The thunderous applause from the assembled Tyrolean People’s Party sounded like a summer storm when Governor Günther Platter entered the room on Monday after his press conference in Villa Blanka. Over the past two years, the ÖVP has repeatedly shown how close they stay together – at least to the outside world – in stormy times: the fiercer the storm, the louder the applause. The opposition, of course, sees it very differently.
It was unanimously heard from the VP unions that Platter’s personal decision should be respected, that the right candidate was found as his successor in Anton Mattle and that snap elections in the fall were the right decision as it would save the Tyroleans a month-long election campaign. .
Deputy Governor Josef Geisler, chairman of the Tyrolean Farmers’ Union, said he was very surprised at the sudden withdrawal. “The rural population could always count on Platter’s sincere appreciation,” says Geisler. And to the successor: “Toni Mattle is a team player and therefore a good choice as a successor.” Asked by “Krone”, the head of the Tyrolean Economic Association Franz Hörl said: “It is a pity that the governor is leaving. “Is Anton Mattle the right successor? “Apparently. The board of the state party has decided unanimously,” he said succinctly.
ÖAAB frontwoman “annoyed and surprised”
AAB state chairman Beate Palfrader was annoyed and surprised by Platter’s decision: “I noted it wistfully. I would have liked him to have led the Tyrolean People’s Party in the elections. Anton Mattle rightly received unanimous approval in the party board.”
Patrizia Zoller-Frischauf, president of the Senior Citizens’ Association, took the same line: “Toni can inspire people. I am convinced that those who do not know him yet will also come to love him.” The chairman of the young VP, Sophia Kircher, also donates Platter roses: “I especially want to thank Günther Platter for his open ear when the future of youth is at stake.”
For the opposition it is the “flight forward”
“Tirol needs stability,” SPÖ president Georg Dornauer said. The new elections had “become necessary”. The SPÖ is ready to take on the responsibility – it didn’t say a word about the governor or the ÖVP.
The other opposition parties are taking Platter to court: “Governor Platter leaves, but the Platter system remains,” said Tyrolean FPÖ chairman Markus Abwerzger. “The announced new governor Anton Mattle is the proverbial political twin brother of the outgoing governor,” Abwerzger saw no real innovation.
It is clear to NEOS boss Dominik Oberhofer that “the real reasons for his resignation are that his party is sinking into an incredible scandal over party funding at the federal and state levels”. He tells Mattle to clean up the boat at party headquarters. And Liste-Fritz club boss Markus Sint sees Platter’s withdrawal as a flight forward: “With Platter, the captain is the first to leave the sinking ship ÖVP.”
Source: Krone
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