SPÖ state party chairman Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig on the umbrella themes of energy protection, asylum and migration, financial equalization and Wien Energie
Vienna (OTS/SPW) – As part of today’s ORF press hour, SPÖ state party chairman Dr. Michael Ludwig on numerous current political issues.
Ludwig presented the need for an energy shield for homes and businesses as a unanimously agreed demand at last week’s conference of state governors. Above all, this should relieve those who are particularly suffering from rising energy costs. Selective one-off payments are a good and absolutely necessary first step, but would not change anything about the structural problem – from Ludwig’s point of view, however, a sustainable solution could only be a gas price cap in order to keep Austria competitive, especially in relation to the important economic partner Germany. If it doesn’t work out, there is a risk of considerable damage to both the company and the employees, warned Ludwig.
All these issues show that the conference of state governors is an essential and stable political factor, continued Ludwig. Because the LH conference advises on pressing policy issues across party lines and crafts constructive solutions. In addition to the demand for an energy protection umbrella, this requires more money for investments in care, health, education and services of general interest as part of financial equalization. In the health area alone, the lack of structural measures by the federal government in the clinical area would have entailed an additional burden of one billion euros for the states and federal municipalities. Along with the other provincial governors, Ludwig therefore calls for an urgent reassessment of financial equalization in this area.
In dealing with the asylum issue, the mayor called for an objective and constructive political discourse. Unlike the other parties, Social Democracy is the only party with a well-founded program and a differentiated approach to the issue. It is important to distinguish between the necessary influx of skilled and skilled workers and asylum seekers in need of protection. Ludwig called for easier access to the job market for asylum seekers who are due to be granted asylum status. Due to the low number of births and upcoming big waves of retirement, Austria is in urgent need of skilled skilled workers and “helping hands” to secure Austria as a place of business. The federal government urgently needs to seek solutions together with the social partners and take appropriate measures. As far as the accommodation of asylum seekers is concerned, Vienna is the only federal state that accommodates more than the agreed number of refugees. In his role as President of the Austrian Association of Cities, the Mayor of Vienna called on the federal government to pursue a targeted and constructive dialogue with cities and municipalities in order to secure the long-term accommodation of people seeking asylum in Austria.
Regarding the Wien Energie case, the Mayor of Vienna emphasized that there was urgency and that swift and decisive action was the logical consequence. The decisive factors were the sharp rise in energy prices and the consequent sharp increase in the amount of deposits due on a daily basis. It is precisely for this exceptional situation that the Viennese city constitution provides for an emergency competence of the mayor. Renowned constitutional jurists confirmed the legal conformity of the procedure, Ludwig emphasized.
Ludwig was also convinced that the leader of the federal SPÖ party, Dr.in Pamela Rendi-Wagner, would run in the upcoming National Council election as the main candidate of social democracy. He supports her and is confident that she will be Austria’s first elected chancellor. (close) cs
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