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The question that most preoccupied the Viennese political scene on Wednesday before the exploratory talks between the SPÖ and the ÖVP was not political, but culinary: What will the head of the SPÖ, Michael Ludwig, offer his counterpart this time to eat?
Ludwig and his team had shown humor (quite idiosyncratic) in recent days. For all party leaders there was, from the SPÖ’s point of view, the right food accompaniment. Punschkrapferl were waiting for the Neos, vegan cakes for the Greens.
For the ÖVP, it should be foam rolls, from the house of the Viennese bakery Schwarz. Mayor Ludwig also set an example in terms of fashion. He was wearing a turquoise tie (with black stripes).
In the case of turquoise, the (colored) jokes were only partially received, as heard in party circles at night. There have already been previous discussions about the cast of the turquoise discussion team. In addition to the party leader, Gernot Blümel, the party consisted of long-time “black” officials; the party’s turquoise leadership was not among them.
“Definitely differences”
There was little to laugh about during the red-turquoise conversation, but also apart from culinary delights: there was hardly any agreement in terms of content, it was heard from the parties immediately after the conversation. Nobody, officially, wanted to provoke a rejection of the turquoise red. But there was talk of a “de facto rejection.”
The official statement by ÖVP’s main candidate Blümel sounded less hopeful at the time: “The conversation was very friendly personally, but the content was also very clear,” Blümel said. “We perceived differences in some areas” and “we saw little room for maneuver in some areas.” It has been made clear that there are “certain basic principles of turquoise,” Blümel said.
Specifically, Blümel named issues that were already controversial between the two parties during the election campaign and before: integration issues (specifically German before municipal housing), minimum income and reforms in the pension sector. Furthermore, they had agreed not to reveal it.
When asked, the SPÖ also referred to the agreed silence: “It was a conversation in a good professional environment. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of the content. We adhere to that, ”KURIER said when asked.
The fact that a coalition could emerge between the SPÖ and the ÖVP was something that only they had before the date
less believed. It was surprising how clearly the differences were communicated immediately after the meeting. After the talks between the SPÖ and Neos, as well as the Greens, there were cautious and generally appreciative words from both sides.
It cannot be said if the red-turquoise option has already been ruled out for a long time: “We will not be the first to rise from the negotiating table,” he said in ÖVP circles on Wednesday. In plain English: if the SPÖ bodies decide to invite the ÖVP to more coalition talks, they will come. The probability of that happening is extremely small.
One should be disappointed in the field of ÖVP’s kindred SPÖ economic chamber. They were relatively open there
pronounced by a collaboration with the Reds.
Quick Decision
Around the national holiday, Ludwig wants to report on the course of the exploratory talks at a meeting of the SPÖ board. He will then make a recommendation on which party to start negotiations with. Party committee approval is probably just a matter of form. The decision must rest with Ludwig and his closest advisers.
There is internal disagreement over whether the SPÖ should continue to negotiate with the Greens or the Neos. After Tuesday’s meeting, the Greens were hopeful: “The red-green with Ludwig-Hebein shows,” Vienna Green boss Birgit Hebein announced after the appointment.
One thing is for sure for now: Obviously, Hebein can deal with Ludwig’s humor better than anyone else. While Blümel did not enjoy his foam roller, Hebein was the only one to bring his own gift: four bottles of “Michl” and “Birgit” beer.
