The pressure from the opposition in Linz is increasing. After calls for the resignation of Linz’s SPÖ mayor Klaus Luger, who through his behavior turned the scandal surrounding the dismissed former Brucknerhaus boss Dietmar Kerschbaum into his own affair of lies, the ÖVP, Greens and Freedom Party, the three city senate parties alongside the SPÖ, are meeting for an emergency meeting on Monday.
“I am deeply shocked that the SPÖ is putting a stop to the mayor of Linz in view of the extent of the chat scandal. The terse statement by SPÖ regional manager Florian Koplerthat everything is a ‘summer theatre’, testifies to a political aloofness in the ranks of the salon socialists that is unparalleled,” says Michaela SommerChairwoman of the ÖVP-Linz.
All parties working together
ÖVP Vice Mayor Martin Hajart speaks of a solidarity between all parties: “I have spoken with my colleagues in the city senate Michael Raml (FPÖ) and Eva Schobesberger (Greens) and we have agreed on a meeting for Monday. Among other things, we will discuss a widely supported motion of no confidence against Luger and the further course of action regarding the crisis that Luger has brought to Linz.”
Schobesberger added in the direction of the SPÖ: “Luger has lost his credibility. When the 31 officials who expressed their trust in him return to Linz after their moment of shock in Langenlois, they must realise this. Anyone who travels around our city and speaks to the people of Linz hears disappointment and incomprehension and knows that things are no longer going well.”
Coordination with small parties
At the same time, a vote is being held between all the other factions: “We need a new start for transparency and openness – and that is only possible without Luger as mayor. Because you can no longer work together with someone who lies to everyone’s face and damages trust in this way.”
Georg Redlhammer (Neos) certainly wants to join forces in this process: “We must use every opportunity not only to express our displeasure at the mayor’s chair-sticking, but also to take action.”
He therefore proposes a timely special meeting of the municipal council: “We cannot wait until the regular meeting of the municipal council on September 26, 2024. The motion of no confidence must be submitted quickly.
But the tone is also getting harsher at the state level. For Neos state spokesperson Felix Eypeltauer the “moral picture that the SPÖ is giving in the lying affair is disastrous”, that Lindner is not ensuring that the situation is clear, that “corruption in the SPÖ is being politically covered up”.
On behalf of the SPÖ state party chairman Michael Lindner There is still no statement on the events in Linz. SPÖ regional manager and Linz councillor Florian Koppler stressed in a statement that Luger wanted “the best for Linz”, which led him to act in a way that he “extremely regrets”.
By this he means the passing on of the documents. There is still no statement on the fact that Luger deliberately deceived and lied to the public on the matter at least since November 13 of last year.
(kurier.at)
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22.08.2024, 12:12
