Red-Pink Remains: SPÖ Continues with NEOS After Vienna Election

Vienna is likely to continue being governed by a red-pink coalition. The SPÖ has decided to enter into government negotiations with the NEOS, Mayor Michael Ludwig announced on Monday afternoon after committee meetings. Last week, the SPÖ also explored options with the Greens and the ÖVP. The FPÖ had already been excluded as a coalition partner before the election. Ludwig aims to conclude the negotiations within three weeks.

Red-Pink after Vienna Election: "In-depth Government Negotiations" Already Tomorrow

The "in-depth government negotiations" are set to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, morning, emphasized Ludwig. He considers the three-week negotiation timeframe to be very ambitious. If it takes an extra week, it would not be a problem for him. However, it is important to quickly clarify how the state and city government will be composed. Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling (NEOS) viewed the Social Democrats' decision in a press statement as "good news for Vienna."

Leading the pink negotiation team will also be Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr, as he is the city party leader, explained Emmerling. Ludwig plans to finalize his negotiators on Tuesday during the first round with the NEOS. However, there will be no surprises, said Ludwig. Those involved will be individuals who are already in positions of responsibility. During the exploratory talks and today's press event, the mayor was accompanied by state party secretary Barbara Novak and club chairman Josef Taucher.

After Vienna Election: Unanimous Decision in the Presidium

The decision for the NEOS was unanimously welcomed in the presidium, with one dissenting vote in the board. The mayor spoke of continuing a "well-functioning progress coalition." Ludwig also wants to work with the ÖVP and the Greens on specific issues, as the exploratory talks with these two parties were "good and very cooperative."

The decisive factor for choosing the NEOS was that the previous collaboration had worked well for five years. Even if there were occasional disagreements, they presented a united front externally, thus conveying stability. Emmerling spoke of a "new style" that had been established. The fact that the NEOS were an equal partner is evidenced by their election result, as it is not a given that a smaller coalition party gains, explained the mayor.

NEOS Likely to Get Education Again

When asked if the NEOS would get the education department again, Ludwig said he assumed they would have a strong interest in it again. Emmerling did not commit to this but emphasized that reforms in the education sector are something long-term: "It takes time for that."

The mayor mentioned, among other priorities, the expansion of the healthcare system, "even stronger" German language support in schools, and the security sector, for example, with a weapons ban.

With the emerging red-pink coalition, the timid and pale politics of recent years are being extended, wrote the Green leadership duo Judith Pühringer and Peter Kraus in a statement. The voters had spoken in favor of the connection between climate protection and social justice. As a constructive opposition force, the Greens would continue to put ideas and proposals on the table.

The ÖVP expressed disappointment over the SPÖ's choice. After more than 20 years of "left-dominated politics of stagnation," they consciously decided against centrist politics and for "more of the same." The NEOS should serve as a mere majority provider instead of a corrective, said the designated state party leader Markus Figl in a statement. The People's Party will remain the driving opposition force in the Vienna City Hall for the next five years.

The continuation of the red-pink coalition means five more bad years for Vienna, predicted Vienna's FPÖ chairman Dominik Nepp. Due to the city's disastrous financial situation, a savings package and massive burdens for the people of Vienna are to be expected, similar to the federal level. He sees the FPÖ as the only strong controlling force in the city.

Everything about the Vienna Election

(APA/Red)

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