Ludwig sworn in again as Vienna's Governor
In the federal capital, the Vienna election took place in April, after which the SPÖ and NEOS agreed to continue their cooperation, which has existed since 2020. Vienna is both a municipality and a federal state, so the city leader is both mayor and governor. Van der Bellen congratulated Ludwig on the election victory and praised the high quality of life in the city. Here, there is a kind of "subscription" to first place.
The swearing-in did not take place on the day of the inaugural session of the municipal council, as is usually the case, due to scheduling reasons. It was made up for today and was also overshadowed by the events in Graz.
Van der Bellen sees Vienna facing "real challenges"
"One must imagine that among the metropolises of the world, Vienna is considered the most livable city. And as a Vienna resident, I can well understand why," said Van der Bellen. But there are also "real challenges," he emphasized. "Vienna is a growing city," he noted. The infrastructure must grow with it.
But education was probably also a topic in the government negotiations - and here also security issues. "After the terrible terror in Graz and the mourning that has gripped our country, questions of security and the most comprehensive prevention possible must be debated anew," Van der Bellen was convinced. However, he added, there will probably never be one hundred percent security.
Van der Bellen also saw new opportunities for Vienna as a university city in view of a possible "brain drain" from the USA. However, there is also a difficult financial situation in the municipalities. He saw the interest on debt as particularly problematic. "That is a flashing warning light." In any case, he was glad that there are new negotiations between the federal government and the states on the distribution of competencies.
Ludwig for stricter gun laws
In a brief statement after the swearing-in, Ludwig advocated not only paying more attention to the mental situation of children and adolescents but also considering whether it is too easy to obtain weapons in Austria. "The fact that the number of weapons has grown from one million to 1.5 million in recent years is worrying. I always say, more weapons do not mean more security, but less security."
Now, one should reflect on restricting access to weapons. He pointed out that he had already enforced weapons bans in some places. Many other municipalities and cities would now see that it makes sense to restrict gun ownership in public spaces. The question now is whether such a large number of weapons is needed in private households. He advocated thinking about possible steps and measures as a consequence of the terrible event.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.