TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG, editorial: "Transparent political maneuver", by Karin Leitner, issue of Sunday, April 30, 2023

2023-04-29 20:01:06

Haslauer is in trouble. Unlike in Lower Austria, not everyone wants a coalition with the FPÖ.

Innsbruck (OTS) – Haslauer has suggested a black-blue-red government for Salzburg. It was also clear to him that the SPÖ would not play along.

On the evening of the election, Wilfried Haslauer had not ruled out a tripartite pact. One from ÖVP, SPÖ and the Greens. Now he pleaded for another: black-blue-red. The SPÖ said no immediately. She doesn’t need the reflection period until Tuesday that Haslauer gave her. It was clear that it was out of the question for the SPÖ to be a “red conscience stitch” for black and blue. Haslauer knew that. It was a tactical maneuver. A transparent one. The governor and ÖVP boss needs time to think about it. He’s in trouble. While in Lower Austria, from Johanna Mikl-Leitner down, a coalition with the FPÖ was desired, that is not the case in Salzburg. Some of Haslauer’s party members, primarily in Lungau and Pinzgau, want an alliance with the FPÖ, urban ÖVPers reject such a plan; they are for one with the SPÖ. The bourgeois Haslauer belongs to the latter. He has great reservations about the Blues, even after the 2018 election, despite a majority with them, he decided against the FPÖ and for a novelty, a “dirndl coalition”. Even now he resists black and blue in the country. The relationship with FPÖ leader Marlene Svazek is bad, the tonality of the Freedom Party is repugnant to Haslauer. On May 2nd he will say who is being negotiated with. It will probably be the blue ones. No fear of contact with these are attributed to a key ÖVP player. The longtime companion of Sebastian Kurz and ÖVP regional councilor Stefan Schnöll. He should become Vice Governor – and succeed Haslauer when he leaves in five years. That could be sooner. Then if Haslauer does not want to go down in state history as the one who made black and blue possible for the first time.