Dispute in the state parliament

No comrade in the ÖVP

Ideology debate in the Salzburg state parliament: When Kay-Michael Dankl, head of the KPÖ-Plus parliamentary group, said "almost comrade Jöbstl" to ÖVP deputy parliamentary group leader Martina Jöbstl, the latter immediately demanded an apology. "That is clearly an insult to me," she declared.

The governing parties are increasingly using the state parliament as an ideological show stage. On Wednesday, for example, there were two so-called "letter carrier's motions", on which the state parliament cannot formally decide anything, but can only ask the state government to approach the federal government with a request. This approach has varying degrees of success and is often a no-no issue.

This week it was once about the commuter allowance and once about the Matura. Both issues, which fall under federal jurisdiction, are ideal for ideological sham battles. This was also the case on Wednesday. KPÖ-Plus leader Kay-Michael Dankl said on the subject of school-leaving certificates: "I almost have to say to Comrade Jöbstl when she says that it shouldn't make any difference whether someone has an apprenticeship, a school-leaving certificate or a bachelor's degree."

Committee chair Alexander Rieder (FPÖ) then cut him off because the ÖVP deputy leader Martina Jöbstl did not agree with Dankl's comments. "I apologize, because I will not be called a comrade, that is clearly an insult to me," she said.

Two and a half hours for letter requests to Vienna
After pointing out that there are also housing cooperatives and that Raiffeisen is also a cooperative, Dankl complied with the request: "If the colleague feels offended, I'm sorry. I would like to make it clear that she is not a member of my club."

After a brief debate on the rules of procedure, the MPs continued with the items on the agenda, which the federal government should continue to adhere to when called upon to do so by the provincial parliament. The ÖVP motion called for "adherence" to the commuter allowance. The FPÖ motion, which led to a battle of words between Dankl and Jöbstl, called for "adherence" to the Matura. After almost two and a half hours of discussion, both motions were adopted with the votes of the Black-Blue Party against the votes of the opposition.