All candidates in the oe24.TV interview

One last time before the polls, oe24.TV spoke to the top six candidates in the race for Vienna City Council. While Green Deputy Mayor Birgit Hebein, ÖVP boss Gernot Blümel, and Neos boss Christoph Wiederkehr aggressively campaign for SPÖ mayor Michael Ludwig, the oe24.TV conversation is exercising restraint when it comes to a future coalition in the city.

At the moment, the head of the red city only wants to promise one thing: “I guarantee you that we have taken so many Corona precautions in the last few months that it will be a safe option.”

Ludwig: “No one should be afraid to vote today”

SPÖ Mayor Michael Ludwig spoke with Wolfgang Fellner about the Vienna elections.

oe24.TV: Mr. Mayor, the election campaign went well, only Corona’s numbers in Vienna bother you. What are you doing to make them sink?

Michael Ludwig: We have always been much more consistent in Vienna than in other parts of Austria. We even develop new test strategies that have been exported all over the world. With the registration requirement in the catering industry, we have now created the ability to speed up contact tracing. However, what I did not want is to bring the curfew to 10 pm Because that would be the death sentence for gastronomy.

oe24.TV: Is the mockery of the federal government against Vienna getting on your nerves because of the Corona administration?

Ludwig: Above all, it is unfair. The Viennese population does not deserve it when the federal government issues a warning in every second sentence, in a situation where in much of Austria the situation is even more challenging. Sometimes it has to be made clear that permanent attacks on Vienna that are not qualified will certainly not work.

oe24.TV: Besides Corona, the most important issue of the electoral campaign was the economy …

Ludwig: We were doing well before Corona, but the economic crisis hit us massively. Now we have to move on with building the location. This is really the topic that I would like to address in particular in the coming months.

oe24.TV: Many are afraid when they go to the electoral college that they will go out with Corona again …

Ludwig: As mayor, I can guarantee that we have taken so many precautions over the past few months that this will be a very safe election. No one should be afraid. Polling stations that were too small were replaced. Commissars will closely monitor your distance and there will be plenty of disinfectants, ventilation, etc. The choice will be safe.

Blümel: “No compromises on integration and economy”

The main candidate of the ÖVP, Gernot Blümel, in the last television interview before the elections.

oe24.TV: The Viennese are very satisfied with the city. Start with the promise of change. What should change?

Gernot Blümel: I am glad when the level of satisfaction with the policy is high. But that should not lead to politicians becoming complacent. I have a feeling that red-green is in danger in this regard. According to the motto: Vienna is the most livable city and there are no problems with that. That is not enough for me personally. We are an offer for those who think that there are problems in Vienna that must be solved.

oe24.TV: What should happen to the economy?

Flowers: We have to make it easier for companies to do business and create jobs. This requires a reduction in fees. For example, the subway tax and this absurd air tax should be abolished.

oe24.TV: You indicated that you would like to have the finance department. Is that a coalition condition?

Flowers: The allocation of positions always occurs at the end of the negotiations. I hope it even comes to that. It is important to us that we make no compromises when it comes to integration, the economy, fairness for the best, and security. I hope there is an opportunity to co-rule in Vienna. Otherwise it would be a disappointment for me.

Nepp: “Full compensation for companies affected by the blockade”

The main candidate of the FPÖ, Nepp, asks oe24.TV for a thousand Corona.

oe24.TV: How is Vienna?

Dominik Nepp: We have to take countermeasures. Foreign cultures have partially taken over Vienna. There are also strict unions between the SPÖ and political Islam.

oe24.TV: What should happen with the Corona crisis?

Nepp: We need full compensation for businesses affected by the closure, and non-salary labor costs must also be written off for one year. Now every Austrian should receive one thousand Krona directly into his account.

Hebein: “With Corona, we don’t need a scandal”

Green leader Birgit Hebein in the oe24.TV talk before the Vienna elections.

oe24.TV: The numbers are increasing more in Vienna. Why do you think this is so?

Birgit Hebein: We must not forget that we are a large city with almost two million inhabitants. But we had a pretty good spring through, because everyone in Vienna stuck together.

oe24.TV: There is now a registration requirement in the restaurant sector. Is this really necessary?

Hebein: Yes, to prevent further infections, this also includes filling out forms at restaurants.

Return: “Neos wants education”

Christoph Wiederkehr, Neos’ top candidate, wants to join the state government.

oe24.TV: Your main education issue was left behind because of Corona.

Christoph Wiederkehr: There is an educational emergency in Vienna. Education should be reformed. Homeschooling and home office is unreasonable for parents. Schools must remain open. The best thing for the city would be if there was someone committed to kindergartens and schools with passion.

oe24.TV: Your offer to environmentally-savvy voters?

Return: We want permanent improvements, like streams above ground, and not an emerging policy like a 150,000 euro pool in the belt.

Strache: “I am the original, I do not curl”

The main candidate of the team HC Strache has confidence before the elections.

oe24.TV: Are there substantial differences with the FPÖ?

HC Strache: Nepp learned from me. I am the original. The big difference is that the other parties are spending millions, we got a small loan, but we keep going.

oe24.TV: Can you enter the town hall?

Strache: I think we can enter, and that without budgetary resources. It was only with passion and idealism that I built a new structure from scratch. What has been successful has never happened in the Second Republic. There may be a surprise on Sunday. Two digits are also possible.