“I am sure that you will soon lead the Republic,” Pamela Rendi-Wagner told Vienna’s mayor, Michael Ludwig. A state party convention of masks, promises, slips and rejections by NATO.
Social-democratic microcosm in hall D of the Messe Halle: 1000 deputies gathered on Saturday to re-elect Mayor Michael Ludwig as head of the Viennese SPÖ – and to listen to the speech of “chancellor” Pamela Rendi-Wagner, who is not a chancellor is , but on stage it was celebrated as if it were her. “I’m sure you’ll be leading not only the SPÖ, but soon the Republic,” Rendi-Wagner announced.
Strict Covid Safety Measures
But let’s start at the beginning: Covid safety measures in the exhibition center were strict, but not as strict as on public transport when it came to the obligation to wear masks: you could take them off when you sat down. “We have the highest possible security,” explains alderman for Public Health Peter Hacker. Only those who had been vaccinated, recovered or tested for PCR were allowed to enter the room.
Ludwig: “In the near future we will abandon the obligation to wear masks”
Then Mayor Michael Ludwig spoke and defended his FFP2 policy: “We will be abandoning the mask requirement in the near future.” Approval in the seated maskless audience. However, the guidelines were not always followed and even in standing group photos, the masks disappeared from the faces for a short time. The virus will turn a blind eye.
Ludwig spoke about the big problems of the city. Substantial wage increase for the upcoming collective labor agreement negotiations. By 2040, 6.5 billion euros will be invested in hospitals. Add to that the fight against inflation, especially in the energy sector. Vienna is still waiting for the mayor’s statement about the increase in district heating. A topic that will only appear after the state party conference.
It was also about public transport, education, climate protection and of course the city street (here, after endless debates, the clear majority chose it). Ludwig: “With an ever-growing city, we also need new roads.” The mayor emphasized Vienna’s successes, but cautiously mentioned the federal government.
Criticism of the federal government and a slip of the tongue
At least compared to Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Without the critical passages about ÖVP & Co. her speech would have been nothing but greetings and goodbyes. The general blow ranged from the inflation failure to staff cuts to an embarrassing slip of the tongue: “For the ÖVP, the well-being of the many, uh, the few counts”. At the end of the speeches, both became defenders of neutrality. Ludwig: “I am for neutrality and against joining NATO.” Conclusion of the day: Ludwig was elected party leader with 94.4 percent. “Chancellor” Rendi-Wagner must first pass a national election to be named outside the SPÖ.
Source: Krone
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