Election campaign in Innsbruck

Politicians smiling to the point of unbearability

Tursky, Willi and Mayr laugh from the election posters.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

In just under a month's time, elections will be held in Innsbruck. Posters with promises of all kinds are already littering the Tyrolean capital, even if almost all of them are smiling.

Oh, you beautiful pre-election period. At the moment, it is unmistakable and inaudible in Innsbruck. This is primarily due to countless press events and even more election posters. Not a day goes by without a group - 13 in all - making a public appearance to raise "new issues" such as the housing shortage, the associated vacancy rate, high rent and purchase costs, traffic problems, issues such as safety and transport, etc. and, of course, having solutions for EVERYTHING just a few weeks before the ballot.

Entering the "land of milk and honey"
As a voter, you are virtually invited to enter the "land of milk and honey". All you have to do is vote for this or that party. The cosmopolitan city of Innsbruck is becoming even more cosmopolitan. Everyone will soon have a great, but above all affordable apartment. Every child will receive any kind of education (regardless of whether they are talented or not). Everyone will earn more for their work (with fewer hours per week, of course) and of course Innsbruck will be much safer in future, residents will have a say in all matters and so on. In short: everything will be new and much better.

BM Georg Willi has his picture painted by a child.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

There is a favorite motif
Posters that grow out of the ground overnight like molehills also promise this. Almost all of them are kept and designed very harmoniously. However, one favorite motif - as in previous election campaigns - has once again made it onto many surfaces: Smiling, caring politicians surrounded by happy, smiling people listening attentively and fascinated to the respective candidate.

Everything together is so inviting that you almost can't wait until election day on April 14. The excitement builds, much like that of a small child in the run-up to Christmas. You would love to go straight to a polling station (unfortunately they are all still closed) to vote for them all. By "all of them" we mean all those who are convinced that they will at least make it to the mayoral run-off and then win it by "60 to 40 percent" and become the head of Innsbruck.

Florian Tursky walks through the crowd with a smile.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Elisabeth Mayr listens to the people, smiling.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Full-bodied announcements
If these announcements all came true, the provincial capital would be well advised to convert some of the 40 municipal council seats into mayoral seats after the election. According to the grandiose announcements, six to eight mayoral seats would be needed. So many candidates have so far more or less convincingly claimed to be able to achieve this goal.

Perhaps Innsbruck should dispense with the municipal council (which in practice makes few decisions) altogether and just have more mayors as political representatives. In no time at all, the cosmopolitan city of Innsbruck would become the focus of worldwide interest.