Bombshell: Vienna Election to Take Place on April 27th
The Vienna election, which was scheduled to take place in the autumn, is being brought forward to April 27. This was announced by Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Deputy Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) in an online statement on Monday.
Vienna Election Moved Forward to April 27
The Second Republic is at a crossroads, emphasized Ludwig. Vienna could be a possible counter-model to an FPÖ politician in the Chancellor's office. However, they do not want a "months-long election campaign", but clear conditions before the summer.
Therefore, he will propose to the Vienna City Council to bring forward the municipal and district council election, said the mayor. The statement was made during the government retreat on Friday. "Exactly what makes Vienna, the freedom and cohesion, is in danger," Wiederkehr also said. He pointed to attacks on media freedom and initial cuts in the education sector and warned of attacks on Vienna and a looming financial bleeding of the federal capital. "This is a storm that is brewing", which is why Vienna needs to be storm-proof, said the deputy mayor.
Nepp Sees FPÖ Prepared for Vienna Election on April 27
The decision to bring forward the election has severely damaged Ludwig's "credibility", according to the Freedom Party's state party chairman Dominik Nepp. After all, he had claimed until the end that he wanted to work until the end of the legislative period. "This does not speak for his credibility, because until yesterday he was still lying," said Nepp at a press conference. He sees the Freedom Party as "prepared" for the election, as they are "constantly" on the move in Vienna, currently with the "Fairness Tour".
Nepp sees the mood among the population definitely on the side of the Blues. On April 27, the Viennese population now has the opportunity to vote out Ludwig's "unfair system". The rescheduling is an admission by Ludwig of his failure. Vienna has record debts of 16 billion euros, and there is also a record level of unemployment. At the same time, there has been an "avalanche of burdens" under Ludwig. There have been "massive increases" in levies, fees, Vienna Energy or district heating. According to the Freedom Party's calculations, the burden imposed by Ludwig amounts to 3,500 euros per household per year. Despite this, Nepp does not want to rule out cooperation with Ludwig after the election: "I can imagine working with anyone."
ÖVP and Greens Criticise Rescheduling of Vienna Election
Criticism of the advanced election date also came from the other opposition parties. "Instead of rolling up their sleeves, the Viennese SPÖ, with their appendage NEOS, invents some pretext for early elections for party tactical reasons," responded the Viennese ÖVP chief Karl Mahrer in a press release. The valuable time until the regular election date could have been better used to finally tackle the pressing challenges in the city, the ÖVP believed.
The Viennese Green Party leader Judith Pühringer criticised that "the abrupt end of Red-Pink" would cause even more uncertainty in view of developments at the federal level. Pühringer identified party tactics and a lack of agreement within the red-pink coalition on vacancy charges, second home charges, climate laws or the replacement of the education directorate as reasons for the irresponsible "rush action" to end the city government. The Viennese KPÖ, which hopes to enter the Viennese city council, also accused Ludwig of breaking his promises to work until the end of the legislative period for party tactical reasons. The KPÖ will decide on possible cooperation with other organisations in due course.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.