NEOS Campaign Closing Before Vienna Election: "They Will Get to Know You Yet"
Once more, as the quasi-logical partner for the logical election winner - the SPÖ - in the upcoming ballot in Vienna on Sunday, the NEOS presented themselves on Friday afternoon. At the campaign finale at the Place of Human Rights next to the Museumsquartier, the Pink party did not hold back on praise for the previous city government work and criticism of the potential alternative partners - the Greens and the ÖVP. "We want to continue," was the sentiment in the cool, rainy setting.
NEOS Criticized Before Vienna Election
Right at the foot of the Mariahilfer Straße, which was transformed in terms of traffic during the red-green city government times, NEOS party leader and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr, who grew out of the Vienna election campaign after his move to the federal government, as well as Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling and top candidate Selma Arapović, passed the microphone to each other. The capital's Greens were known for "show politics" - like "Mariahilfer Straße" or the temporary "Gürtelpool" - and the ÖVP now seemed "very old," they agreed.
"We Are at Halftime, If at All"
The change in top positions during the campaign - Arapović and Emmerling have both been referred to as "top candidates" by the Pink party since then - was addressed by Meinl-Reisinger: "You will get to know them," she said, referring to the relatively low profile of the two leading women. They then demonstratively took the stage together after their predecessor, Wiederkehr, and praised the former Deputy Mayor. As a team, they have achieved a lot in Vienna - for example, in the NEOS focus area of education, but also in the transport or climate sector, said Arapović.
On Sunday, it is clearly about the next partner for the SPÖ - and they are ready for that role. Of course, the big question mark is whether they can continue to form a majority in the city council together. However, if they find themselves back in the city government responsibility, they can fulfill what they have set out to do. "We are at halftime, if at all," explained Wiederkehr. Because: The Vienna project has always been designed for at least two legislative periods.
NEOS Looked Forward to Vienna Election Day
He is convinced that his party will emerge stronger from the election: "On Sunday, the political sun will shine," said the Education Minister, referring to the inhospitable conditions. If they return to responsibility, they would establish a strong axis between the federal government and Vienna in the education sector, promised Emmerling. Unfortunately, they were significantly hindered in their ambitions by Wiederkehr's predecessor, Martin Polaschek (ÖVP), when, for example, funds for German language support in schools for Vienna were reduced. Despite some "blockades" on the federal side, "we did not fall flat on our face," said Emmerling.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.