In his speech, he swore his party would take part in the election campaign. Together we can continue on the “successful Burgenland path” and continue government work – but: “We must not sit back.”
After the election, Doskozil was grateful for the result. The vote shows that the state organization in Burgenland is united and has the goals in focus: “We know exactly who we are doing politics for – not for our well-being, but the well-being of the population.” Although it is said that one should stop when it is best, the state party leader emphasized: “I will not stop.”
Energy Community Plans
In his speech, the state governor highlighted the measures implemented over the past five years and outlined his ideas for the future. He recently announced the establishment of a Burgenland-wide energy community that is intended to reduce dependence on the energy market. He also wants to impose an upper limit on basic services and only provide them if the recipients are willing to work on a non-profit basis in the state or in the communities and to integrate. If Vienna actually turns away Burgenland guest patients in hospitals, he is considering terminating the basic care agreement in return.
All Burgenland Energie systems are to be incorporated into the Burgenland-wide energy community. The aim is to guarantee residents a fixed price for 20 years, without index adjustment. There should also be a uniform price for electromobility at Burgenland Energie filling stations, namely 3.50 euros per 100 kilometers.
The cap on basic services – Doskozil has repeatedly spoken of a maximum of 330 people in the past – is also intended to be linked to a charitable activity by the recipients. It is expected that they will integrate. “If that is not the case, then we are not prepared to provide basic care,” emphasized Doskozil.
Reforms in administration
He also wants to break new ground in administration. In the future, residents will no longer have to submit applications for funding, but will automatically receive the benefits they are entitled to. A “safety net” is to be decided on in December for municipalities in financial difficulties.
The state governor highlighted the employment of caring relatives and the new care model with 71 care bases as the central measures of the current legislative period. In addition, it should be regulated by law that no profit may be made from the operation of nursing homes. Efforts will be made to buy back the two former Vamed locations in Bad Sauerbrunn and Eisenstadt, which were sold to the French group PAI when Vamed was sold.
Doskozil rejected possible criticism of nationalization. “This is not nationalization. We want to own.” The state can own the property, but it does not have to operate it. Regarding the financial situation in the federal government, he said: “There will not be five good years, but there will be five lean years.”
Federal SPÖ not mentioned in speech
As he himself said, the state governor deliberately left out the federal SPÖ in his speech. However, he did provide a brief analysis of the disappointing performance in the National Council election: “It was not the liberal party that won the last elections. We lost them because we no longer have answers in essential areas of life.” As an example, he cited the country’s minimum wage, which is now 2,270 euros net. This must also be demanded and implemented at the federal level. From his point of view, that is also a reason why the SPÖ is “no longer elected”: “Because we don’t provide people with an appropriate income.”
In general, Doskozil saw the “Burgenland path” successfully followed over the past five years. “And ultimately the voters will decide whether it is the right path,” he emphasized.
State list decided
The state list was also decided at the state party conference. This is followed by top candidate Doskozil, deputy state governor Astrid Eisenkopf, state councilors Daniela Winkler, Heinrich Dorner and Leonhard Schneemann. Afterwards, the state parliament member Elisabeth Böhm, state parliament president Robert Hergovich as well as the representatives Rita Stenger, Kilian Brandstätter, club chairman Robert Fürst, Claudia Schlager, Gerhard Hutter, state manager Kevin Friedl and the former state parliament president Verena Dunst are running for 14th place.
In the north, the district lists are headed by regional councilor Daniela Winkler in the Neusiedl am See district, deputy governor Astrid Eisenkopf in the Eisenstadt district and the Schattendorf mayor Thomas Hoffmann in the Mattersburg district. In Central Burgenland, Regional Councilor Heinrich Dorner is at the top of the Oberpullendorf district list. Doskozil himself is first on the list in the Oberwart district, followed by State Councilor Leonhard Schneemann, State Parliament member Doris Prohaska and the previous National Council member Christian Drobits. Christian Dax, a former member of the state parliament, is in sixth place in the Oberwart district. In the 13th district of Güssing, Stegersbach mayor Jürgen Dolesch, Tanja Illedits from Ollersdorf and state manager Kevin Friedl are running, and in the very south of the country, the southern Burgenland coordinator of the SPÖ Fabio Halb leads the list in the Jennersdorf district.
Ewald Schnecker, Kurt Maczek, Dieter Posch, Wolfgang Sodl, Elisabeth Trummer and Erwin Preiner were voted out because they are no longer running for the state parliament.
Party conference in Eisenstadt
The party conference began in the packed cultural center in Eisenstadt around 5:15 p.m. when the team with Doskozil at the front marched in to the sounds of his favorite musician Bruce Springsteen. Equipped with red and yellow football fan-style scarves with “Team Burgenland” and “Doskozil” written on them, the more than 1,000 guests were welcomed by the state managers Kevin Friedl and Jasmin Puchwein.
“Now, like never before, it is important to stand together as a party and pool our strengths,” Friedl appealed and reiterated that they will continue to follow the “independent, Burgenland path”. “The comparison with other federal states makes it certain. Such a policy with such a clear line and such power of implementation only exists in Burgenland,” said Puchwein in her welcome, who spoke of the “best governor in Austria.” She warned 99 days before the state elections that the ÖVP wanted to make the FPÖ state governor and that they would then abolish measures such as free kindergarten, the employment of caring relatives and the minimum wage.
Core speech against polarization
Doskozil also received support from former Chancellor Christian Kern. In his speech, he referred, among other things, to the recent National Council election. The result showed that the Freedom Party had arrived at the center of society. The SPÖ’s answer to this cannot be further polarization. The Burgenland path is a path to success that shows that absolute majorities can be achieved in a regional structure. At the same time, Vienna is “not by chance” the most livable city. Therefore, there should not be an “either or,” but rather there must be a “both and”: “If we cannot achieve that, we will never be able to claim power again,” emphasized Kern. And when it comes to whether the SPÖ can achieve absolute majority again in Burgenland, the ex-Chancellor says: “I believe it will expand its absolute majority.”
Kern made a remark to PR consultant Rudi Fußi, who a few days ago announced his candidacy for the SPÖ federal party chairmanship: “I know Rudi Fußi. I am absolutely not behind his plans.” The SPÖ decided to change the party statutes and Fußi is now taking advantage of this. “It won’t get any better if I comment on it,” stated Kern.
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