Chancellor Karl Nehammer is counting on the combustion engine to be saved before Sunday’s elections – the ‘Krone’ reports in detail. Now there is strong criticism from other parties.
The Chancellor’s last substantive offensive before next Sunday’s EU election battle, which will likely yield a poor result for his ÖVP. If you can believe the studies. Karl Nehammer wants to be the spearhead against the Union’s regulatory madness, he said after a “round table” on Monday. Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Kocher and Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler (both ÖVP) also took part, as well as representatives of IV and car companies.
Nehammer then went full throttle. ‘Stop the combustion engine’ and ‘yes to the car’ are the slogans. This has nothing to do with the election campaign, but rather that they want to set the course for what will happen next. It is about Austria as an industrial location, about “Austria as a car country”. A break in regulations is needed. In the spirit of Europe, in the spirit of Austria, where 100,000 jobs are being damaged. Especially in the supply industry. By 2035, there may be no more new registrations of cars that run on fossil fuels. The European People’s Party (EPP) and the right are against this. In Austria the FPÖ. The EPP will probably become the strongest force. And has already announced that he will then devote himself to the hot topic of combustion engines.
Styrian benefactor
Nehammer does not want bans, but rather innovation and freedom of technology. Neither Asia, nor the US, nor Latin America would ban combustion engines. Only the EU wants this. This means a competitive disadvantage and job losses, emphasizes Drexler from Styria, whose state is mainly dependent on the automotive sector. Drexler, who, like Nehammer (National Council), also has to fight for a (state) election this year and is weak in the polls, congratulated the party leader on his initiative.
Green and red critics
It is not surprising that criticism followed from other parties. The green coalition partner is – in the truest sense of the word – obviously upset. Top EU candidate Lena Schilling said the ÖVP was gambling the future of the car industry for a few cents in political change. “The People’s Party must overcome its fetish for combustion engines and pave the way for climate-friendly mobility. The future belongs to the electric car.”
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler: “Nothing new from the People’s Party, but a lot of old thinking, brought in by old oil lobbyists. From 2035, only emission-free cars will be allowed. These are huge opportunities for the European automotive industry – many new, high-quality jobs will be created in electromobility. The young people want to earn their money from climate protection and not from the destruction of nature.”
SPÖ club president Philip Kucher spoke about the following “PR nonsense from the ÖVP. When Nehammer organizes a summit, things will definitely go downhill for Austria.” The only good thing is that there will be no more summits before the EU elections.
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.
