Things continue to crash in the turquoise-green coalition. The Greens are sharply attacking ÖVP Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm. She was “ignorant” and did not want to do her job – even though the Greens said she had plenty to do.
Plakolm would not take the concerns of “hundreds of thousands of young people” regarding climate protection “seriously,” said Green youth spokeswoman Barbara Neßler. When it comes to child abuse, it is “shocking” that Plakolm is trying to bring about “cheap political change.” She should go do her job.
“As State Secretary for Youth, she would have more than enough to do,” Neßler, who is also her party’s spokesperson for children, family and tourism, told the coalition partner politician. It’s not enough to just make headlines. “This is not the policy that is needed now. This is not the politics that young people deserve. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work at full speed,” Neßler called on Plakolm to take action.
Greens: Better to attack than to help
The Tyrolean National Councilor said she had not heard from Plakolm until now when it came to the area of affordable housing, a particularly burning issue for young people. And when it comes to climate protection, the activities of the State Secretary for Youth have so far been limited to “tackling climate glue” rather than taking seriously the concerns of the “hundreds of thousands of young people” who took to the streets again last Friday .
Neßler was also outraged by Plakolm’s actions in the child abuse debate. Even with “such an important and sensitive issue”, the State Secretary is trying to make political money from it. The background: Plakolm had accused Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) of delaying the planned tightening of penalties for child abuse images. According to the Greens, the completed bill could be passed in October. However, the ÖVP still sees the need for improvement.
Neßler: Fixing what turquoise blue was missing
In 2019, the ÖVP, then in coalition with the FPÖ, “oversaw” the need to adequately reform sexual criminal law, Neßler said: “We are solving it now. Instead of getting involved in creating comprehensive protections for our children, Plakolm focuses on making headlines.”
The package includes stricter penalties for perpetrators and a ban on activities, even if a sexual offense did not occur during the activity – for example in schools and kindergartens – but in advance. This closes the gap that turquoise blue left open, Neßler argued. The debate recently gained momentum again after the Teichtmeister case.
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.
