Thick air in Tyrol

“It can’t go on like this!”

Ponholzer, Madersbacher, Lentsch and Kovacevic (from left), the representatives of the Wörgl opposition parties, suggest that Michael Riedhart resign from the office of mayor.

(Bild: Hubert Berger)

The air is thick in Wörgl at the moment. But not because of the summer temperatures. The opposition in the local council has finally had enough! They disapprove of the "non-transparent management style" of Mayor Michael Riedhart (ÖVP) and are calling on him to resign.

Gabi Madersbacher, a long-standing Wörgl local politician from the SPÖ-affiliated "Liste Hedi Wechner", is furious about the public statements made by the head of the town in summer 2023 that the criminal motorcycle rockers "Bandidos" and another rocker gang, the "Defenders of Freedom" - who are said to be close to the "Hells Angels" - chose Wörgl for their "chapters" (branches): "What BM Riedhart said is not naive to me, but stupid and negligent. The 'Bandidos' are not laid-back types who live in peaceful coexistence with others, but are demonstrably a highly criminal, highly dangerous organization that has no place in Wörgl. We can't go on like this!"

Anyone who follows the media knows that the 'Bandidos' are not a leisure club, but an organization that brings fear and terror.

Christian Kovacevic

Clear words from the opposition
SPÖ Member of Parliament Christian Kovacevic also finds clear words: "Anyone who follows the media a little knows that the 'Bandidos' are not a leisure club, but an organization that brings fear and terror". Last year, LA Kovacevic asked the head of the town how he saw the fact that a second motorcycle rocker club wanted to set up home in Wörgl - knowing full well that the two were enemies.

Iris Kahn from the Wörgl Green Party misses the necessary transparency.

(Bild: Hubert Berger)

FPÖ speaks of "loss of reality"
Mayor Riedhart then denied having known this and said that although he had been approached about it, he would now look into the matter. "Shortly afterwards, we heard publicly that Mayor Riedhart said, among other things, that this was no reason to get upset, as the members of the motorcycle gang would greet us in such a friendly manner," said LA Kovacevic, shaking his head, and continued: "This incident is all the worse in light of the successful strike by the provincial police command against the organized drug crime of the 'Bandidos'."

GR Christopher Lentsch (Freiheitliche Wörgler Liste) is also fed up: "The naivety with which BM Riedhart approached this matter is unimaginable. But this kind of loss of reality on his part is unfortunately the order of the day. As far as I'm concerned, he's ready to resign!"

During the election campaign, he tacked on the issue of security, but he is not addressing it, even though we have security problems almost everywhere.

Roland Ponholzer

"Irresponsible politics"
Roland Ponholzer, 2nd Deputy Mayor (Wir für Wörgl), recalls an apt quote from Muhamad Ali: "I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm right." For Ponholzer, the behavior of the head of the town represents a weakness in his powers of judgment. "His policies are irresponsible. During the election campaign, he tacked on the issue of security, but he is not playing on this, even though we have security problems almost everywhere. Mr. Riedhart is not worthy of this office. I also believe that he is not capable of exercising it in a way that really serves the people of Wörgl".

"Working agreement is often broken"
Iris Kahn from the Wörgl Greens also speaks plainly: "The working agreement we have made with BM Riedhart's parliamentary group on the sustainable development of Wörgl is often broken by him, especially when it comes to transparency. We Wörgl Greens stand for the fact that we want to involve all parliamentary groups in decision-making processes. But unfortunately this is not happening."

Mayor Riedhart defends himself: "This is yet another campaign by the opposition to systematically denigrate the good work that has been done for the town and for me. I will therefore not respond any further to these unfounded attacks."