The Styrian governor Hermann Schützenhöfer (ÖVP) celebrated his 70th birthday, which he had already at the end of February, on Saturday evening in the halls of the Styrian Chamber of Labour. Around 400 guests, including Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) and Sebastian Kurz, came. The Stoakogler (actually already retired), musician Betty O and the choir of the HIB Liebenau played as musical accompaniment.
Schützenhöfer was born on a rare day: February 29th. For this reason alone, it is difficult for him to actually celebrate his birthday on this day. That would not have been possible this year because there is no leap year. In addition, there were high numbers of corona infections. A first planned date for the celebration in early March was therefore not envisaged. But now he caught up on the celebration. Leonore Gewessler (Greens) and Martin Polaschek as well as the Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), the former LH from Upper Austria Josef Pühringer and of course Schützenhöfer’s LH predecessor and friend Franz Voves (SPÖ) were also there on the part of the federal government.
The round of congratulations, however, was initiated by the Stoakogler, who said to the jubilee: “You should be fine, you should be a Freid hom and vü Zeit hom, a little more than before.” In his congratulatory speech, the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), said that this reputation was still going a little “into the wind”. In fact, Schützenhöfer showed no intentions of retiring despite being in his 70s. In his acceptance speech, he underlined this and repeated what he once said to his family: “When I retire, I will learn to cook. Then there was silence at lunchtime.” His specialty is “zipper sausages”. “My wife is afraid of it and hasn’t asked since. Dear Marianne: Wait,” was his final word – followed by a standing ovation from the guests.
Among the well-wishers at the lectern was Sebastian Kurz, who said at the beginning: “I’m a bit out of practice when it comes to these speeches, so I’ll speak freely.” For him, Schützenhöfer embodies the “office of governor and father of the state like no other”. Chancellor Nehammer also praised the Styrian governor: “He is a political role model for me: drilling hard boards has to do with courage and assertiveness.” Nehammer acknowledged the reform coalition with Voves at the time: “Few in the country would have dared to do that. You did it against a lot of resistance.” It is an example of how to carry through controversial decisions and then get it right. Politicians demand this “courage in making decisions”.
Vice Chancellor Kogler – he and Schützenhöfer both live in the Andritz district of Graz and meet there occasionally – thanked the LH for his handshake quality, prudence and foresight: “It commands respect from me how Franz Voves and you managed such a differentiated country with cohesion. ” Deputy Governor Anton Lang (SPÖ) thanked his coalition partner: “You always treated the Social Democrats and me fairly, at a time that wasn’t easy for us. Thank you for that.”
Among the guests were the former “Mrs. Governor” Waltraud Klasnic, who Schützenhöfer personally thanked for coming. The celebrant also thanked his entire family and his Marianne, “the stroke of luck in my life”. Also among the well-wishers were the former Vice-Chancellor Hannes Androsch and Josef Riegler, the Mayor of Graz Elke Kahr (KPÖ), the club bosses from the state parliament Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) and Sandra Krautwaschl (Greens), all chamber presidents and university rectors as well the former bishop Egon Kapellari.
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