Vienna Election: Greens See "Scandal" in Electoral Law
Judith Pühringer, the top candidate of the Green Party in the Vienna election, advocates for higher parking fees for SUVs following the Paris model. She can "well imagine" this, as large and heavy cars "simply take up disproportionately much space that belongs to all people," she says in an APA interview. Additionally, the lead candidate calls for the decoupling of municipal voting rights from citizenship.
Handling of SUVs
Paris introduced an increase in parking fees for SUVs last October. Parking a heavy vehicle there now costs three times as much. Pühringer currently does not have a specific price or tier proposal for Vienna, as she mentions. But it is "obvious to react" in any case. According to the latest evaluation by the VCÖ (Austrian Transport Club), most new SUVs were also registered in Vienna last year.
In general, measures must be taken, especially in traffic, to achieve the climate goals set by the city itself, the Green co-party leader reaffirms demands for a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly redesign of the Zweierlinie in the course of the subway construction, reductions in car lanes on the Gürtel, or a public transport expansion package including 17 new tram lines. Is the city toll still a wish of the Greens? "Step by step," Pühringer shows restraint and gives higher priority to the already planned traffic calming of the city center.
Lobau Tunnel "dead horse"
Pühringer names climate protection as one of the most important points for Vienna and supports the demand for 100,000 new trees by 2030 - according to her calculation, a quadrupling of the plantings that the city is currently undertaking. Cooling the public space in summer, given 45 tropical nights last year, is always also related to the social question: "People affected by poverty often live in poorly insulated houses that heat up even more." Not everyone has an apartment with a balcony or can escape to the countryside. Pühringer calls the Lobau Tunnel, which the SPÖ continues to strongly support, a "dead horse." In the election campaign, she notices that with this "monster project," many SPÖ voters "can no longer go along." The "6 billion euros that are to be buried and entombed under a nature reserve in the middle of Vienna" could instead be invested in future topics, she reminds, not least of the need for savings at the federal level.
In view of the projected deficit of 3.8 billion euros for this year, Vienna must also keep an eye on finances. When asked about Green savings proposals, the top candidate points out that the major budget items of the city are related to public services - such as education, social affairs, or care - "all points where we cannot save in a growing city." Here, "better negotiations with the federal government" are needed - keyword financial equalization. She sees potential savings, for example, in cross-state financing of the health sector, which should be thought of as a "Health Association East Region" - comparable to the VOR at the public transport level.
Criticism Before Vienna Election
Education, alongside climate protection and affordable housing, has also been chosen by the Greens as a main topic. "I think that the NEOS (as those responsible for the education department in Vienna, note) have left an incredible amount undone here," because kindergartens, unlike schools, are solely a state responsibility: "When I look at the numbers, that 45 percent of students in the first grade of elementary school do not have sufficient German skills to follow the lessons, and of these 45 percent, 80 percent were in kindergarten for two years or more, then there is a major failure in the education system." Pühringer advocates, among other things, for the expansion of German support staff and a better mix of children with German and non-German first languages in elementary schools.
The fact that, according to recent surveys, 35 percent of Viennese cannot participate in the municipal council election on April 27 due to a lack of Austrian citizenship, Pühringer considers "really concerning from a democratic political perspective": "That is indeed a scandal," because among them are "many young people who were born here and consider Vienna their home." Not allowing them to participate in elections is "a fatal signal." The Green frontwoman therefore calls for the decoupling of municipal voting rights from the question of citizenship: "I advocate that all people who have lived in Vienna long enough should also be allowed to vote at the municipal level." This should apply to everyone who has been registered in the federal capital for at least ten years.
Ludwig "a Bon Vivant"
When asked about the election goal, Pühringer does not want to commit to a target after the record result of 14.8 percent in 2020. "It's about being strong enough that you can't get past us in this city," she once again advocates for a comeback of Red-Green for a "climate-social city" as opposed to the red-pink "standstill" or a red-black "concrete past." She describes her personal relationship with Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) as "very good." She appreciates him for his historical knowledge, "his clear stance against anti-Semitism and fascism," and he is "a bon vivant - as am I."
If the Greens remain in opposition, will Pühringer then take personal consequences? For that, one would also have to look at the election result. "These are questions that are better answered after April 27 than today."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.