Political observers such as the political scientist Anton Pelinka speak of a serious mistake in the “Wien Energie” cause, the Burgenland governor Hans Peter Doskozil of damage to the SPÖ. Mayor Ludwig, on the other hand, sees no mistake, as he explains in the “Vienna Today” summer talk.
shipment notice
Every Saturday at 7 p.m. on ORF2 until September 10, the leaders of the Vienna municipal council parties can be seen in the “Vienna Today” summer talk.
Almost all EU countries have taken measures and set up protective shields worth billions, says Ludwig: “Not in Austria. That is the reason that I have set up a Vienna protective umbrella for Wien Energie and that I have also secured financial security in my capacity as mayor. Namely money that is not gone, but serves as a deposit to secure the energy business.”
Finance City Councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) pointed out in March that the “crazy energy markets are a major challenge – throughout the European Union. Ludwig: “That is also the reason that the European Union wants to take measures here to to intervene in the European energy market. We have been calling for this for a long time. Unfortunately, the federal government has so far rejected it.”
criticism of communication
Ludwig granted Wien Energie EUR 1.4 billion to secure transactions on the electricity exchange. The opposition criticizes the direct award and that this was not made public.
According to Ludwig, however, there was no other way of proceeding during the period when there were no meetings in July and August: “It would certainly have been possible to convene a special municipal council, which, however, has the disadvantage that you cannot, for example, decide on a business deal with a special municipal council. As such, this will be duly dealt with in accordance with the city constitution as provided for, the relevant political decision-makers will be informed in the manner provided for by the constitution.”
No further agreements
Coalition partner and Deputy Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) would like to set conditions for the approval of the 1.4 billion. He calls for better control options for outsourced areas of the city of Vienna in the finance committee and perhaps also in the municipal council. According to Ludwig, the measures taken in the coalition agreement are still being processed. “There will be no further agreements.”
Summer talk: Michael Ludwig (SPÖ)
In the last “Vienna Today” summer talk of this year, the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), spoke about the Wien-Energie cause and why the fee increase was necessary.
Ludwig can only “difficulty” imagine that there will be problems with the approval. According to Ludwig, it was also the case in the past that he “first used this competence and then the corresponding decisions were made” in the CoV help for the business location and labor market as well as in the support of Ukraine.
Fee increase “not a big issue”
Ludwig defends that the city of Vienna adjusts the fees in times of rising prices. “The valorization that exists in Vienna was created so that there is no erratic development in fees, but an adjustment along the inflation rate. (…) Therefore, the fee adjustment that we have now made is less than two euros per month for a one-person household and more than two euros per month for a four-person household. That’s not the big issue now.”
According to Ludwig, however, salaries and wages would have to increase. “Because it will be necessary to maintain private purchasing power. And I would very consciously like to include the retirees. That’s why I don’t understand the discussion that parts of the federal government have now started, saying that they don’t want any major pension adjustments. I believe that it is necessary for the older generation in particular to be given financial support in this difficult situation.”
SPÖ in the last few months
From the Wien Energie cause to the fee increases, the SPÖ had to overcome a number of challenges in recent months.
Mask requirement in public transport remains
According to Ludwig, the FFP2 mask requirement in public transport remains “as long as it is necessary”. Calculations would show that “unfortunately in the fall, i.e. probably in mid-October, we have to be prepared for the number of infections to increase. We don’t yet know exactly what the mutations will do. I hope there will be no major burdens on the hospitals. But it is certainly necessary to act with caution, safety and prudence here. That applies to Corona as well as to economic issues.”