Again without permission

Caravan convoy now stops off in Hartberg

The caravan column is now in Hartberg.

(Bild: FPÖ Hartberg-Fürstenfeld)

There was a lot of excitement recently when the so-called "traveling people" settled in Dobl-Zwaring near Graz - including threats and damage. Now the caravan convoy has stopped in front of a shopping center in Hartberg. Again there is criticism.

Next stop: Hartberg. After Dobl-Zwaring and Raaba-Grambach, representatives of the Roma and Sinti settled in Hartberg on Wednesday and parked their caravans on a meadow in front of the Hatric shopping center.

"It is unacceptable that this illegal camping is ultimately laying siege to a business location and possibly even damaging it. The actions of these groups should be stopped quickly with concrete legal measures," said Luca Geistler, District Party Chairman of the FPÖ Hartberg-Fürstenfeld. The state government is examining stricter rules, as they already apply in other federal states.

Campsite closed
The head of the town, Marcus Martschitsch (ÖVP), is also not really happy with the new guests: "Even in the past, visits to the campsite have only worked moderately well. What's more, the group is larger than usual this year."

As the campsite is currently unusable, alternative accommodation had to be found. And according to information from the regional police headquarters, the owners of the shopping center have granted permission for the caravans to be parked there until Sunday. In any case, no reports have yet been received. 

However, Stefan Rutter from the Rutter Immobilien Group, which operates the Hatric shopping center, disagrees: "The camping is taking place without permission. We have informed the group that this is an infringement of property rights, which we will have to take legal action against if necessary."