Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr invited people to the Values Convention in the Hofburg on Thursday. Hundreds of citizens discuss coexistence in Vienna with representatives of politics, religion, science and government. In his opening speech, the NEOS man explains fundamental principles.
“Rules are made by law, not by the prayer book,” says the pink city deputy. In Austria this is actually a given. Repetition still needs to be mentioned separately. What does this show about daily life in Favoriten and Meidling? He also clearly states: “Visitors are not welcome in Vienna.” Normally this should also be uncontroversial.
Wiederkehr is on the reconnaissance team
Wiederkehr’s speech is also interesting because he is part of the NEOS negotiating team for the next federal government. His words could take on national significance (if the Neos can have their way). The politician demands three basic principles from everyone who wants to live with us: human dignity, pluralism and democracy.
You regularly see in Vienna that some groups have problems with these principles. The police reports are full of it.
At the same time, Wiederkehr emphasizes that he does not want to judge any community based on their religious beliefs or the like: “We must protect the hard-working market stall owner from Syria or the hard-working nurse from Afghanistan from dangerous stigmatization. People like her make an important contribution to our society. They do not deserve to be lumped in with the enemies of our society.”
And then the 34-year-old lists a few problems that many Viennese suffer from: “A hospital is not a meeting place for large families.” Time and again, migrant clans literally ‘storm’ clinics, disrupting other patients or staff.
“Parents also have responsibilities”
Or: “Parents also have duties.” Muslim men who refuse to shake a teacher’s hand are unacceptable. Wiederkehr is responsible for education in Vienna. He wants to introduce the compulsory subject ‘Living in a democracy’ in schools. And he makes it clear again: “Learning German is not optional, but mandatory.”
The results of the values convention will be presented next week.
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.
