Pure minimalism in the wide country. On Thursday, the black-blue state government around ÖVP state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and FPÖ party leader Udo Landbauer will be elected into office. Both should not receive more votes than is absolutely necessary in their vote. A good start in new times?
Never before has there been a black-blue government coalition in Lower Austria. Never before has a governor been elected with just 23 votes out of 56. Neither the SPÖ, nor the Neos, nor the Greens will give Mikl-Leitner and Landbauer a vote.
This is probably how the elections are being misled
Because the PVV voted invalid in Mikl-Leitner’s election, their 14 votes were automatically scrapped. Because only 42 of the 56 votes are left, a simple majority is sufficient and the ÖVP provides 23 representatives, Mikl-Leitner’s re-election is almost certain. Provided no one from your own party falls over. When Landbauer is elected deputy governor, the black and blue secret plan stipulates that 17 of the 26 ÖVP mandates are void and the remaining six Landbauer votes. Assuming that Landbauer does not get a vote from the other parties, the votes are then 20 yes and 19 no.
Hundreds of demonstrators in front of Landhaus
Hundreds of people have gathered in front of the Landhaus in St. Pölten since 8 am to protest against the constituent assembly on Thursday. SOS Mitmensch sharply criticizes the pact between ÖVP and FPÖ at the protest meeting. “We are going through a development in which parts of politics no longer have red lines with regard to racism. It is all the more important that the constituent session of the state parliament does not take place without protest. There should be no silence about the political dam that is bursting in Niederösterreich, in which right-wing extremists and racists are promoted to positions of power,’ says Alexander Pollak, spokesman for SOS Mitmensch.
There was boos for Gottfried Waldhäusl (FPÖ) when he arrived at the mansion. Speeches accompanying the demo included calling him the “master of agitation” and “pioneer of incompetence for his area of responsibility”. According to police, 400 to 500 protesters took part in the protest. Also present were Helga Krismer, President of the Greens Club, Deputy Mayor Harald Ludwig (SPÖ) of St. Pölten and former member of the National Council Anton Heinzl (SPÖ).
Angry for black and blue at demo on Wednesday
Climate activists loudly protested against the black-blue coalition on Wednesday. According to the police, about 300 people were present at the St. Pöltner Rathausplatz. Including Helga Krismer, the spokeswoman for the Greens, reported the “Krone”.
“The SPÖ strongly believes that the coalition of ÖVP and FPÖ is a bad decision for Lower Austria and is leading our country in the wrong direction. The SPÖ NÖ has said from the outset that it is ready to assume government responsibility. to make noticeable improvements for Lower Austria,” said a joint statement by Sven Hergovich (State Party Designate President), Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (State Councilor and Deputy State Party Chairman), Hannes Weninger (Club President) and Wolfgang Zwander (State Manager) .
“Waldhäusl-Autobahn” should come
With Gottfried Waldhäusl, Lower Austria’s most combative politician has risen from the provincial council to the second chairman of the provincial parliament. Even before the swearing-in, however, he again provides topics for discussion – and political provocations.
In an interview with the “NÖ-Krone” he announced the comeback of the Waldviertel Autobahn. A mega construction project that Minister of Green Environment Leonore Gewessler together with Johanna Mikl-Leitner actually shelved in December 2020. Actually, because as part of the black-blue negotiations, the drafts have probably been secretly taken out of the drawer again.
Waldhäusl himself negotiated “his baby” in the agreement. The traffic plans probably cause “traffic chaos” at the Ministry of the Environment, but also at the State Chancellery. Especially since the projects require a federal government that is not in office, but also not so unlikely anymore. “We are doing the preliminary work. There will be federal elections in 2024. Hopefully the voters will put an end to this disastrous coalition, and then blue and black will come. Then we will immediately introduce the Autobahn,” explains Waldhäusl, not without a side note: “And I deliberately said blue and black.”
Incidentally, he would not bet his field that black and blue would last five years in Lower Austria “because it is a beautiful field”. But the chances are high.
The article will be continuously updated during the constituent session of the state parliament.
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.
