A “good and important step” is the tax reform announced by the federal government, said Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP) yesterday. Today the focus is again on Upper Austria, because after explorations with the FPÖ on Wednesday and the SPÖ and Greens on Thursday and introductory talks with MFG and Neos, the ÖVP will decide with whom “in-depth talks” will be started.
The meeting in which the decision about the possible future partner is made takes place at 10 a.m. The state party executive of the ÖVP meets in the Heinrich-Gleißner-Haus, where Stelzer will present the results of the talks together with the negotiating team. Then the other parties and the public will be informed of the result.
The live stream starts at 12 noon:
If the ÖVP has its way, negotiations should start quickly, if possible at the beginning of the week. The first step is then to determine the organizational sequence of the discussions – possible subgroups, subject areas, participants. Stelzer has a clear goal: “To set up a new state government as quickly as possible so that the people in the state quickly get the necessary clarity and we can continue to work for the state.”
As already reported several times, all signals point towards the FPÖ. Stelzer had emphasized that he wanted a stable majority in the state parliament, and there are also many overlaps in terms of content. State party leader Manfred Haimbuchner (FP) emphasized on Wednesday that the FPÖ itself is expecting an invitation to the in-depth talks. Because: “We worked well together, there is no reason to change that.”
Green spokesman Stefan Kaineder was nevertheless optimistic to the end: “We would look forward to coalition negotiations, because it is not good for the country’s crucial questions about the future if the ÖVP continues with the FPÖ.”
SP country chief Birgit Gerstorfer said only briefly: “This decision has to be made by the ÖVP.” There are also some decisions to be made within the SPÖ today. The red state party executive will also meet at 10 a.m., and several resolutions will be passed. On the one hand, who takes on the government role. “I am assuming that I will again be entrusted with the role of regional councilor for the SPÖ in the state government,” said Gerstorfer. It is also decided who is to be sent to the Federal Council. Dominik Reisinger and Bettina Lancaster previously held the mandates – and will probably continue to do so in the future.
There will be no further personnel decisions in today’s meeting, said Gerstorfer. Not even for the post of country manager? “Certainly not.”
