Image: GEORG HOCHMUTH (APA)
SPÖ club boss Pamela Rendi-Wagner gave her farewell speech to Parliament at the special session of the National Council on Thursday afternoon and promoted cooperation between all parties. At the same time, she indirectly referred to the leadership conflict in her own party: “We need a new understanding of political leadership that is not limited to admiring male rituals of power.” Climate change in particular, with all its effects, seems to Rendi-Wagner to be an issue where the parties should approach each other. But even on issues that affect people’s immediate presence, more cooperation is needed, Rendi-Wagner addressed the rise in prices.
The SPÖ is currently blocking two-thirds matters because they want their proposals against inflation to be implemented in return. The outgoing club chairwoman also addressed this indirectly: “A constructive opposition policy requires something essential – a constructive government policy.” It has already been shown that you can approach each other – namely at the beginning of the corona pandemic.
Although it was not Rendi-Wagner’s last appearance in the National Council, she will remain in the House until the end of the month and thus during the coming plenary week. But, as she stressed, it was the last speech after six years in Parliament. Her understanding has always been to seek cooperation. It takes respect, honesty and the courage to take responsibility. Rendi-Wagner spoke of saying goodbye to a major task, to many friends and to “difficult but also interesting colleagues”.
The plenary thanked the outgoing SPÖ chairmen with standing ovations, only the Freedom Party left it – if at all – with applause.
“Great respect” for Rendi-Wagner expressed Green club chairwoman Sigrid Maurer. She was exposed to a kind of abuse “that no man in politics has to deal with in this way”. She will miss Rendi-Wagner, who she found warm.
Rendi-Wagner’s appearance today will probably be one of her last speeches as a politician, as she will skip the extraordinary SPÖ party conference next Saturday.
Source: Nachrichten
