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“Vienna Today” on September 17, 2022 at 7 p.m., ORF 2
The conversation with moderator Patrick Budgen began with the question of whether the ex-mayor was happy not to be mayor in times like these. “Honestly, how many times in the past few months have you thought, ‘Thank God I’m not mayor anymore’?” Budgen asked. “Hand on heart, not at all,” replied Häupl.
In 24 years in office he would have had “enough problems to solve”. He envies the incumbent mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) but not at the moment for finding solutions for “these really multiple crises like poverty, war, energy crisis”.
Wien Energie: Defends Ludwig in terms of emergency competence
“I don’t want to talk to you regarding what’s going on in the Wien Energie group – which is checked by various audit offices and experts – but rather regarding the role of the mayor,” was how Budgen started the subject of the Wien Energie cause. When asked whether Häupl had released 1.4 billion euros during his term of office without informing the public and the opposition, Häupl replied that he had used the so-called paragraph 90 – emergency competence of the mayor – twice during his term of office, for which he knew exactly “but no more with the best will in the world”.
Häupl sees “no formal error” in the actions of Vienna Mayor Ludwig. “And of course we will act as the constitution dictates. That’s why it’s now in the Vienna committee, i.e. in the finance committee, and next it’s going to be in the municipal council,” says Häupl. The mayor didn’t need any advice from him. Häupl is not surprised that the opposition has sharply criticized the mayor’s lack of information. “What should the opposition course do? You can’t stand around in a circle and applaud, so you have to live with criticism from the opposition,” said Häupl.
Häupl expects the situation surrounding the Wien Energie cause to change in a few months. At the moment it’s an “unpleasant discussion,” said Häupl, “because you can’t blame Wiener Energie for anything in the matter itself. Security of supply was ensured and that was the most important thing for me.”
Criticism of the energy bonus: “watering can principle”
He speaks of a variety of economic and social crises that pose a “real challenge”. Häupl himself is the president of the Wiener Volkshilfe, which takes care of people affected by poverty. The price increases would therefore concern him very much – but the politicians would support them in this regard “too little in a targeted manner”.
He criticized the federal government’s energy bonus, for example. He himself would “not need” this subsidy, but others all the more so. “That’s something where I’m saying – well, I wouldn’t need that grant. On the other hand, the same money should be used to help those who really need this help in a targeted manner, and that’s a lot of people,” says Häupl. He spoke of a watering can principle, instead he would advocate targeted funding.
“One might discuss fee increases”
Despite inflation, the city of Vienna is raising the fees for water, sewerage, waste disposal and parking ticket prices – so the valorization is not suspended, although the city might decide to do so. Häupl has decided to suspend the 2015 fee increase for two years. When asked whether his successor Michael Ludwig should have done the same in turbulent times like these, Häupl kept a low profile: “I don’t give any advice unless I’m asked for it and that’s certainly not advice that I distribute through the media.”
“Nevertheless, one might discuss whether to omit valorization for a year,” said Häupl. You can discuss it and then decide by consensus. “But the mayor made the decision and that’s why the matter is over for me,” said Häupl.
Presidential election: Sympathy for “Viennese Bobo”
Finally, the forthcoming election of the Federal President was also discussed. Häupl supports Alexander Van der Bellen. The SPÖ did not send any candidates into the race. “And I consider this decision to be politically wise, not least in view of the way in which the incumbent, i.e. the Federal President, performs his duties. And maybe not all, but a lot of Social Democrats will support Van der Bellen in this election,” said Häupl.
As for the other candidates, he only said that he liked some more than others. The “Viennese Bobo” would be one of the popular figures, as Häupl put it – meaning Marco Pogo. “Well, he’s a funny person, he’s just regarding the age where you can even have the passive right to vote. I have a bit of the impression that he is using this opportunity to prepare his candidacy for the next Vienna municipal council elections,” said Häupl at the end.
