VPNÖ government meeting: With heart and mind for the center of the country

2024-01-11 16:54:05

St. Pölten (OTS) – During a working retreat in the Althof Retz, the top team of the People’s Party of Lower Austria around Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner presented the new spring campaign “This is how Lower Austria works”. At the beginning of the year, the thematic priorities for the coming months were determined. The broad majority of the middle of society is at the center of the politics of the Lower Austrian People’s Party.

“Looking ahead to 2024, many are talking about a great election year. We in Lower Austria, on the other hand, see 2024 as a great working year. For us it is a year in which we look forward and work on the future. The developments of the last few years have led to the political fringes becoming increasingly louder and the extreme views and positions of the fringe increasingly dominating public discourse. However, these extreme views have less and less to do with the real concerns of the broad majority of the population. The vast majority of the middle of the population are increasingly repelled by these sham debates on the extreme fringes. You feel less and less heard and understood. It is in the nature of the Lower Austria People’s Party to represent the broad middle of the population – and to do so in a socially balanced manner. With ‘This is how Lower Austria works’ we simply say how it is – here in Lower Austria. And how we ensure that our country remains livable and lovable in the future. What does that mean specifically? Traditions, volunteerism and our folk culture are the foundation of our national identity. And especially with a view to integration, we would do well not to deny our culture out of misunderstood tolerance. We look out for each other, we stand up for each other. The vast majority of compatriots don’t want a country of extremes, they want a country that works. And we take care of it. Today and in the future,” said State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

“We are the party of the center, and we are also where the front is. Because we are the country with the most green electricity and with the greatest CO2 savings: Since 2005, emissions have fallen by 25% and the economy has grown by 25%. This is how Lower Austria works: We support the economy & protect the environment. Lower Austria is also at the forefront when it comes to soil protection. Some always want new property or home builder taxes, others want to strangle the economy. Neither will work, not with us! We are against unnecessary land use and for further development with moderation and purpose,” says LH deputy Stephan Pernkopf.

“Lower Austria is a family country. We are currently building one of the best childcare options in Europe for our children. For example, with kindergarten from the age of two across the country. This is how Lower Austria works. A country where families have freedom of choice and children are well looked after. In autumn 2022, the state of Lower Austria announced the largest family policy project in the history of the state with the blue-yellow care offensive. The biggest step in the 5-point program will begin next September with the admission of 2-year-olds to kindergarten. The opening of kindergartens for two-year-olds is an offer in the sense of freedom of choice for parents and to close the gap in maternity leave. Kindergartens are the first educational and care facility for our children. Accordingly, our educators and supervisors deserve my highest appreciation. My special thanks also go to all municipalities that are already working on the implementation or planning of additional childcare places for the benefit of families in Lower Austria,” said Family Regional Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister.

“In difficult times, reliable politics are needed. Above all, a financial policy with foresight and reason is needed. A state budget is needed that gives people security and stability. In 2024 we will report a net financing balance of 480 million euros. We are pursuing clear goals with this budget: protecting values and preserving prosperity, but also thinking about the future of our children and grandchildren so that the next generations can also find opportunities and take advantage of them. That’s what we stand for as a people’s party, that’s how Lower Austria works,” said State Finance Councilor Ludwig Schleritzko.

“Unfortunately, more and more people are losing trust in politics and democracy. As President of the State Parliament, I try to bring people closer to the advantages and functionality of our parliamentary democracy with a number of initiatives: Last year alone, more than 11,800 students took part in the Children’s and Vocational School State Parliament and experienced the importance of democratic processes in a playful way. Since it is important to me that children and young people become real democrats, we will continue our democratic education programs in the usual way,” says State Parliament President Karl Wilfing about the two democracy workshops “Children’s State Day” and “Being State Vocational School Day”.

“Our working agreement has the motto: ‘Advancing Lower Austria’. And when we look back on the first 10 months of work, we see: Honest and serious cooperation is the successful means of moving our country forward. In reality, you can see that this is how Lower Austria works. And I haven’t given up hope that others will also take this path. Because what doesn’t get our country anywhere is cheap populist attempts to change political change. “Thank God Lower Austria doesn’t work like that,” said club chairman Jochen Danninger.

“We see it clearly: our country works – supported by the broad middle of society. With our campaign ‘This is how Lower Austria works’, we will put the majority in the middle in the foreground: those people who will ensure that our country remains livable and lovable in the future. On our new website ‘unsere-mitte.at’ we show how well Lower Austria works. But also who is responsible for Lower Austria functioning so well. These include, among other things, the many volunteers who work voluntarily throughout the country. We want to make this visible as a first step. That’s why we invite you to bring voluntary work in our country to the fore. In this context, I would also like to say a big thank you to all of our volunteer officials. Because they are the ones who ensure that Lower Austria functions,” says state manager Matthias Zauner.

The People’s Party of Lower Austria is calling on the new campaign website meine-mitte.at to make voluntary commitment in the state visible. Lower Austrians are invited to nominate people and associations that demonstrate how well volunteering works in Lower Austria. Simply tell the story on the website and upload a photo of the volunteer work. Five pub culture vouchers worth 100 euros will be raffled off among all nominated volunteers, and 1,000 euros will be raffled off three times from all nominated clubs for the club’s coffers. The promotion runs until March 31, 2024.