Criticism from state leaders
The finance minister’s “inconceivable gaffe”
There is great excitement among state governors about Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ): he is accused of "disrespect" and there is talk of an "inconceivable gaffe."
Markus Marterbauer, the nation's usually reserved treasurer, reported on his visit to the provincial governors' conference in Styria in November during a discussion round at the "Kleine Zeitung" newspaper: "It was the most bizarre evening of my term in office. There is less negotiating than eating and drinking."
The reactions of the provincial governors were fierce. "The finance minister's flippant statements are untrue," said the host of the meeting, Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ). According to him, the provincial governors and government representatives worked on a paper on the reform partnership long after dinner, while Marterbauer traveled back to Vienna after dessert. Kunasek called the statement "an unbelievable gaffe" and "disrespectful to the representatives of the federal states."
Kunasek is far from alone in his criticism. "The finance minister arrived at a two-day state conference for the starter and left again after dessert. Now he is complaining that instead of negotiating, he only ate and drank," says Tyrol's governor Anton Mattle, shaking his head and adding that Marterbauer has done the reform partnership a "disservice."
"If anything is bizarre, it's this statement by the minister," says Upper Austrian state leader Thomas Stelzer. And Markus Wallner from Vorarlberg adds: "Very disrespectful – especially since Marterbauer's behavior was surprising."
Marterbauer's party colleagues are more lenient in their comments. But Carinthia's Peter Kaiser also addresses the finance minister: "How does the saying go in Austria? Talking brings people together."
The general consensus is that it is precisely this "coming together" that is being jeopardized by such statements.
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