The polls weren’t even open yet and there was already excitement. In Zirl in the Tyrolean district of Innsbruck-Land, the state elections take place without the election experts from the PVV. The reason: a pre-determined mask requirement for election evaluators by the municipal electoral authority. While the mayor speaks of a security measure that is now voluntary – at least for party officials – the FPÖ rages: “It’s crazy.”
City office Zirl, Sunday shortly after 8 o’clock: In the polling station for “Sprengel 2” the election officials are all well with their masks on. Mayor Thomas Öfner (SPÖ) also leads by example and wears FFP2. “It’s a preventative protective measure,” the local chief told the Krone.
A protective measure that upset freedom election judges so much that they didn’t even show up – and went on strike, so to speak! “We as FPÖ Zirl were very much looking forward to actively supporting Zirl Municipality in this election as an evaluator,” said a statement from the local party, adding: “Unfortunately, due to this measure, we have to resign from our work as evaluators. The health of our members is very important to us and we cannot take responsibility for forcing them to wear a mask for several hours.”
Öfner: FPÖ not at the electoral authority meeting
Mayor Öfner confirmed to the “Krone” that the wearing of masks for election judges in the municipal electoral authority had been unanimously decided in advance. Explosive: No one from the FPÖ was present at this meeting, although invited of course.
But why do people in Zirl insist on the mask? Öfner: “We are not doing this to plant people, but to protect them. Besides, we have the federal presidential elections in two weeks!” People do not want to run the risk of a corona cluster, because many election officials are also involved in the presidential elections. Öfner also emphasized that the measure only applies to the election evaluators and not to the voters.
‘No influence on the conduct of the elections’
After investigation by the country’s responsible authority and constitutional service, it is now clear that – at least for political party officials – it is not allowed to impose a mask requirement. So you shouldn’t be forced to wear FFP2. “Out of solidarity and for protection, everyone out there still adheres to it,” said the mayor, who further emphasized: The absence of the FPÖ evaluators did not affect the conduct of the elections. “All districts are well staffed and have a quorum!”
FPÖ campaign manager: “It’s crazy”
The PVV reacted sharply to the measure. Campaign leader and state MP Patrick Haslwanter: “It’s crazy that Zirl has imposed a mask requirement on the election judges at the polling station. We are clearly against any mask requirement, and we posted this during our election campaign. For this reason, our election experts will not be appearing in Zirl today.”
It is incomprehensible that election officials should wear masks, but voters should not.
Source: Krone
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