Traffic Before Vienna Election Topic in National Council
In an "urgent inquiry" in the National Council, Vice Club Chairwoman Leonore Gewessler criticized government-planned highway projects. For example, the Lobau Tunnel was taken out of the mothballs instead of opting for cheaper alternatives. Austria has 128,000 kilometers of road. She does not understand how one could come up with the idea that more is needed.
Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) held back on details in his response. The department head repeatedly referred to the budget speech, which would follow the completion of the budget. He once again pointed out the difficult budgetary situation. Cuts would be possible in all areas. This would also affect infrastructure and thus road construction.
Criticism of the Greens
The political competition, meanwhile, took aim at the Greens. Kai Jan Krainer (SPÖ) and Dominik Oberhofer (NEOS) criticized their budget policy in the previous government. As Minister of Transport, Energy, and Environment, Gewessler "ran her department like an NGO" and distributed money among the citizens, the latter said. Due to the budget crisis caused, among others, by the Greens, climate policy now has to be made without money, Krainer said.
Maximilian Weinzierl (FPÖ) accused the Greens of advocating for burden instead of relief. After all, the Lobau Tunnel would lead to "Vienna finally having a complete bypass." Vienna has grown in the past and will continue to grow, Andreas Ottenschläger (ÖVP) also emphasized. The city needs proper infrastructure, consisting of public transport as well as roads.
(APA/Red)
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