Poisoned arrows flew low

Election campaign instead of content in Innsbruck’s municipal council

The last municipal council meeting before the elections in Innsbruck in April was more reminiscent of a kindergarten meeting.(Bild: Birbaumer Johanna)

The fact that Innsbruck is in the middle of an election campaign became clear right at the start of the municipal council meeting: during the topical hour, everything revolved around the question of a comprehensive school for 11 to 14-year-olds, or at least it should have. Because some councillors used their time to campaign or settle accounts.

The poison arrows flew low again in the last Innsbruck municipal council before the election. The topic of the topical hour was "comprehensive school for 11 to 14-year-olds". But the mandataries were not on good terms: The mayor forgot to add the "Klubobfrau" when he called on the head of the Lebenswerten Innsbruck club - Renate Krammer-Stark - about which she immediately complained and lashed out in her speech against the Greens as if she had never been part of it.

Duel between Depaoli and Mayor Willi
Helmut Buchacher also spoke anything but affectionately about his red ex-comrade and described councillor Elli Mayr as a "head teacher". GR Gerald Depaoli (Gerechtes) spoke about the mini-golf course - when Willi asked him to speak on the subject, Depaoli refused. Willi then cut him off. Depaoli objected again, which is why Willi interrupted the meeting after less than an hour.

The mini-golf course was discussed again in a later agenda item. The discussion escalated and calls to order were issued after Depaoli referred to the mayor as a "dictator". Meanwhile, a special municipal council was briefly discussed because Willi did not (immediately) have the contract for the course ready.

Frustration over posters being taken down
Johannes Anzengruber had another reason for anger: his posters had been taken down by the responsible office. He sees this as an attack on small political groups. The city senate decided "not to hang any posters on street lamps" - but Anzengruber says: "I was verbally assured that this would be fine."