Tyrolean ÖGB chairman Philip Wohlgemuth must now take the coals out of the fire for the state SPÖ and unite the party after the Dornauer disaster. Late Wednesday evening, the Red Party’s executive committee unanimously expressed its confidence in him. In the “Krone” interview he explains how he wants to approach the task.
Following the withdrawal of Georg Dornauer, the executive committee of the state party of the Tyrolean SPÖ made many personnel changes on Wednesday evening. ÖGB boss Philip Wohlgemuth was unanimously appointed executive chairman from December 19, and he has already been appointed to the role. He was also recommended to the state party council on Monday as the next first deputy state governor with 100 percent.
“Only heard positive things”
The party nomination for the government office will then be made in the committee, in which Wohlgemuth Dornauer will also succeed on December 19. Wohlgemuth was pleased that he had “heard only positive things” during the more than two-hour meeting at the party headquarters in Innsbruck.
The 37-year-old announced that the state party conference, where he will ultimately be elected as the new Tyrolean SPÖ leader, will take place next spring. This will be a regular party congress. He spoke out against an early “extraordinary” for “efficiency and cost reasons.”
“Anything but satisfied”
Naturally, the events of the past few days were also discussed in the leadership committee, said the new strongman of the Tyrolean Social Democrats. Naturally, they are “anything but satisfied” with this and ask both the Tyrolean population and the party members “for forgiveness”. Now we must look to the future, “get stronger” and be united. There will be no personnel changes in the Tyrolean SPÖ government or in the state.
“Kron”: Is the stability of the coalition guaranteed or are new elections necessary?
Philip Wohlgemuth: We don’t have a government crisis. I have assured, promised and guaranteed to LH Anton Mattle that as a social democracy we will ensure stability and continuity. We want to continue working on the government program that we negotiated together. That’s what I stand for. I have an obliging character, that is what unites me with the governor.
However, the SPÖ club expected Dornauer to withdraw and not join the club. How do you plan to solve this problem?
Dornauer informed us that he would like to fulfill this mandate from the state parliament until he has made a career change. That must be accepted; he has the right to accept the basic mandate. There is little we can do in this regard, even if it doesn’t look very good.
The vote of no confidence in the state parliament is also a factor of uncertainty.
We have agreed in the club and with the coalition partner that we do not agree with this. We have also agreed that Dornauer will continue to lead the department until the budget parliament. This also makes it easier for me to transfer my house, the ÖGB, in an orderly manner. So I won’t be gone overnight.
How difficult was it to leave your job as ÖGB boss?
For me that is anything but easy, to be honest. I am a trade unionist with heart and soul and we have now had very successful years with 70,000 members. It would not have been part of my life plan to move into state government. But now it is what it is, and I look forward to this task.
Have you already received congratulations from the federal party chairman?
In total there were hundreds of calls and messages. I have already spoken to Andreas Babler and indicated that I look forward to a good collaboration with him and he has done the same.
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.
