Official was injured – activists caused chaos at the meeting of the state parliament

An orange-sprayed facade on the country house in St. Pölten, the fountain on the Traisen painted with toxic green paint: climate activists of the last generation once again caused a stir in the capital. With their protest on Wednesday, they even caused an interruption of the current session of the state parliament. With a pocket alarm and bickering, they caused a loud boycott in the building. On the topic of ‘Cheap energy instead of climate hysteria’, the activists started whining from the visitors’ gallery. And for good reason: the protest serves to “put the climate catastrophe on the agenda and demand political measures against its destruction – especially the implementation of the Climate Council’s recommendations.”

“We want to critically demonstrate that things can be done differently. The word climate hysteria is simply absurd after a summer full of catastrophes. Man-made climate change, including species extinction, scares many people,” explains climate activist Katrin Weber from Kreuzstetten. “As the largest federal state in terms of area with the greatest wind and solar energy potential, Lower Austria lags far behind its own climate targets and has by far the highest CO₂ emissions per capita, especially in the energy sector. Complying with applicable treaties and international agreements would require at least a redoubled effort throughout Austria,” said the mother of three, as she marked the state parliament building with orange warning paint.

In the meeting room, activist Bernhard Schaller from Wolfpassing interrupted the agenda “because in a democracy the state parliament should not implement fossil interests, but rather the recommendations of the citizens.”

Blinder radicalism
Just minutes later, thanks to the efforts of the fire brigade, the paint was removed from the facade of the mansion. “Climate protection is important, we all agree, but this blind radicalism, which even turns a blind eye to a memorial for terror victims, must end. This completely misplaced attack on our symbol of solidarity with the victims of Hamas and with the State of Israel shows that climate chaos truly has no respect for anything or anyone. This is a shame. “I’m just glad that Consul Herzel Edri didn’t have to see that,” said state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, irritated. Only recently, a show of solidarity from the head of the country took place at the same location.

Helga Krismer, leader of the Green Party, on the other hand, sees a constructed action: “Asserting facts without listening to the activists is unworthy of a state governor and a president of the state parliament. I hope the statement will be corrected. The presumption of innocence also applies to Klim activists,” said club chairman Krismer.

Session of the state parliament adjourned
“This is an attack on democracy. Instead of talking to MPs, most climate activists resort to violence. “The anti-democratic behavior only shows that the hysterical climate chaotic people are becoming more and more radical,” said FPÖ club president Reinhard Teufel, who condemned the incident.

The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism and the St. Pölten city police are investigating. According to police, an activist was temporarily arrested for attempting to damage property and resisting state authority. At least two others have filed a report on suspicion of property damage. One officer suffered minor abrasions during the operation.