Vienna before the election: fight against the threatening blue-black coalition!

Vienna before the election: fight against the threatening blue-black coalition!

The political waves in Vienna and Austria are running high! In a drastic warning, Judith Pühringer, leader of the Vienna Green Party, commented on the impending coalition between the FPÖ and the ÖVP. “Our fears have come true, blue-black is coming,” she made clear in a press conference in which she focused on the potential impact on social programs and climate protection. According to Pühringer, people are worried about the consequences that this alliance could have for the most vulnerable in society, such as the abolition of additional income opportunities for vulnerable groups, which she described as “adé to fighting poverty”, while the FPÖ and ÖVP would declare war on the poor. The planned subway expansion in Vienna could also be at risk because not all financial commitments have been made with the federal government yet.

The danger of a massive program of cuts in the areas of climate protection and social benefits is getting closer. Pühringer warned that the FPÖ is already talking openly about restricting funding for switching from fossil fuels, which would further increase energy costs for the Viennese population. There is also the possibility of fee increases for the climate ticket. Peter Kraus, co-party leader of the Greens, sees the community of civil society and citizens as necessary support for a strong counter-model to the new federal government in order to prevent the “emergency in charity”.

The dark vision of blue-black

A blatant program by the FPÖ is causing a stir. In a worrying step, the FPÖ is calling for a “reporting office for politicizing teachers,” which could bring back the block warden mentality, as the Greens strongly criticize. There is also a risk of massive cuts in the promotion of women's rights and protection against violence. Pühringer and Kraus made it unmistakably clear: “When right-wing extremists rule, more independent media are needed to control them.” In this regard, FPÖ leader Nepp has already expressed his joy about a possible restriction of press freedom, which is directly aimed at critical journalism.

These developments cast the upcoming elections in Vienna in a new light. The party leaders emphasized that the population does not want to go back to the past, but rather wants a “Vienna of tomorrow”. Pühringer and Kraus see themselves as the necessary counterpoint to the threatening blue and black waves in order to set an example for social justice, climate protection and independent media, which is all the more important given the current political situation ots.at reported. Those too Small newspaper addresses the serious impact that this political development could have on the Viennese population.