Change of organizer

Dispute over May Day festival: park now has two tree pits

In Wels, the once powerful SPÖ and the mayor's party, the FPÖ, have been at loggerheads for weeks over the organization of the Maypole festivities. For years the Reds organized the festival, now the Blues are doing it. The construction of a second safety fence for the erection of the tree is further fueling the dispute.

In Wels, the dispute over the maypole celebration in the Vogelweide district continues. As reported, the SP is annoyed that this year, after 50 years, Mayor Andreas Rabl's FP is organizing the well-attended festival for the first time. Due to coronavirus and a lack of staff, the SP, once a powerful party in Wels, has taken a break from the May Festival for the past four years.

The Blue Party seized the opportunity: the Freiheitliche Jugend (Freedom Youth) took over the May celebrations in the district, which had been orphaned for many years. "With the support of the city and therefore with taxpayers' money," rumbled the Reds.

They criticize the fact that a separate maypole shoe is being erected for the FP on Vogelweideplatz, right next to the SP's safety pit. "That raises some questions," says National Council candidate Manfred Sams. For example, why the FP is not using the SP pit or how high the costs are.

We don't see why we should organize the party every year in turn. It has always been an SP celebration.

Manfred Sams, Welser SP-Nationalratskandidat

Sams also finds it incomprehensible that the maypole shoe is being erected now and the park will be redesigned later. "Why this single measure? Why are the city representatives apparently acting in such anticipatory obedience to the city's wishes?" asks Sams.

SP voted in favor of redesigning the square
FP city councillor Gerhard Kroiß is surprised: "The redesign of Vogelweideplatz, including the equipment for putting up the maypole, was discussed in the city senate. The SP even asked whether it would work out until the festival, agreed and is now asking about it."

The construction of the new equipment for putting up the maypole was necessary so that it meets the latest standards.

Gerhard Kroiß, FP-Vizebürgermeister

 Why does it need a second pit? "Because it has to meet the latest standards." The FP would also have offered the SP to put up a neutrally decorated maypole so that both parties could celebrate on different dates. However, the SP declined.