[ad_1]
“We want to open the door to a progressive coalition,” said Mayor Ludwig, emphasizing the decision to begin coalition negotiations with the Pinkies with immediate effect.
The decision has been made: the Viennese SPÖ under Mayor Michael Ludwig will enter the first red-pink coalition at the state level in Austria: Party committees gave the green light on Tuesday for coalition negotiations with the Wiener Neos under the leader of the Christoph Wiederkehr party. In theory, negotiations could still fail, in practice both parties are willing to compromise and highly motivated to get Red-Pink to the finish. Therefore, the red-rose is de facto fixed.
Details have yet to be announced. The coalition talks are still negotiating on departments and functions. However, the Neos should at least reclaim the education department, that’s their core theme. At the same time, it is clear that the existing departments will be completely reorganized. What appears is still open.
Unanimous decision in the presidium
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon after the committee meetings, Ludwig emphasized that he had insisted on red content in exploratory talks with the ÖVP, Greens and Neos (the three parties arithmetically eligible for a coalition). These are: dealing with the crown crisis, dealing with climate change, expanding the health and care sector, and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises.
The education system is also extremely challenged by the pandemic, so one wants to establish another approach here. After all, Vienna was not only the first federal state to introduce the free kindergarten year, but also broke new ground with the ‘digital classroom’. Ludwig also wants to continue on the path of sheltered housing, together with the social partners. “That was my opening statement for all these exploratory talks,” the mayor said.
“Liberal Social Coalition”
What all the meetings had in common was a good atmosphere, “but the content was very different.” It quickly became clear that “we are not deciding against a match, but for a match”, and that is the Neos. The Presidium voted unanimously in favor of the fact that there was an “overwhelming majority” – two votes against – on the board of directors, Ludwig said. “I am delighted that we are traveling this new path,” he emphasized. “We want to open the door to a progressive coalition”, to the first “social-liberal coalition” in Vienna.
The mayor did not want to pretend that there was a will to “approach with an open heart.” But: It is true that the SPÖ was six times stronger than the Neos, that will certainly play a role in the negotiations. It is also clear: if the talks fail, the SPÖ would fortunately have other options with the Greens and the ÖVP.
The press conference of Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) has ended. At 1:30 pm, Neos club president Christoph Wiederkehr will make a statement. The article is continuously updated.
(thing / hell)
