Vienna State Parliament: Minute of silence for Peter Kostelka and historical milestones

Vienna State Parliament: Minute of silence for Peter Kostelka and historical milestones

On April 24, 2025, the 41st session of the Vienna State Parliament began at 9 a.m. with a moving minute of silence for the former National Council member and State Secretary Peter Kostelka, who died on April 17. State Parliament President Ernst Woller (SPÖ) praised Kostelka's tireless commitment to justice and the rule of law. Kostelka, born on May 1, 1946 in Bad Bleiberg, Carinthia, had an impressive political career and was, among other things, an ombudsman at the federal level. Until his death, he also advocated for the interests of older people as President of the Austrian Pensioners' Association.https://presse.wien.gv.at/presse/2025/04/24/41-wiener-landtag-1 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kostelka

In his speech, Woller also discussed significant historical events associated with Kostelka's political career. He commemorated the end of the Second World War and the liberation from National Socialism 80 years ago. He also highlighted the signing of the State Treaty 70 years ago and the accession to the European Union 30 years ago.

Political engagement and change

The meeting was also characterized by a discussion about current challenges in the social sector. LMP Katharina Weninger (SPÖ) asked a question about the rejection of the directive on personal assistance. City Councilor for Social Affairs and Health Peter Hacker argued that the directive does not meet the specific needs of the Viennese population and that the financial basis remains unclear. In Vienna, around 380 people currently receive personal assistance, the annual costs amount to around 26 million euros.

In further questions, LAbg. Georg Prack (Greens) focused on the number of households that will receive housing assistance in 2024. Planning City Councilor Ulli Sima (SPÖ) confirmed a massive increase in the budget for housing assistance from 61.5 million euros to 161 million euros. Around 28,000 households benefit from this, with the average support being 247 euros per month.

Social measures and perspectives

The social challenges were also taken into account by Labor MP Sabine Keri (ÖVP), who was asked questions about child and youth welfare in Vienna. Deputy State Governor Bettina Emmerling (NEOS) reported on the planned expansion of social-educational services and the creation of additional positions. In particular, five additional crisis centers are being planned to meet the increasing demand for crisis intervention.

This discussion shows that the issues of justice, social support and the preservation of democratic values ​​are very much in the focus of the Vienna State Parliament, which not least reflects the historical beginnings and challenges of Austrian democracy after 1945. It should be noted that the integration of a wide range of social concerns and the optimization of services for the population are key challenges for the future.https://utheses.univie.ac.at/detail/640