Vorarlberg Greens accuse government of abandoning people

Vorarlberg’s Greens have accused the black-blue state government of ignoring people’s needs, ORF Vorarlberg reported after an interview with party leaders Eva Hammerer and Daniel Zadra.

The Greens criticised cuts in social and healthcare services, the planned amendment to the Nature Conservation Act and higher public transport fares. Hammerer said many people felt abandoned, contributing to a loss of trust in politics.

She and Zadra said the government was prioritising large road construction projects while cutting support for families, children, young people and social services. Hammerer also accused the FPÖ of breaking its family policy promises. She said family benefits were being reduced, ticket prices were rising and maternity units were closing.

Greens oppose nature conservation changes

The planned amendment to the Nature Conservation Act was a major focus of the interview. Zadra warned that significantly fewer construction projects could require nature conservation reviews in future.

He cited the possible construction of a 20,000-square-metre hall or roads four metres wide without sufficient involvement from nature conservation authorities. Zadra said nature conservation should be included from the beginning of the planning process so that measures such as planting, water infiltration areas and photovoltaic systems could be incorporated.

Hammerer described the government’s announced reduction in bureaucracy as a sham. She also criticised what she called the forceful implementation of immature measures and unprofessional communication. As an alternative, she proposed speeding up administrative procedures by consolidating them into two district authorities.

Greens call for stronger climate adaptation

The unusually hot summer showed the need to give climate adaptation a higher priority, the Greens said. Zadra pointed to the strain the heat placed on many older people and called for more trees and greener town centres.

Hammerer said Governor Markus Wallner and Deputy Governor Christof Bitschi were responsible for the government’s response. She said the summer had shown how intolerably hot paved areas could become, while accusing the government of moving in the wrong direction by weakening nature conservation.

Greens call for quicker access to work

Asylum policy was also discussed. Hammerer said people’s concerns had to be taken seriously but warned against conflating social problems with migration. She said many people felt under financial pressure because of rising prices.

Zadra called for asylum seekers to gain access to the labour market more quickly so they could pay for their own living expenses.

Healthcare reform criticised

Hammerer criticised planned closures of maternity, paediatric and cancer units. She said the healthcare reform was unplanned and had been poorly communicated, adding that changes to the healthcare system should be developed jointly with employees and other partners in the system.

The interview was part of ORF Vorarlberg’s summer discussion series, which examines issues including rising prices, housing, the economy, social cohesion, health and the environment in smaller municipalities.