The Tyrolean state parliament started with a lively debate on Wednesday. This was caused by the issue of asylum – in particular: the Code of Conduct for Migrants, an initiative of the Vorarlberg ÖVP that became public in early November – the “Krone” reported. The Freedom Party submitted the oral question.
Migrants and refugees would therefore have to sign the “Vorarlberg Code” and this would oblige them to do charity work. Tyrolean state governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) said at the time that he was “open to the initiative”. “After all, language and employment are the key to successful integration.”
Request it verbatim
Markus Abwerzger, chairman of the FP state party, picked up the ball and confronted Mattle in the state parliament with the following oral question: “What is this code of conduct really supposed to achieve in the future if the Austrian Integration Fund confirms that only about half of recognized refugees and people who are entitled to subsidiary protection and who came to Austria in 2015 are available for the labor market, which means that these people are employed or registered as unemployed with the AMS?”
Mattle is open to suggestions
“There are many problems within our government; we are not only concerned with the issue of migration. If I respond to the advance from Vorarlberg and open myself up to it, then that is a measure,” said LH Mattle. There are already many ways in which integration can and can take place in Tyrol. “Above all, we have very good opportunities to learn our language – especially through Tiroler Sozialedienste GmbH,” said the state governor, admitting at the same time: “However, we are not able to get all migrants to take these courses.”
National coordination needed
But it is also clear that national coordination is needed so that there is equal treatment within all states and requirements do not differ from state to state. “Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner has already ordered this to be implemented. “We are already one step further here,” LH Mattle explains. He also reported on a tour of a food market in Wörgl, where 26 (!) countries operate.
The Green Party leader remembered the former World Cup president
Green Party leader Gebi Mair recalled that not so long ago the ÖVP was in the position of drawing up a code of conduct for itself. Moreover, language acquisition measures also require public resources, which the former ÖVP chamber president apparently withheld from the state due to alleged tax evasion or fraud. “How long have you known about this?” Mair wanted to know. It is good that the presumption of innocence still applies in Austria, says LH Mattle. He’s known this since early November.
Code for “cheap vote catching”
For Liste-Fritz-LA Markus Sint, the code is “a cheap way to get votes before the next National Council elections”. “What prevents the VP from entering such a code earlier?” Sint called for free language courses for everyone, three hours of German courses and three hours of community service per week. Language courses are free, LH Mattle reminded, but language acquisition and working will not be possible at the same time.
Neos doubts the usefulness
Neos-LA Birgit Obermüller generally doubted its usefulness: “We have much more serious problems in the form of anti-Semitic incidents. Education protects against radicalization. What solutions has the government proposed?” “When it comes to anti-Semitism, society must be united,” Mattle emphasized, “the advantage of the code is that German courses become mandatory.”
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.
