Vienna’s future ÖVP boss – Mahrer: “Less social assistance for value deniers”

When parties are looking for ideas, it usually gets tight for the Viennese – because then district politicians, party leaders or even city councilors are again at the door of the apartment according to the concept of proximity to the people. “Contact with the people” is the quickly forgotten motto, and this time it is Karl Mahrer who applies the principle. The 67-year-old will be elected party leader on Friday in the Steffl Arena in Donaustadt. Federal party leader Karl Nehammer has set the bar high with his 100 percent.

But what plans does Karl Mahrer have? Citizens, watch out: he wants to join the Viennese. “We want to connect with people. We want to talk to them, even if it hurts sometimes.” On Friday he will present an organizational form. But according to Mahrer, “I can’t promise to go to every Viennese.”

When it comes to integration, Karl Mahrer picks up where ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz left off. These are his ideas:

• “Anyone who wants to live in Austria must accept our values,” said the upcoming ÖVP Vienna boss. “It can’t be that there are men who don’t even want to shake women’s hands.” Anyone who does not accept Austrian values ​​should receive less social assistance. A reduction in child benefit is also conceivable for him in such cases.
• No citizenship for those who speak poor German or no German at all. The situation in the schools is dire. Mahrer: “The SPÖ wants to get some people citizenship. For us, it marks the end of a successful integration process.”
• “We need more police in the city, we need a strong police force,” explains the ex-police chief. “But by the time the police enter into a conflict with a youth gang, it is too late. We have to organize the neighborhood well enough and invest in education and integration.”

With offices by the hour against the home office problem

• He also wants to see this idea realized, in addition to integration: hour offices. What should that be? Mahrer: “Home office will remain after Corona. It is not easy, because the children are at home, the wife is at home, sometimes the living room table is full because the cake is baked there. You cannot work there.” According to the ÖVP, short-term offices would be an idea to use empty zones on the ground floor. In theory you could then go straight to the real office.

Mahrer’s goal: VP instead of NEOS in government
His goal for the upcoming elections in Vienna, probably in 2025: “Absolutely avoid the SPÖ and be as strong as possible to bring the People’s Party under government responsibility. But only in a coalition of equals.”