On the main day of the 68th Austrian Municipal Day on Thursday in Wels, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) referred to the “multiple crises” that mainly affect the municipalities, but would strengthen Austria. “Now comes the hour of probation at the federal, state and local levels by guiding people through the crisis. People demand trust from us,” said the ÖVP leader.
After more than 100 days of war in Ukraine with its “total destruction rage”, everything must be done to “end this madness”. It is therefore important to take measures to mitigate the effects of the war, “we will not be able to prevent it”, Nehammer said in Wels.
When the crisis in the world worsens, it always affects communities, he made clear using the example of migration. It is the responsibility of the federal government to create the preconditions for housing, but the “primary task” of the municipalities is to receive the refugees. But, as the Chancellor emphasized, “we are able to overcome crises and come out stronger”.
Van der Bellen wants more female mayors
In his speech, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen paid special tribute to the tireless work of the local leaders. In view of the still male-dominated office, Van der Bellen wished for more female mayors. Van der Bellen described the mayors as “the administrators of good coexistence”. You have to “watch” them to “copy” something, he admired the approximately 2000 participants “enough”.
Association president calls for sustainable health care reform
The president of the municipal association, Alfred Riedl, replied to the federal president: “We can always get praise.” He also thanked the federal government for its help to municipalities during the pandemic, but warned ahead: “We municipalities need sustainable financing security in health care reform, but so far there has been “radio silence”. , such as the energy transition, streamlining bureaucracy, electoral law reform and childcare, there is a need to catch up.
The governor of the state of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP), described the communities as “places where politics is lived” with local politicians as the “most direct contacts”. The past two years of crisis have revealed a problematic sense of entitlement, so some see themselves as ‘customers of the state’. However, democracy only works if there are people who live democracy and are “involved for it and for it”.
Source: Krone
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