The mayor of Innsbruck, Johannes Anzengruber, sharply criticizes Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. According to him, the head of state had “acted ideologically” by giving the government mandate to the ÖVP – and not to the FPÖ, which had the highest number of votes. Anzengruber also has few nice words for his ex-party ÖVP.
“It will be democratically elected. Excluding such a person is a harsh announcement, that must be said honestly,” said Anzengruber, who with his list YES – Now Innsbruck is in a coalition with the SPÖ and the Greens in the city, with clear words against the Hofburg.
The fact that the population voted for the FPÖ first “should have been respected.” The Federal President’s actions “made him think.” Van der Bellen probably “got away with a black eye in the true sense of the word”.
ÖVP looks too much at ‘own people’
Former ÖVP deputy mayor Anzengruber attributed the ÖVP’s relatively poor performance – both in the National Council elections and in the Styrian state elections – to an excessive concentration on its own clientele and the party apparatus. “They no longer realize that they have to communicate with people. But not just with your people, but with all people.” But this is generally a problem for the “major parties”.
The ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS parties now negotiating at the federal level are now “challenged”, he urged, for tax and levies reforms.
Anzengruber’s revenge and ex-party
Anzengruber himself participated with his own list in the municipal elections and the mayoral elections in April, after the city’s ÖVP selected not him – as then deputy mayor of the ÖVP – but ex-state secretary Florian Tursky as its top candidate.
This independence now gives him the freedom to ‘get the best out of the city’. In fact, he has “nothing to do with the state ÖVP from a party point of view,” but maintains a “good and collegial exchange” with state governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) and the other members of the government.
Will Anzengruber run in the 2027 state elections?
Anzengruber did not want to explicitly rule out taking part in the next Tyrolean state elections in 2027 – as he had already indicated in the media – but he had “no ambitions at the moment”. His ‘home’ is local politics because he is a ‘local politician with heart and soul’. “I don’t know yet what will happen in the coming years,” the city boss added. In any case, there is “a lot to do” in the city.
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.
