It was actually about recruiting new police officers. In the end, however, the issue of “Wien Energie” was discussed and differences of opinion between Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) became apparent, not only with regard to possible speculation as the trigger of the “emergency”.
Political hiccups between the SPÖ and the federal government
However, the first question the media asked Ludwig was why he wasn’t at the federal government’s press conference on “Wien Energie” an hour earlier: “I wasn’t at the press conference because I wasn’t invited,” and that’s how it was at the previous press conference – and both were unusual, the mayor stated. On the part of the federal government, it was said to the APA that about an hour before the start of today’s press conference, information and an invitation had been sent to City Councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ).
With regard to the two billion euros that were agreed today as a loan for Wien Energie, the Federal Financing Agency (OeBFA) has also granted billions in the past two years, explained Ludwig – and that’s how it should be: “I don’t assume it that there are different rules of the game for Vienna.” The ÖBFA stated that this form of financing, which can be called up within two hours every day, is “unique in this form”.
However, Ludwig was extremely dissatisfied with how the consequences of the energy supplier’s crisis were discussed, because “at no time was the security of supply compromised,” said Ludwig, saying “we’re worried that the lights will go out” criticized that he and of course the state of Vienna are responsible for the liquid funds. Media representatives wanted to know whether he understood the federal government’s mistrust of the way to the emergency situation in the Causa: “The management of Wien Energie has rejected any kind of speculation,” said Ludwig and if the federal government wanted an additional supervisory board, that was him quite right, “every transparency is desired”.
Interior Minister Karner, meanwhile, did not want to leave the criticism uncommented, because it had been said that speculation had been made and the facts were being examined by the Court of Auditors – and that was a good thing. And Vienna is “of course treated like any other federal state,” Karner countered the allegations. As Minister of the Interior, he is also happy about today’s agreement that security of supply is guaranteed.
Ludwig corrected this statement from his point of view: “It was never endangered, I have to strongly disagree,” said the mayor. Giving such an impression to the population is incorrect – it is a wrong impression that has been given since Sunday.
Source: Nachrichten
