Now it is official: Johannes Pressl was elected chairman of the Austrian Association of Municipalities on Monday. The 53-year-old mayor of Ardagger received 94.4 percent of the votes of voting local leaders.
Pressl, who has been mayor for 19 years and has been chairman of the Lower Austrian Association of Municipalities since 2021, succeeds Alfred Riedl, who resigned after allegations of property purchases in his home community of Grafenwörth. After his election, Pressl cited finance as the main cornerstones of his work program. “Almost every municipality is experiencing a loss of income and increasing expenses that can hardly be met alone,” said the new chairman of the municipal association and called on the federal government to discuss an aid package for the municipalities worth one billion euros.
“Save the country with common sense”
He wants to organize cooperation with the regional associations and municipalities as follows: ‘Involve yourself, but don’t interfere.’ Regarding land consumption, Pressl says: ‘We want and must save land, but with common sense. He has the following in mind: mobilizing empty and vacant buildings or densifying city centers. Higher financial incentives should also be considered for remodeling single-family homes and adding a second housing unit.
Expansion of childcare as a further point of attention
Other important topics for Pressl include the expansion of childcare, the topics of local healthcare and doctor care in rural areas, care and aging in place, energy transition and climate protection, digitalization in communities, networking with European partners and strengthening the mayor’s office. , it said.
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.
