Lower Austria Passes Legislative Package Against Radical Islam

The Lower Austrian state parliament will pass a legislative package against radical Islam in its session on Wednesday. The opposition parties, the Greens and NEOS, criticized this in press conferences on Tuesday, stating they will only agree to the planned changes in kindergartens. The parliament will also once again address the new construction of the Wiener Neustadt hospital, for which significantly higher costs of 1.47 billion euros are now planned.

"Integration Refusers Have No Place in Lower Austria"

"Integration refusers have no place in Lower Austria," emphasized ÖVP club chairman Jochen Danninger in a statement: "With the action plan against radical Islam, we are once again pioneers among the federal states." It is important to "counteract a parallel society and prevent radicalization," explained state parliament member Martin Antauer (FPÖ) in a press conference: "We must start early to anchor values in kindergartens and schools."

However, the opposition only positively evaluates one of the five planned changes - the one regarding kindergartens. From September 1, the obligation of parental cooperation is to be expanded. In the case of repeated violations - for example, if the mandatory parent-teacher meeting is refused - a report to the district administrative authority is threatened. The penalty framework will be increased to 2,500 euros, and if it cannot be collected, a substitute prison sentence of six weeks is provided. Additionally, kindergarten operators can issue house rules in the future.

Criticism of Action Plan Against Radical Islam and Federal Government

The rest of the action plan of the black-blue state government against radical Islam "misses the reality," criticized the Green club chairwoman and state spokeswoman Helga Krismer. NEOS parliamentary group leader and state party chairwoman Indra Collini also identified "populism" and "show politics": The problem is being exaggerated instead of working on sensible solutions. For example, there are already federal regulations, such as regarding the planned ban on face coverings in the state service.

"We are doing what we can as state legislators," emphasized Danninger. He announced an additional motion by ÖVP and FPÖ, in which the federal government is called upon, among other things, to enact a constitutional law with a headscarf ban for girls under 14 years of age. Furthermore, a stronger obligation for parental involvement is demanded, also in the school sector, for which the federal government is responsible. The Greens also spoke out on Tuesday in favor of sanction options in the compulsory school sector. According to Krismer, the motions demand school social work in elementary schools, more language support in kindergartens, and an adjustment of childcare funding for parents.

Antauer criticized the federal government: "The overdue prohibition law for political Islam is being delayed, there is hesitation, and at the end of the day, it is not being implemented."

New Construction of University Hospital Wr. Neustadt Also a Topic

Another topic in the state parliament will be - following a unanimous decision in the state government last week - the new construction of the University Hospital Wiener Neustadt, which is to function alongside St. Pölten as one of two central hospitals in Lower Austria according to the health plan. The new construction of the hospital in the "Civitas Nova" district was already decided in April 2019. Originally, 562 million euros were budgeted, and in 2022, an additional 150 million euros were released. Now the planned costs amount to 1.47 billion euros.

"Based on the experiences of recent years and the additional functions that the health plan envisions for the location, a comprehensive adaptation of the planning mandate by the Lower Austrian state parliament is necessary," explained Danninger. The cost increase is also justified by changed legal framework conditions such as an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027, with commissioning planned "at the earliest in the years 2034/2035." Originally, 2028 was planned.

The NEOS criticized a "cost explosion" and "construction delay," "forgotten infrastructure such as access roads, parking garages, or company kindergarten, the complete reorientation of the building, and the uncertainty of the now necessary EIA process reveal a planning disaster of the first order, caused by the arrogance and wishful thinking of those responsible and now to be inadequately concealed with medical necessities," said the pink budget spokesman Helmut Hofer-Gruber. He saw the political responsibility with the ÖVP. NEOS demand "more creativity in financing," for example through "Public Private Partnership" models for the underground car park. The Greens advocate for another alternative site review, said Krismer.

(APA/Red)

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