Green club president Sigrid Maurer sees averting the climate crisis as the “top priority” of her party’s participation in government. “The great thing is that used to be a green mission, now it’s a state issue,” she said in the APA interview. She does not want to shake the coalition, because it has been another productive year. “The fact that the ÖVP regularly has its own problems cannot and will not deter us from our course,” said Maurer.
“We are in the situation where we have the opportunity to actively shape and not just comment from the side. And not seizing this opportunity would be a great betrayal of the voters,” she said: “We have been elected to do everything we can to stop the climate crisis. And we do.”
Urban Left disappointed by Greens
Asked about some urban leftists’ disappointment with the Greens, Maurer referred to the diversity of their supporters: “There are also people who live in rural areas and see what environmental destruction is doing on their doorstep, and who the Greens vote. of this conviction.”
Her expectation is “that we will be measured by actions, and I think that’s something to be proud of”. Maurer therefore does not accept the reproach that nothing is wrong in the government and that mutual blockades and revenge fanatics in cooperation with the ÖVP would get out of hand: “I just cannot understand that.”
Reference to agency fee agreement
Only recently has agreement been reached on the abolition of brokerage fees, the skimming of excess profits from energy companies, party law reform, health care reform or even “little things” such as the abolition of cold progression or the valorization of social benefits.
On the ecology front, she recalled the Renewable Energy Expansion Act as one of many projects she’s done. “Together with the ÖVP, we have a majority in parliament and are the first generation to feel the effects of the climate crisis and the last generation that can do something about it,” said Maurer, underlining the urgency of this concern.
Criticism in the SPÖ
She doubts whether the SPÖ can better fight the climate crisis: “If you look at what social democracy has to contribute to this question, it is retrospective and concretely focused.”
Differences with ÖVP in asylum policy
Clear statements were made in the event of disagreements with the ÖVP, for example on asylum policy, and Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s term “asylum tourism” was not the Greens’ choice of words. “We wouldn’t let ourselves be photographed with Orban so often if we were in the chancellor’s position,” Maurer said, “The current debate that has been ignited here does not contribute to the solution.” This should be a European debate. “It must be possible to do both, order and humanity,” she emphasized.
In view of the corona pandemic, war and inflation, the chairman of the Groenenclub expressed understanding for the extremely difficult situation of the population and their frustration. “It should be our job to give confidence, give hope and also provide solutions.” She remembered the anti-inflation packages that had been decided, but also the filling of energy storage facilities and the abandonment of Russian natural gas despite all the prophecies. of damnation.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
