The mood in the coalition could still improve. Green Party representative Astrid Rössler accused ÖVP Minister Karoline Edtstadler of “fact-free criticism” of the EU renaturation law in the National Council on Wednesday. She again targeted her Green government colleague Leonore Gewessler.
The unexpectedly heated discussion occurred during the debate on the second national report on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Rössler thought the content was quite good. However, she had “very serious doubts” whether Constitution Minister Edtstadler was also behind the content. This blocks and fights the implementation.
“Beautiful pictures are not enough”
Rössler recalled that Edtstadler had withdrawn the national climate plan from the EU. She is also fighting against biodiversity by saying no to the renaturation law. In addition, there is the criminal complaint against Gewessler, even though she acted “correctly and responsibly”. “We need intact nature. Beautiful pictures are not enough”, says Rössler.
Edtstadler: “It doesn’t matter what the constitution says”
The State Secretary did not want that to happen. In a constitutional state, you have to distinguish between form and content: “In a constitutional state, it does not matter what the constitution says,” she said, referring to the legal position of the ÖVP, according to which Gewessler should not have approved the constitution. the renaturation right itself. When it comes to the climate plan, Edtstadler emphasizes that a national plan must also be coordinated nationally. It is important to take concerns into account instead of putting ideology first.
The day of the National Council meeting began with a heated climate discussion. Green Party leader Sigrid Maurer pointed out that 2023 was the warmest year in recorded history and that there have recently been up to 500 heat-related deaths per year in Austria. Maurer accused FPÖ MP Dagmar Belakowitsch, who repeatedly intervened, of cynicism.
FPÖ: “It has always been warm in summer”
In Maurer’s speech, this was later described as a “cabaret performance”. The warning about climate change comes from the “green ideology” and it has always been warm in the summer. If you want to “pull something into the eyes” of the population, you enter into a discussion with science, Belakowitsch said – which also happened during the corona pandemic.
The SPÖ made climate change a matter of distribution policy. Special attention should be paid to people with low incomes, but also to workers and employees, said Red MP Julia Herr. On construction sites, for example, there is a need for a “right to be free from heat”.
Final of the National Council with about 60 laws
In the last week of meetings before the summer break of the National Council, around sixty laws should be adopted by Friday. Those of Wednesday include a new aid package for the communities, more money for the fire brigade, the end of the Corona financing agency Cofag, as well as a cooling-off phase for future constitutional judges and a digitalization package for schools.
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.
