310 deputies took part in the election. The governor was confirmed as head of the SPÖ in Burgenland with a large majority – 97.8 percent for Doskozil. Doskozil ran for party leader election for the second time. In September 2018 he replaced Hans Niessl in this function and received 98.4 percent approval. Eight officials painted it this year. After the re-election, the head of state stood on the stage in awe. The event ended with the Burgenland national anthem. The SPÖ organized the state party conference as a major event in the exhibition hall in Oberwart after the party conference had to be postponed due to the corona virus. Around 1,700 guests attended, including 324 delegates.
Doskozil: “Everything for the people”
At around 10:25 a.m., Doskozil took the stage for his nearly hour-long speech. He got a standing ovation before he even said a sentence. “It’s a moving moment, I’m overwhelmed,” he said. Doskozil thanked the federal party leader Rendi-Wagner and ex-Chancellor Christian Kern. The main message of his speech was that everything that is done must be for the people. It should not be about functions and offices. “The task of social democracy is to serve the people,” said the governor. He described Bruno Kreisky’s era as the “golden years”. “It must never go so far that politics gives the appearance of being dependent in any way.” Parties have enough resources at their disposal. “We don’t need a single cent in donations from any large corporations,” emphasized Doskozil. Measures that have already been introduced, such as the minimum wage of 1,700 euros net, were also discussed.
Doskozil also referred to the war in Ukraine. He said that Burgenland was the only country to get information on the spot. One should not lose sight of the essentials. The war has improbable effects on security policy in Europe. Doskozil referred to his consistent line on the migration issue in recent years and that “structural changes” are needed in refugee policy. “Now the situation is that the Ukrainians need help. Burgenland has a long tradition when it comes to helping.”
Doskozil also addressed the increased energy costs caused by the war. He criticized the federal government, which would not present any new solutions – it was Energie Burgenland that was working on new solutions. This is how one would work on the production of hydrogen. Doskozil announced a kind of super storage facility for Burgenland, which is to be built in the coming year.
Doskozil wants to get rid of election posters
Towards the end of his speech, Doskozil reiterated that one is not committed to corporations, but to people. He also wants to establish a ban on party donations. For the state elections in 2025, Doskozil would like to introduce a ban on posting posters. He also wants to set a donation limit for state elections, which will be 300,000 euros.
music and sports
Doskozil also announced new measures in the field of education. For example, remedial classes and tutoring for those who need it should be made available by the public sector. Likewise, every elementary school child should be given a musical instrument from September, in the second grade. Every child should have this opportunity. Furthermore, “exercise and sport” is an important topic. The aim is to give children who attend the school ski course a pair of skis so that they can continue to do so in their free time.
Photo series with 26 pictures
“Go Where It Hurts”
If you are not willing to go where it hurts to leave rope teams aside, then everything that Austria probably wants will not succeed, said Doskozil. He also thanked Rendi-Wagner for coming – because it was important that people understood what social democracy wanted. In any case, the Burgenland social democracy will go this way, according to Doskozil. After the speech, the officials elected the state party leader. There were a number of motions during the election process. For example from the Association of Community Representatives, the SPÖ Frauen-Burgenland or the Socialist Youth Burgenland.
“With courage. With foresight.”
The state party conference began at 9:00 a.m. with the parade of state governor Doskozil with the SPÖ team, guests of honor and 171 top candidates. In front of them were children who wore the letters “SPÖ Burgenland”. All the top candidates held a red balloon with the inscription “With courage. With vision.” Schnabl and Georg Dornauer from Tyrol Among the guests were also ÖFB President Gerhard Milletich and the research coordinator in Burgenland, Werner Gruber.
Rendi-Wagner, Kern, Androsch in an interview
At around 9.45 a.m., a round of interviews began with SPÖ federal party leader Rendi-Wagner, ex-Chancellor Kern and former Vice-Chancellor Hannes Androsch. During the round of interviews, the federal government and the ÖVP in particular were targeted. “When I heard that the young man (Kurz, note) was leaving the government office, I poured myself one – and two more, three and then I ended the working day,” Kern calculated. The ÖVP is “not able to identify problems” and to present solutions: “Because they only think in press conferences,” said Kern. Androsch sounded similar, referring to the aftermath of the war in Ukraine: “We will experience a shift in prosperity.” What is needed above all is an appropriate energy policy: “We need a federal government capable of doing this,” said Androsch.
With reference to the ÖVP federal party conference in Graz, the federal party leader also stated on Saturday that it makes a difference who governs: “There the former short worship association meets and changes its color again. It won’t do them any good either. You have a new party chairman who acts as if he had nothing to do with the machinations of the past few years. Here in Oberwart, tangible suggestions are being discussed as to how people can afford to live better again,” says Rendi-Wagner. “I’m proud of Burgenland and I’m proud of the governor.”
“We all have to fight to ensure that the difference is not only noticeable in Burgenland, but that we again become the party with the most votes and that I can form the next federal government together with you,” Rendi-Wagner hoped for an early National Council election and received lively encouragement from the officials. During the speeches, Rendi-Wagner did not sit at Doskozil’s table, where the Burgenland government team was seated, but at the next table.
Large Viktor Adler badge for Hans Niessl
Former governor Niessl was honored for his services to the SPÖ with the large Viktor-Adler plaque. He reduced the number of employees in Burgenland to over 100,000 during his tenure and closed the education gap: “We were described as the country of educational disgrace. Today we have the highest rate of high school graduates in Austria.” Little whoops: Rendi-Wagner revealed the honor during her interview – it was supposed to come as a surprise. The mayor of Neustift an der Lafnitz, Johann Kremnitzer, was also honored for many years.
Central themes are defined
The guests in the Inform Hall were welcomed by regional manager Roland Fürst, who was confident that the SPÖ would appear as one nationwide in the next elections and would be “by far” the strongest party. What the ÖVP, Greens and FPÖ have “broken down in recent years, we will have to repair it,” said Fürst. He demanded, also addressed to the federal party, the introduction of a minimum wage of 1,700 euros net.
The deputies are also elected at the state party conference. In the future there will be seven instead of four to represent all seven districts. Astrid Eisenkopf, deputy governor, and Verena Dunst, president of the state parliament, remain in office, as well as state councilors Heinrich Dorner and Leonhard Schneemann, state councilor Daniela Winkler and the two state parliamentarians Dieter Posch and Ewald Schnecker. With a leading motion, the SPÖ will determine its central issues – these are minimum wage, care, social housing, expansion of health care and renewable energy. In addition, the SPÖ will start the local council election campaign for the elections on October 2nd. The fact that the federal party leader is coming to the party conference only became known at the beginning of the week. So far, the relationship between Doskozil and her has been fraught with conflict.
“No stage fright”
Before the start of the state party conference, Doskozil answered the ORF Burgenland question as to whether he had political stage fright that he didn’t, because there were family members on the spot that day. SPÖ federal party leader Rendi-Wagner is also a family member – and as in all families, there are also discussions, but there are no conflicts. Rendi-Wagner also said that this day is not about conflicts. It shows that it makes a difference who governs a federal state and she is happy to be here. There was a warm welcome in front of the stage.
Ludwig: “A strong voice for social justice”
Vienna’s SPÖ Governor Michael Ludwig described his party colleague Doskozil as a “strong voice for social justice at the head of the SPÖ Burgenland” and “guarantor of social progress”. He is looking forward to continuing the good and close cooperation, says Ludwig.