During the first regular session of the state parliament, Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) and his new coalition partner Christof Bitschi (FPÖ) were satisfied with the government program. The club bosses were less enthusiastic and spoke of a lack of ambition.
During his government statement in the Vorarlberg state parliament, Governor Markus Wallner spoke of difficult circumstances and challenging times. Topics such as demographic change, digitalization and artificial intelligence or climate change must be tackled with confidence. The words of support for the state were followed by an overview of the agreed points in the black-blue government program.
In terms of business location, an offensive for skilled workers will be launched. There will also be a new office in the country house to reduce bureaucracy. There was a clear commitment to the Lake Constance highway (S18) and the Feldkirch city tunnel, but also to the simultaneous expansion of local public transport. At the same time, there was a small swipe at the former government partner. “The issue of mobility should be less about ideology and more about solutions,” Wallner said.
After representatives of the Chamber of Commerce proposed at the beginning of the black-blue coalition negotiations to transform the state’s green zone into a demand zone, the Greens were particularly upset. At this point, Wallner announced that there will be no “ill-considered interventions in the state’s green belt” in the future. Energy autonomy and climate and flood protection measures are also not up for discussion.
During the election campaign there was a lot of discussion about the issue of affordable housing. The aim is to maintain or implement the projects that have been initiated: attractive housing subsidies, projects such as Wohnen 550 and the increased rental allowance. “If anyone has a better idea: we are open. There is no ideology,” Wallner said. He emphasized better support for families, the further expansion of childcare, the development of a new hospital plan from 2025 and maintaining the integration line. First you have to learn the language, then you have to accept the local values and participate, Wallner pointed out the ‘Vorarlberg Code’. With a new coalition partner, the long-announced sanction options could also be enforced in the future. “This line will apply one to one throughout Austria,” says the state governor.
The new governing partner Christof Bitschi (FPÖ) had little choice but to repeat Wallner’s words. About his move after ten years in opposition, he said: “I understand that there is criticism. We should not continue to beat each other on important issues.”
Harsh criticism from the opposition
Former regional councilor Daniel Zadra spoke in a new role – as club president of the Greens. He called the government program outdated and unambitious. “It doesn’t meet the challenges of our times,” he said.
Like him, club president Claudia Gamon (NEOS) believed that the ÖVP and FPÖ perhaps should have taken a little more time for the program. In her first speech in the Vorarlberg state parliament, the former EU MP described an “unambitious start” for the new government and detected “a certain inertia” in the ÖVP.
SPÖ club president Mario Leiter – he also spoke for the first time in the state parliament – saw vague promises in the program, but no solutions. There would be a particular demand for affordable housing. But the central message is apparently ‘business as usual’.
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.
