Future Vienna City Senate Will Consist of 13 Members

This means there will be one more city councilor in the federal capital in the future. If the current total number had been maintained, the SPÖ would have had to give up a seat.

The SPÖ will now - as before - have six government members, and the NEOS will have one. The remaining six - "non-executive" - city councilors are divided among the opposition parties FPÖ (3), Greens (2), and ÖVP (1). Who will occupy the positions for the SPÖ has not yet been made public. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the committee meetings will follow, after which Ludwig will present the red government team. For the NEOS, who will vote on the new city government at a state member meeting on Saturday, Deputy Mayor Emmerling will be responsible for the education department, among other things. The inaugural meeting of the municipal council is planned for June 10.

Joy in Red-Pink over renewed cooperation in Vienna

Ludwig was "very" pleased that it was possible to "very quickly come to a stable city government," as he emphasized on Tuesday during the presentation of the government program. This program deals with the major topics and challenges until 2030. With the NEOS, they have worked well together in the "progress coalition" over the past years, "now we want to address the challenges of the future in a recovery coalition over the next five years." It is important to him that Vienna remains a "livable, affordable, and climate-fit city." For Ludwig, "strengthening the economic location in combination with active labor market policy" is important.

The term recovery coalition is intended, according to Ludwig, to indicate that Austria has been in a recession for the past three years - although he immediately added that this was not the case in Vienna. As the only federal state, they recently recorded economic growth. It is now important to increasingly attract top technology to Vienna. At the same time, they will also support local trade, carry out employment initiatives, and continue to advance subsidized housing, Ludwig announced.

They also want to stick to the previous climate policy. "We will not deviate from our goal of becoming climate neutral by 2040," the mayor vowed. He was generally pleased that none of the points discussed during the coalition negotiations had leaked out. "This is also a sign of the quality of a coalition." He was convinced that they would continue to work well together, Ludwig said.

German courses as a focus in Vienna

Emmerling was also pleased about the formation of the coalition. "Politics is more than managing crises, it is about tackling and implementing." The basis for this is "stable city finances and the joint consolidation path we have agreed upon." It is not just about saving, "but setting accents that we have established in the lighthouses." She named the plans in the education sector as an important focus. For example, the number of extraordinary students, i.e., children who only have poor German skills, should be reduced.

Summer German courses, as well as more language support at the locations, should contribute to this, as she explained. Teachers should also be relieved by additional support staff. Furthermore, kindergartens facing particular challenges should be specially supported within the framework of a newly established support system.

Nationwide uniform minimum security desired

Regarding minimum security, there is initial hope that the federal government will implement a nationwide regulation. This is the goal, it was noted. Should this not happen, changes in Vienna are not ruled out, as was emphasized. People on minimum security should be integrated into the labor market as quickly as possible, Emmerling stressed. Whether, for example, there will be a staggered approach for large families remains open for now. Reference was made to the upcoming discussions.

The planned savings have not yet been detailed. Both Ludwig and Emmerling referred to the upcoming budget negotiations. The mayor had recently asked the departments to identify the corresponding potential. Most departments have already provided satisfactory responses, Ludwig reported. They also want to review all areas of funding, it was said.

The joint appearance in the coat of arms hall of the town hall was relatively simple. In 2020, the NEOS brought suspenders to the city chief. At that time, Ludwig served an oversized punch cake. Such gifts were dispensed with today.

FPÖ and ÖVP with Rejection

The Freedom Party commented unfavorably on the substantive presentation of the red-pink coalition agreement. SPÖ and NEOS are thus "seamlessly continuing their policy of inactivity of the last five years" and do not intend to "quickly eliminate the existing grievances in the areas of social affairs, security, education, housing, and health," criticized the blue city councilor Dominik Nepp. Instead of real reforms, Nepp finds "only declarations of intent, vague announcements, and left-wing ideological projects." The unfair system, in which non-Austrians unwilling to work and integrate are rewarded and hardworking Austrians are punished, remains untouched.

The Vienna People's Party also expressed disappointment with what was presented. Red-Pink missed the opportunity for a real political restart for Vienna. There is a lack of courage and innovation and answers to "central challenges such as the massive problems with minimum security, the overloaded infrastructure, or the budget," criticized the acting state party chairman and district leader of the Inner City, Markus Figl. And the NEOS once again acted as mere majority providers instead of a critical corrective.

Greens Criticize Lack of Courage

"With today's day, the timid and pale politics of recent years is being extended," criticized the party leaders of the Vienna Greens, Judith Pühringer and Peter Kraus, who missed answers to the "big questions" in the areas of climate protection, education, and housing. The budget deficit was also not a topic in today's presentation. Without consolidation measures, all projects stand on "shaky ground."

The agreement was welcomed by the Federation of Austrian Industries, which is building on a continued "constructive and good working relationship with the city." Global 2000 and Greenpeace, in turn, welcomed the fact that Red-Pink wants to stick to climate neutrality by 2040. Both, however, called for a departure from the Lobau tunnel.

(APA/Red)

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