A May 1st under new signs – Diepresse.com
Not even a week after the Vienna election and now again in the federal government, the Social Democrats committed the day of work on Rathausplatz-applause for brare and criticism of the party youth.
A May 1st, where your own party is in the government responsibility, differs from one in which it is in opposition. And a May 1st, less than a week after the Vienna election, is something completely different.
Despite the best weather, significantly fewer people come to the traditional May rally of the Vienna SPÖ on Rathausplatz than in previous years. « Sure, people are tired, they ran all the time until last Sunday, » explains a partisan of the « press », while he holds his « high of May 1 » in one, his flag with the symbol of the three arrows in the other hand.
Mayor Michael Ludwig now speaks on stage. Despite losses for the SPÖ – but at least with a clear election victory – he books the last election Sunday as a « special reason ». Vienna, he says, is a « stronghold of social democracy in Europe » and a « bulwark against authoritarian and right -wing populist trends ». After that, Ludwig once again announced what he has already committed in the election campaign: There will be no coalition with the FPÖ in Vienna. This is acknowledged with loud applause.
The coalition with the ÖVP and Neos in the federal government has now resulted in a new situation for the SPÖ this year: unlike in previous years, both other parties are difficult to complain. The freedoms remain as an enemy, as well as Donald Trump’s policy, which the Viennese women’s spokeswoman, Marina Hanke, later turns into a topic in her speech.
At the same time is with the Socialist youth (SJ) Simmering beforehand, but also a banner moved into the Rathausplatz, on which you can read: « The Red Vienna is better without neos liberals ». In general: On May 1st, the SJ is traditionally critical of its own federal party. « Stop family reunification? Human rights don’t know any upper limit, » says the Federal Government’s migration policy on a poster. On another you question a slogan: « Short, shorten, upgrade – get Austria back on track? »
« You can see it more relaxed »
The mayor, who, as waving from the stands every year, has also implicitly referred to it: If you have to be annoyed by unpopular measures that are now to be taken, then you have to consider what the alternative was: a Chancellor Kickl. « You can see many things more relaxed, » he says, praising himself: He also made « a small contribution » to the three -round negotiations in a second round.
It was only around the middle of his speech that the mayor welcomes Federal Party leader Andreas Babler on Rathausplatz. For the Vice Chancellor there is, if not a long, but at least loud applause. Former party leaders experienced it differently on May 1st.
« /> Mayor Michael Ludwig APA / Florian Wieser
Afterwards, BABLER praised Vienna as a model city « for many things that we still have to implement in the federal government ». And he tells of « pride and joy » that fulfills him because he, the former workers’ child, can now be vice -chancellor of the Republic. He promises that you will fight with passion in the government, even if it is not always easy. His claim is that the country is a better one « when we have done the work ».
The other red members of the federal government also mentions Babler. There is a lot of applause for Justice Minister Anna Sporrer and Women’s Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner. The latter is not here, she commits May 1st in her home state, Upper Austria.
Not all district party organizations that have moved onto Rathausplatz today share the good mood. Many had to accept losses in the Vienna election, in some places it was a tremor, for example in the race with the Greens. Perhaps it is also because the Wiener SPÖ on this May 1, than in the past, addresses climate protection much more, numerous districts mention how much green space they created, how many trees they have planted.
« /> Federal party leader Babler APA / APA / Florian Wieser
New priorities
Another thematic focus that the comrades set this time and which has become more important in the election campaign is the right to vote for non -state citizens. Hanke, as well as the Chamber of Labor President Renate Anderl, speak, for example, that large parts of the population were excluded from democratic processes. « They build the future of this city with their own hands, for example on the construction site, » says Hanke.
Incidentally, Minister of Finance Markus Marterbauer is inconspicuous, less insertion than “wandering”. While his colleagues from the federal government wave from the grandstand, he is among the guests and listens, as Babler speaks, among other things, of the consolidation of a budget « that we did not cause ». There are no more allusions to the now coalition partner, the ÖVP. As I said: May 1st is different.
