As expected, Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s (ÖVP) speech on the future entitled “Austria 2030” was heavily criticized by political competitors. But the environmental organization Gerrenpeace also found everything but praise for the chancellor: “The speech for the future simply did not deserve its name. The ÖVP is unable to take the climate crisis seriously.”
For Lisa Panhuber, spokeswoman for Greenpeace Austria, the climate crisis is the greatest crisis of our time. She takes a sharp stand with Nehammer’s speech. Not a word about the Climate Change Act, not an answer to how the oil and gas phase-out will work: the speech was a farce. Strong climate and species protection are prerequisites for a future on our planet.”
“Total Failure”
In her view, Austria should decide to phase out fossil fuels, end the rampant consumption of resources and introduce a delayed circular economy. “If the ÖVP instead wants to continue to downplay and fuel the climate crisis, it will be a total failure,” said Panhuber. While other EU countries would pass ambitious laws, the ÖVP has consistently avoided climate protection measures over the last 30 years of government responsibility and will of course be without a climate plan until 2030.
“Well-known ÖVP customer policy”
The SPÖ also shoots at the chancellor. “Nehammer presented well-known ÖVP customer policy. Without a plan and in view of record inflation, Austria is not equipped for the challenges of 2030,” said Jörg Leichtfried, SPÖ deputy club boss. And added: “Nehammer is not even talking about inflation – the biggest social crisis in Austria for decades. That’s unbelievable.”
“Without the blockers of the ÖVP, the good future could already be today”
“This speech showed what the ÖVP can do: stage emptiness and lack of ambition beautifully,” emphasizes NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos. The ÖVP has been in the federal government for 36 years and would have had enough time to lead the country to a good future. “Without the blockers of the ÖVP, the bright future could already be today. Maybe someone should remind the ÖVP leader that the government is paid to do, not to talk,” Hoyos continued.
Wöginger praises the Chancellor’s speech
As expected, Nehammer received a lot of praise for his speech from his own party. “We have a chancellor who wants to keep changing this country for the better. Karl Nehammer has not only overcome the crises of our time in an exemplary manner, but has now also given an extremely optimistic perspective for the future,” says ÖVP club president August Wöginger.
According to Wöginger, Karl Nehammer’s Austria is a country where performance pays off. “In his speech, he made it clear that he is sticking to the previous course to relieve employees. Anyone who gets up every day and does their part should have significantly more to live on than those who don’t go to work.”
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.
