Vienna Election: Top Candidates Engaged in Heated Debate in Final "Elephant Round"
In the round, the roles were mostly clearly distributed: The red-pink government members praised their achievements and measures, while the representatives of the opposition hardly had a good word to say about the coalition's performance. Initially, however, the roles were briefly swapped as the discussion turned to the federal government.
SPÖ Mayor Michael Ludwig, ÖVP leader Karl Mahrer, Green Party leader Judith Pühringer, FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp, and City Councilor for Education Bettina Emmerling (who is not the NEOS lead candidate but succeeded Christoph Wiederkehr as Deputy Mayor, note) met in the ceremonial hall of the Vienna City Hall. In the discussion moderated by "Report" editor-in-chief Eva Linsinger and ORF Vienna editor-in-chief Oliver Ortner, three days before the election, numerous topics were addressed. It was not only about Vienna, as they were first asked to comment on the federal budget deficit.
Final Elephant Round Before Vienna Election: Deficit as a Challenge
Vienna's ÖVP leader Mahrer defended the expenditures, as the previous federal government had led the country through "multiple crises." During the pandemic, entrepreneurs were desperate, and workers and employees feared for their jobs. They were helped, praised Mahrer. "We were able to get off to a good start." Judith Pühringer pointed to the measures promoted by the Greens in the federal government: "Investments were also made in climate protection measures, which we absolutely need." A rent price cap was also introduced.
NEOS City Councilor Bettina Emmerling countered: "The last federal government threw money out the window with both hands as if there were no tomorrow." Mayor Ludwig shared the diagnosis of many crises but criticized what he saw as inadequate inflation control at the federal level. FPÖ leader Nepp expressed dissatisfaction that pensioners are now being burdened. This was also a point of contention in coalition negotiations with the ÖVP. The FPÖ rejected it. "We did not want to sell our soul."
The discussion quickly turned to financial policy in Vienna. Pühringer accused Ludwig of not intervening in the energy market like Upper Austria. Nepp also complained that Wien Energie had "snapped" prices up massively. VP leader Mahrer criticized the massive increase in debt since the start of the red-pink administration. Ludwig, in turn, assured that support was provided wherever possible. In 2023, for example, it was decided not to increase rents in municipal housing. And the electricity and gas market was liberalized. One should not simply intervene here, he cautioned.
Dispute Over Minimum Security Before Vienna Election
As expected, there was also no consensus on the discussion about minimum security. Only Tyrol and Vienna pay these benefits to subsidiarily protected persons, Nepp complained. Mahrer also felt that Vienna attracted these people "like a magnet." Once again, the case of a large family receiving 4,600 euros in monthly support was mentioned by turquoise and blue representatives. Ludwig noted that he had repeatedly proposed handling minimum security for able-bodied people uniformly nationwide through the AMS.
Asylum and migration are also federal competencies, he emphasized. In Vienna, all children are treated equally, and when considering the total benefits, more is paid out in three federal states than in Vienna. "It's a myth that we are so generous." However, individual cases are often used as examples. According to Green Party leader Pühringer, there are only ten such cases in all of Vienna where the benefits are that high. However, it is necessary for refugees to receive incentives to integrate into the labor market, she noted.
NEOS candidate Emmerling identified an injustice in the distribution of those affected in Austria - but also saw it as quite problematic if a family received more in financial benefits than two adults could earn. "We have an imbalance."
Criticism of Education Policy
In the area of education, the focus was primarily on the effects of migration, such as the often insufficient German language skills of young schoolchildren. Opposition representatives accused the city government of massive failures here - for example, because many children coming from kindergarten also have poor language skills. The two government members, in turn, pointed to support measures that have been implemented. Ludwig also expressed satisfaction with the recent suspension of family reunification.
The discussants were quite unanimous in advocating for the earliest possible language assessment in kindergarten. There was also agreement on one point regarding security: the demand for more police was shared by almost everyone. ÖVP leader Mahrer reiterated the demand for a city watch. Green party top candidate Pühringer also called for more neighborhood police officers. The emergency operation in police stations was a thorn in Nepp's side. Emmerling and Ludwig further urged for possibilities to detain children who are not of criminal age if necessary.
No Clarity on Future Coalition in Vienna
The question of who will govern in Vienna after the election remained unsurprisingly unanswered. Ludwig noted that the election must first be awaited - and initially showed no preferences. Emmerling advocated for a continuation of the Red-Pink coalition. Mahrer and Pühringer also made no secret of their desire to be part of the next city government.
Nepp would also like to take on government responsibility, but he was realistic about not getting the chance - even though he identified some reasonable forces in the SPÖ, as he put it. Ludwig promptly once again ruled out cooperation with the city Blues: "We will not be able to form a coalition with them and the FPÖ." He referred to "terminology from the Nazi era" used by the FPÖ in parliament. The mayor was referring to the recent "Umvolkungs" remark by the blue MP Peter Wurm.
A green-pink agreement emerged when the guests were asked which Viennese landmark they would like to be. Both Judith Pühringer and Bettina Emmerling chose the Viennese markets - with the Green party leader specifically naming the Brunnenmarkt. Nepp would prefer to be a Heuriger, Mahrer the Danube Tower, and Mayor Ludwig the St. Stephen's Cathedral.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.