Outraged Styrians

Heavy artillery against Minister Gewessler

Governor Christopher Drexler and Deputy Governor Anton Lang

(Bild: Juergen Radspieler)

Strong political reaction from Styria to statements made by Green Infrastructure Minister Leonore Gewessler to the "Krone" newspaper. In particular, she had affirmed with regard to the required expansion of the A9 south of Graz: "We are not concreting here!" ÖVP Governor Christopher Drexler and his SPÖ deputy Anton Lang do not want to accept this under any circumstances.

"We demand quite clearly: the Minister of Transport must finally give up the purely ideologically motivated blockade of important infrastructure projects for our country!", Governor Drexler and Deputy Governor Lang said indignantly on Sunday.

Gewessler's no to concreting

They were infuriated by statements made by Infrastructure Minister Leonore Gewessler from the Green Party to the "Steirerkrone" newspaper. She had commented on new road construction projects after the opening of the S 7 in Eastern Styria and Burgenland: "We owe it to future generations to take care of our livelihood. We must also have the courage to decide: We will not pour concrete here and look for better solutions." And this "no" to concreting, Gewessler emphasized, also applies to the A 9. The Green Party member on the "Krone": "There, too, it's a question of: do we want even more traffic and congestion or do we protect valuable farmland and work on sustainable mobility?"

Leonore Gewessler in the criticism.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Drexler and Lang are bursting at the seams

This makes the Styrian government leaders' collars pop. Drexler and Lang are particularly annoyed by "the same old simple formulas, according to which more roads would cause more traffic and congestion" and tell Gewessler: "Responsible politics for our country means dealing with the facts. It is easy to fall back on simple formulas, but sensible government work requires a view of the big picture."

No alternative to the A 9 expansion

The traffic study by the Province of Styria clearly shows "how important and necessary - indeed, how there is no alternative - the expansion of the A 9 in the south of Graz is for Styria as a business location". One of the results was that traffic on the highway would increase with a third lane. But not because this would shift traffic from the municipalities and town centers to where it belongs: "on the freeway - without daily traffic jams".

Daily traffic jams on the highway - the Styrians want the expansion.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com – U. J. Alexander)

"Even a green minister has to recognize that"

"It's about the quality of life of the Styrians in the municipalities!", emphasized the ÖVP state governor, only to tell the member of the turquoise-green federal government from Styria in rare sharpness: "A green minister must finally recognize this!"

Transport Minister Gewessler will see just how stubborn and persistent we Styrians can be.

Landeshauptmann Christopher Drexler

In Gewessler's home province, the "continued refusal to talk" is also a source of irritation. According to Drexler and Lang: "While the minister's attitude in public appearances and interviews is that she rejects roads in principle, this apparently also applies to open talks and negotiations." Gewessler could "not forever refuse talks on hugely important projects for Styria". She will also have to deal with issues "that are unpleasant for her and the Green Party."

Accusation of refusing to talk

Refusing to talk and using simple formulas will not improve the situation for the Styrians "one iota". And Governor Drexler, as he did in his "Styria speech" last Monday, takes up the heavy artillery against the Minister: "I repeat myself: when it comes to a lifeline in Styria, when it comes to the 3rd lane on the A 9, then Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler will also see how stubborn and persistent we Styrians can be."