, the Greens should be the counter-program and "provide answers to the questions that concern people": "People need to say: 'Yes, the Greens, they see me.'" She wants the Greens "to go back to where the people are: in the pub, on the commuter train." At the same time, Gewessler also admitted past mistakes: "We made mistakes, in the tunnel of governing. Sometimes we listened a little too little. Just because something is good in theory, people won't immediately go along with it." Furthermore, the soon-to-be leader advised party members: "It's not enough to just be the lesser evil. We need to become the stronger idea again."

Mair Top Candidate for Tyrol Election?

There was no speaker election at the state assembly in Innsbruck - where the Greens are part of the city government. The state spokesperson is up for re-election in the spring of 2026. This should also mean the decision on the Green top candidate for the Tyrolean state election 2027, as state spokesperson and parliamentary club chairman Mair announced on the sidelines of the assembly to the APA. A corresponding amendment to the statutes was then unanimously adopted towards the end of the state assembly in the afternoon, as a party spokesperson reported. However, Mair left open the question of whether he would run again as state spokesperson and thus also apply for the top candidacy in the state election. Initially, the focus is on content, such as setting up an adapted basic and election program. Next spring, the personnel decisions for the 2027 election will be made, according to the long-time club chairman and state spokesperson since 2023.

While Gewessler settled accounts with the federal government, Mair targeted the state coalition of ÖVP and SPÖ in his speech. It lacks pretty much everything, and halfway through the legislative period, only issues like the "debacle" surrounding the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) and the Zillertalbahn - the "Franz Hörl memorial debacle" - remain. The only thing that has occupied the state ÖVP recently is the awarding of the honorary ring of the state to former governor Günther Platter, while the SPÖ is busy cutting disability assistance by 15 percent. "Courage, heart, and the Greens are missing in the state government," the Green frontman wanted to see his party, which governed with the ÖVP from 2013 to 2022, back at the helm.

Candidacy of Neßler

And in Vienna, the Tyrolean Greens want to have an even more significant say in the future: This is to be ensured by the candidacy of National Council member Barbara Neßler for the federal board at the federal congress at the end of June.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.