Interview with Elisabeth Mayr: The political blockade is an impertinence
SPÖ City Councilor Elisabeth Mayr opened our round of political talks at the end of the year. The interview has already appeared in our print edition and is now available for you to read online. (conversation of November 17)
You were being considered for an office in the state government, but quickly waved it off, why actually?
Elizabeth Mayr: I want to do city politics. We’re already relatively close to municipal elections and it’s about time that the cards were reshuffled. In addition, a lot needs to be done and addressed that other city senate parties do not have in mind. For example, we keep an eye on how people are doing who have a lower income, and we also want to be a strong voice – I also see that as a task for social democracy.
You are also city councilor for integration – how do you feel about the current refugee discussion and the country’s plans?
It is clear to me that containers can never be a permanent solution and that staying there can only be temporary. A container is significantly better than a tent, but it is not a decent form of accommodation in the long term. But pragmatically, I see it as winter coming and everyone needs to have a roof over their heads. You can discuss a lot about quotas and which federal state is where in the accommodation area, but this ping-pong doesn’t create a single roof over your head. Georg Dornauer has a pragmatic, good way here, and I share this approach.
And what do you say about the occupation of the former Hotel Alpinpark by the youth organization of the SPÖ?
The action was very well received. It couldn’t have gone better in the sense that there was no complaint or trespassing and there were promises from politicians on the same day. Above all, I can absolutely support one demand, namely die that a society cannot afford to have vacancies. In the city, buildings stand empty, while Innsbruckers and refugees have difficulties financing a roof over their heads.
Since the coalition broke up, the municipal council seems to have been more concerned with ideology than with issues, how do you see that?
Ideology in itself does not mean anything bad. Ideology means having an attitude and values that you stand up for. It is important that you take the step towards a majority for a good cause. At the moment we have a mutual deadlock between centre-right parties and the Greens and there is nothing going on.
There is currently a lot of talk about new elections, how do you see that?
We already said when the coalition broke up that new elections are not taboo for us. The mutual blocking is an impertinence for the city. But one must not forget that a new election application would probably be associated with the self-dissolution of the municipal council. The city would then be placed under custodianship and someone would have to run the business until the new elections. That would be completely new territory. The last thing the city needs is experimentation and chaos that involves the entire workforce.
What are the focal points where solutions are needed?
I can clearly see the focal points in inflation, which is a very broad topic. When it comes to housing, for example, much more massive action must be taken against speculation with housing. In addition, afternoon care or all-day schools must be free of charge in the future, as in Vienna. Children must not be excluded because parents cannot afford it. We’ve already done a lot with discounts, but we have to go much further. In the area of childcare, I will also start a personnel offensive during this period.
What should the offensive look like?
I don’t mean an image campaign. Working conditions must be improved in real terms. This occupational group must also be upgraded from a monetary point of view. There is a massive staff shortage. There is also an urgent need for training grants for career changers who want to do the college or other training. There are a lot of people who are expressing an interest; this must not fail because of major hurdles.
Thank you for the interview.
The interview with Deputy Mayor Johannes Anzengruber can be found here.