2023-12-23 05:07:02
The Styrian ÖVP leader Christopher Drexler has to beat his first election as acting governor in 2024. A new state parliament is expected to be elected in the Green Mark in November 2024. Drexler wants to defend first place because he has “no plan B” in the event of an election defeat, he said in an interview with the APA shortly before Christmas. He cannot imagine a future legislative period as deputy governor.
Drexler looks back on a “difficult year for many”: “We – like all of Europe – are struggling with the consequences of inflation and indirectly with the consequences of international crises,” but in Styria we managed to “get some things right “to move in the direction”. The majority of Styrians have the impression that the Green Mark is getting through the crisis “better than other federal states,” he said, citing a recently published study.
He now has his team complete for the coming election year: In the fall, Drexler had to bring Simone Schmiedtbauer as regional councilor from Brussels to Graz to replace the seriously ill long-time agricultural state councilor Hans Seitinger. State Health Councilor Juliane Bogner-Strauß, who had been heavily criticized by the opposition for years, had to give way to Karlheinz Kornhäusl and returned to the National Council. His team is now complete: “With these two we have got two real reinforcements in the state government.” Kornhäusl has brought a new vigor and new confidence to the “health and care sector, which is so important and at the same time difficult for Styrians” – backed by a personnel package worth 130 million euros, said Drexler.
Keyword health sector: Recently there have once once more been negative headlines surrounding the planned Liezen lead hospital, but the state governor still sees a long-term improvement for the region: “I think in ten years all of today’s critics will say that it was a smart decision to close the lead hospital “build,” he is convinced. There were delays, “but I expect the groundbreaking to take place in 2024,” Drexler continued. Considerations are being made for the subsequent use of the three existing hospitals in the region. In Schladming, the Diakonissen clinic, as the operator, wants to organize its own future use and in Bad Aussee the hospital should definitely be given future use in the health sector. According to the state governor, there are currently no more precise plans for the Rottenmann location.
He didn’t want to commit to the 2024 election date, but “I’m assuming November”: “Since we have a leap year, it might even happen by chance that we vote once more on November 24th. I’m not a number mystic, but that I would really like it.” Until then, he wants to continue working with the SPÖ in the coalition. The focus should be on the further development of Styria as a business location and the program for climate protection through new technologies.
The ÖVP’s main topics in the upcoming state election campaign will focus on “high-quality, comprehensive health care, the contribution to climate protection as well as prosperity and work through new, modern jobs” – “that will be roughly the triumvirate,” announced Drexler. He also wants to focus on the “civic virtues of personal responsibility, performance and security”.
Already in the summer, the state governor had expressed his goal of continuing the government with the SPÖ following the election, but did not rule out the FPÖ as a coalition partner. The fact that the Styrian FPÖ leader Mario Kunasek is being investigated doesn’t bother him: “The presumption of innocence applies to Mario Kunasek as well as to everyone else who is accused in a criminal matter,” as long as there is no final conviction. “But my goal is to be the first to cross the finish line anyway.” He also has “a lot of confidence” in this because he notices in his conversations with people that “my administration is considered good.” “All the empirical findings that are available to me fuel my confidence for 2024,” said the state governor optimistically.
Drexler welcomed the new asylum rules that were passed at EU level just a few days ago: “This is extremely positive and a significant step towards combating illegal migration. This goes with what I said several months ago: Asylum is allowed “Don’t be misunderstood. Anyone affected by war or persecution must find a safe haven, but he or she does not have the right to choose the exact haven.”
For Christmas and New Year’s Eve he hopes for a few days of “familial connection and great peace.” A “Christmas prologue with all the children, partners and nephews and a very large turkey” is already waiting on Saturday. Christmas Eve will be in a small family circle and on December 26th there will be a “traditional cousins, uncles and aunts meeting” in Vienna. Personally, the state governor has decided to run more once more in 2024 – a fitting resolution for the upcoming election campaign.
(The interview was conducted by Ingrid Kornberger/APA)
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