Ludwig ready for new negotiations

Ludwig places the Austrian nun “at a crossroads”. “The SPÖ is of course ready at any time to immediately restart negotiations with the ÖVP and Neos in order to form a federal government that is socially fair, economically competitive and socio-politically liberal in meeting the challenges in our country.” Unsurprisingly, the ÖVP and NEOS came through quickly “Kurier” a rejection.

“Kickl a security risk”

Kickl represents “a security risk,” Ludwig quoted former ÖVP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in an interview, who had suggested Kickl’s dismissal to the Federal President on this grounds. Ludwig does not see personal debates in his own party.

Ludwig also made similar comments in a detailed interview with ORF Vienna editor-in-chief Oliver Ortner two days ago. The mayor of Vienna described the current situation as a “turning point in the further development of the Second Republic”. Until “the last minute” of the coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, he was in favor of “keeping our hand outstretched” – more on this in Ludwig sees the FPÖ Chancellor as a “turning point”.

Preliminary discussions suspected

The mayor of Vienna was also affected by the ÖVP’s about-face in the “Standard” and “oe24.tv”: “But there is a certain script that has already emerged in federal states: fierce election campaigns, tough contentious disputes, even personal ones .” Ongoing conflicts between ÖVP and FPÖ. And after a victory lap with the SPÖ, the ÖVP forms a coalition with the FPÖ.”

Ludwig assumes that there had already been discussions in advance between the FPÖ and – at least parts of – the ÖVP, which is why he does not expect government negotiations to take too long. His party leader also sees it this way: “Blue and black have long been prepared in the background,” Andreas Babler told “Heute”. Ludwig is convinced that the FPÖ is largely a right-wing extremist party. “Last but not least, Herbert Kickl said that about himself, he carries it in front of him like a medal,” said the Vienna SPÖ leader in “Heute”.

“100 percent behind Babler”

He regretted that the ÖVP was ultimately understood at the negotiating table. Unlike the ÖVP and NEOS, he did not see Babler as being to blame. Ludwig stands 100 percent behind the party leader, just as he “always stands behind the person who holds the party chairmanship.” However, he would have wished that the third National Council President Doris Bures “had been more involved in the negotiations,” he said in the “Press”.

In principle, the representatives of the strong Viennese SPÖ were well represented in the various subgroups. Once again, the mayor of Vienna emphasized that the federal political dispute between his party and the NEOS was not affecting Vienna and that women in the “progress coalition” worked well together. These features are so good that they are not currently considering other coalition options.

Damage to tourism feared

The election will show what opportunities exist in Vienna. In principle, he assumes that this will take place as planned in the fall, but he has not ruled out bringing it forward. The mayor did not believe that red Vienna could be disadvantaged by blue and black: “Vienna is an economic engine and a net contributor. Every federal government would be well advised to establish a good understanding with Vienna. That’s what I expect.” However, Ludwig fears that a federal government led by Kickl could harm tourism.

Nepp: “Attacks unworthy of a mayor”

Ludwig’s statements naturally met with criticism from the FPÖ, the Viennese party leader Dominik Nepp spoke out in a broadcast: “The wild attacks by Michael Ludwig against the FPÖ and Herbert Kickl are unworthy of a mayor and show once again that he is nothing else “It’s more about distracting from the massive failures in his own politics.”

Once again he shot against red Vienna: “For years, the red Viennese system has favored people who make no contribution to our society, while the hard-working Viennese population and those who find themselves in need through no fault of their own are getting further and further under the wheels.”

Not all industrialists are happy about blue and black

Above all, the business wing and the industrialists are seen within the ÖVP as the driving force behind a coalition with the Freedom Party. The head of the Lower Austrian Industrialists’ Association, Kari Ochsner, was critical of the FPÖ on Saturday. “A fortress Austria is total nonsense and not feasible, but we also can’t solve all the world’s problems,” he said in “profil”.

Furthermore, after the failed negotiations, Blue-Black has “no alternative,” but: “The commitment to the future of our planet and against man-made climate change must not be jeopardized by the current political constellation.” “An adjustment of the FPÖ’s oppositional views on Europe “, Russia and climate protection are unavoidable for me,” he emphasizes.