The Vienna ÖVP is calling for a fundamental change in the city’s tasks and expenditures. Under the slogan of a „lean city,“ party leader Markus Figl and councilor Elisabeth Olischar want to reduce bureaucracy and give private companies more leeway. Two specific city offerings are also coming into focus: the food brand „Wiener Gusto“ and the television channel W24.

At a press conference today, the two ÖVP politicians criticized that the city is taking on tasks that, in their view, could be better fulfilled by private companies. The SPÖ rejected the demands and accused the People’s Party of a one-sided privatization policy.

According to Markus Figl, the city must focus more on its essential tasks.

The Vienna ÖVP leader included among these the design of streets and public spaces, as well as the operation of hospitals, schools, and kindergartens.

Other activities, on the other hand, should be critically questioned. Instead of introducing new burdens for citizens and companies, the city government must review its own structures and reduce bureaucracy, argued Figl.

The ÖVP is particularly critical of the city food brand „Wiener Gusto.“ Under this name, food from the forestry and agricultural operations of the city of Vienna is offered. The People’s Party questions why the city should operate and promote its own brand with taxpayers‘ money.

Councilor Elisabeth Olischar spoke of an „artificial competition“ for private companies. The ÖVP therefore demands that the brand not be continued and instead support regional agriculture.

Whether and to what extent the operation of the brand actually requires public subsidies is not clear from the APA report. Specific costs for advertising and marketing were also not mentioned.

In addition to the food brand, the ÖVP’s criticism is directed at the media activities of the city of Vienna. The People’s Party demands that the city withdraw from the television channel W24. The channel is part of the Vienna Holding through WH Media GmbH.

According to the ÖVP, the city should also hold back on printed media and magazines. Municipal publications should therefore be reduced or limited to pure service offerings.

The ÖVP justifies its demands with a clearer separation between public tasks and private sector offerings.

The Vienna SPÖ responded with clear criticism to the proposals of the People’s Party. SPÖ councilor Christian Deutsch accused the ÖVP of not presenting any major economic policy ideas.

Instead, the People’s Party wants to privatize regional delicacies like Käsekrainer and apparently believes it can thereby balance the city budget, Deutsch criticized in essence. He also referred to the controversial privatization of federal apartments in 2004.

According to the SPÖ politician, the privatization at that time is an example of the problems that such measures could entail.

For now, these are solely political demands from the Vienna ÖVP. Neither the discontinuation of the Wiener Gusto brand nor a withdrawal of the city from the television channel W24 has been announced or decided.

Whether the proposals will continue to be discussed in Vienna city politics and what specific savings would be associated with them remains open.

(APA/Red)

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