« You are a cog in the gear » – DiePresse.com
« Press » talk. ÖVP boss Karl Mahrer had to answer the questions from the « press » reader. They could not forget that his party has caused problems that are also available in Vienna.
Vienna. The audience was interviewed right from the start. « Election campaigns are times of focused unintelligence. » Who said that, wanted to know Vienna-Chronik department head Dietmar Neuwirth from the visitors in the « Presse » editorial team. And then (of course it was SPÖ mayor Michael Häupl) to the Viennese ÖVP boss Karl Mahrer Turned: « Is that true? » No, he replied. The only quote he can understand was: « You can bring the spray wine ». He also said that.
The second “press” talk took place on Friday, in which the top candidates have to answer the “press” readers. It was therefore not a coincidence that Karl Mahrer campaigned for his pact and coalition ability right from the start. After all, he is the chief of a party who, in the surveys, cannot hold their result of the past Vienna election (around 20 percent).
« If the political center does not find any solutions, people wander to the extremes. »
Karl Mahrer,
Vienna ÖVP boss
What do you have to learn as a politician as a politician as a politician, Neuwirth von Mahrer wanted to know. And like Karl Mahrer, he usually replied: long, detailed and a bit past the question. That he had achieved everything as a official with the police (he was a police vice president of Vienna) that the wave of refugees in 2015 was a wake -up call for him, that he thought that as a police officer he would no longer be able to do anything in this matter, in politics.
What did the policeman Mahrer have had to learn as a politician?
What he had learned now, Neuwirth wanted to know: that you were « a little cog in the gear » and that you only have the opportunity to implement something, « if you form coalitions, » replied Mahrer. « This means that you can find allies within the ÖVP for ideas, but also with other parties. » Freitage afterwards, he then performed his role in the reorganization of the DSN (Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence) and, as he also brought the opposition to the background negotiations.
He has not regretted the step into politics (Mahrer has actually been in retirement for a long time with his 70). The fact is important to him: « If the political center does not find any solutions, people wander to the extremes. »
And that of the political center was sitting opposite Mahrer last Friday. Of course they wanted to know how Mahrer intends to implement the Lobau tunnel. There was no answer. Only that the ÖVP adheres to it: the ÖVP (like the Greens) is also for more trams. But the argument does not apply to the Lobau tunnel because the tunnel is a gap in the northeastern bypass, which (also) should keep heavy traffic away from the city.
« /> Karl Mahrer (right) also told about his findings after nine years of politics. Caio Kauffmann
New rules for parking in Vienna
For parking management, the Wiener ÖVP would like a three-zone rule for this, « for the districts outside the belt, for the districts between the belt and ring and for the first district ». And in the outdoor districts, the duration of the short park zones is to be limited to 7 p.m. Because of the gastronomy, because customers say they don’t go to Vienna to Heurigen. You damage the economy. « But why? » Asked a « press » reader: « Why should someone who drives to this year after 7 p.m. Especially not for this one. Mahrer stated his demand: Damage companies are damaged if you do not allow them to come. « Whether they drink alcohol or not there is a different story. »
After that it became short: « I chose the ÖVP for decades, I can no longer choose it. The credibility, the honesty is gone, » says a reader with fervor in the microphone: keyword: billions of debts, despite the 25 years of responsibility for finances and chancellor.
The guilt (s) of the ÖVP
That makes him « sadly », Mahrer replied promptly. And explains his point of view: that too much money was spent in pandemic (but otherwise so many companies would not have survived) and only afterwards you know whether decisions were good or not. Nevertheless, the ÖVP’s economic competence is undisputed. He immediately criticized the expenditure of the city and that Vienna would pay minimum security. One of the few delicate strokes against the SPÖ.
The ÖVP rely on FPÖ topics and is far too soft with the SPÖ because you are already preparing for a coalition, a reader promptly criticized. Mahrer didn’t want to leave that. Take the topics that interest people. The difference to the FPÖ? This calls the problems, but it is – how to Herbert Kickl saw – not interested in solutions. How did he say at the beginning? « I can talk to all political parties well. »
« Press » -Talks
The further discussions in the « Press » editorial team (3rd, Hainburger Str. 33): Dominik Nepp (FPÖ) on April 14th (admission: 5.30 p.m.), Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) on April 15 (4.30pm) and Judith Pühringer (Greens) on April 16 (5:30 p.m.).
Registration at: www.diepresse.com/wien discussions25
