Dispute over kindergartens

Mayor under pressure after resignations

At Traunsee, two resignations of female politicians are causing a stir.(Bild: Wenzel Markus)

In Gmunden, an ÖVP city councillor and municipal councillor resigned within a short space of time. The reason is said to have been internal disagreements about childcare. Mayor Stefan Krapf was apparently caught on the wrong foot. The search for a replacement has already been underway for two weeks.

In the ÖVP Gmunden, the house blessing is hanging crooked. First, city councillor Birgit Zwachte resigned. The teacher had only entered politics shortly before the 2021 election. She was already considered by many to be the successor to Mayor Stefan Krapf.

Doctor resigned
Now the basketball fan has received another rebuff from a lady: local councillor Michaela Schmidt has announced her resignation for personal reasons. The doctor and Zwachte have been friends for many years.

With Zwachte, we are losing a very likeable local politician who has shown great commitment to childcare in Gmunden

Stefan Krapf, ÖVP-Bürgermeister

Krapf regrets both departures: "Schmidt has implemented many projects. With Zwachte, we are losing a very likeable local politician who has shown great commitment to childcare in Gmunden."

Controversial container solution 
The head of the town attributes Zwachte's resignation to differences surrounding the plans for a container solution for the lack of nursery and crèche places and a lack of support within the VP parliamentary group. "There were actually different approaches within the VP. The solution favored by Zwachte was and is not sustainable for some VP mandataries, as the containers may only be in operation for six years." In addition, the containers would have cost around half a million euros minus the subsidy. Commissioning by the fall would not be guaranteed under any circumstances.

Search for solutions underway
Zwachte's departure has probably caught the VP on the wrong foot. More than two weeks after her resignation, there is still no successor in the town council. The kindergarten problem has not yet been solved either: "We are currently working intensively on a quick and sustainable solution in order to be able to offer as many additional childcare places as possible from the fall," assures Krapf.