New city government

Citizens’ list gets urban planning, housing with Dankl

Auinger and Dankl finalized the portfolios at Mirabell Palace.(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

Election winner Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ) specified the distribution of offices in the city government. The Citizens' List will get all the planning, while the KPÖ will get a large housing portfolio.

The prospective mayor continues to press ahead with the new city government. Bernhard Auinger further specified his "rough plan", which was reported in the "Krone" newspaper, on Wednesday. Discussions with municipal director Max Tischler and lawyers revealed that it would be difficult to split up the department for spatial planning and transport.

Dankl to monitor vacancies and Airbnb
This is why Citizens' List city councillor Anna Schiester has been given an upgraded department. She will not only be responsible for transport, but will also be in charge of spatial planning. The prospective deputy mayor Kay-Michael Dankl from the KPÖ Plus party will be given a large housing portfolio. It includes the areas of "housing, construction and land policy". This department will also include a newly created position for the monitoring of vacant apartments and the inspection of apartments rented out via Airbnb.

Finances and schools at Auinger
In addition to personnel and finance, which are traditionally the responsibility of the mayor, Auinger himself will retain responsibility for childcare and schools. This is where the SPÖ leader started his multi-million education construction program years ago, which he now wants to complete. 

On Wednesday after Easter, the exact allocation of portfolios is to be finalized with the municipal council. The parties will then have until the inauguration of the new municipal council on May 8 to negotiate the content. Auinger emphasized the importance of clarifying personal responsibilities first: "Because if someone ends up with a portfolio that they don't want, for which they have no passion, then they won't do it well."