Eva Hammerer at “Vorarlberg LIVE”.
©VOL.AT
Eva Hammerer, state spokeswoman for the Greens, was a guest on “Vorarlberg LIVE” on Friday.
The negotiations to tighten investigation committee rights in Vorarlberg failed on Thursday evening. “All parties have been working extremely constructively on these investigative rights for more than half a year,” said Green Party leader Eva Hammerer on Vorarlberg Live, expressing her disappointment. She now wants to bring all parties back to the table and find a solution.
13 points were dealt with, and there was consensus among all parties on 12 important points. The disputed point concerns the higher arbitration body. There were two variants, both of which had “advantages and disadvantages”, according to Hammerer. One is the state administrative court, the other is the state audit office and state ombudsman. The latter variant is preferred by the ÖVP, the opposition rejects it. “So the ÖVP didn’t get in the way, I want to emphasize that,” says Hammerer.
Role model in all of Austria
The Greens are convinced that the package would have been exemplary in all of Austria. She brings a comparison: “We went to the house together, now we can’t agree on whether we’re going to go left or right, so we’re going back home, that can’t be it.” Hammerer is therefore appealing for all parties to sit down at the same table and try again to reach an agreement: “It would be a shame for this important right.”
The ÖVP and the Greens together have the necessary two-thirds majority to pass the law – against the will of the opposition. There are intensive discussions, emphasizes the Greens. Hammerer adds that the variant preferred by the ÖVP with the state audit office and state ombudsman would have three major advantages: legal certainty, the right to inspect files and it could be increased. “I’ve been able to convince the ÖVP with too many arguments,” said Hammerer. But Hammerer would also like to do some convincing in the direction of the opposition.
Sharp criticism came on Friday from SPÖ chairwoman Gabi Sprickler-Falschlunger: “The Vorarlberg Greens have lost all courage. In their self-portrayal as a party for enlightenment and transparency, they are becoming increasingly implausible.” If it is not ensured that relevant files have to be delivered to the committee of inquiry, the sub-committee degenerates into a discussion group, according to the social democrat.
SPÖ insists on a variant
The regional administrative court is the only instance that could decide on the delivery completely independently and without reservations. “The Greens know that,” said Sprickler-Falschlunger: “They would have had the opportunity to support the opposition parties in this very central issue. The green decision to keep the coalition peace with the ÖVP is a kneel before the ÖVP with far-reaching consequences for all upcoming committees of inquiry.
The broadcast “Vorarlberg LIVE” is a cooperation between VOL.AT, VN.at, Ländle TV and VOL.AT TV and is broadcast from Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. There’s more here.
