Burgenland Gets Red-Green State Government

The swift conclusion was possible due to the "open and constructive atmosphere", said Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) and his new deputy Anja Haider-Wallner (Greens) on early Tuesday evening.

Quick Red-Green Agreement in Burgenland

"At no point was it about securing benefices or staking out spheres of power, but always about how we can achieve the best for Burgenland," said Doskozil. Haider-Wallner stated: "For the people in Burgenland, we will implement a wealth of improvements in the coming years. Ecological, social, sustainable." Both were pleased that an agreement had already been reached just one week after the start of government negotiations. The work program is comprehensive, said Haider-Wallner: "It combines courage and new ideas on the one hand and stability and security on the other." Doskozil also stated: "We are forming a future coalition that stands for security, cohesion and sustainability in our home state." He also emphasized again that Red-Green should also be understood as a counterpoint to the emerging blue-turquoise cooperation at the federal level.

Green federal spokesman Werner Kogler was pleased in a written statement about the "quick and positive conclusion of the government negotiations" and spoke of "good news for social cohesion, environmental and nature protection and transparency". Especially in times like these, it gives "courage and hope when Red-Green shows what can be achieved with the ability to compromise, mutual appreciation and the will to shape". For federal SPÖ leader Andreas Babler, the coalition is also "good news" - Blue and Black could have been prevented, and "social justice, climate protection and coexistence will continue to be in the foreground", he wrote on X. The red-green government team consists, as already announced on Monday, of Doskozil and Haider-Wallner as deputy governor and the three previous state councillors Heinrich Dorner, Leonhard Schneemann and Daniela Winkler (all SPÖ). Doskozil's previous deputy Astrid Eisenkopf (SPÖ), who will instead become president of the state parliament, had to make way for Haider-Wallner.

ÖVP and FPÖ Do Not Vote for Doskozil

The ÖVP Burgenland does not intend to vote for the planned red-green state government at the constituent state parliament session on Thursday. Like the nine FPÖ mandates, the eight turquoise deputies also deny Doskozil and his government team their approval. The ÖVP justified their decision not to vote for the state government in a written statement on Tuesday, stating that it is to be expected "that the course of Governor Doskozil in the areas of economy, finance and dealing with the municipalities will continue". However, this does not correspond to the ideas of the People's Party. "We will emphatically assume our role as a strong and constructive opposition," it said. FPÖ top candidate Norbert Hofer had already stated on Monday that the Freedom Party will not support Red-Green.

Presidents in the State Parliament Can Be Elected by Faction

In the new state government, in addition to Doskozil, Green State Speaker Anja Haider-Wallner will sit as his deputy, as well as the three previous state councillors Heinrich Dorner, Leonhard Schneemann and Daniela Winkler (all SPÖ). Eisenkopf had to make way for Haider-Wallner and will now become President of the State Parliament. If there is a joint election proposal for the three new presidents - Johann Tschürtz (FPÖ) will be second and Claudia Schlager (SPÖ) third - the opposition would support this, it was said. However, they could be elected by faction in three separate ballots, which would mean that the ÖVP and the new government party Greens would not vote at all. The new state parliament with Eisenkopf as president will then be constituted on Thursday, before Doskozil is expected to be sworn in by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on Friday.

SPÖ Burgenland Criticises Opposition

The SPÖ reacted angrily on Tuesday to the opposition's announcement that they do not want to vote for the new state government. State Managing Director Kevin Friedl particularly criticised the ÖVP and accused it of wanting to distract from internal leadership discussions and therefore being "against everything in principle". "The fact that the ÖVP does not want to accept the democratic result of an election is another low point for the party," said Friedl.

(APA/Red)

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