Criticism of Gewessler

Styrians at war with green minister

Leonore Gewessler is against the expansion of the A9 in the south of Graz.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz, SepaMedia/Michael Indra ,Krone KREATIV)

Now that Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler is sticking to her decision to cancel the flight connection from Graz to Vienna from 2030, Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler and the Styrian Chamber of Commerce have come out swinging. Their criticism of the Green politician is fierce: The business location is being damaged.

That's all it took! Following the "Krone" story that Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) is sticking to her no vote for the Graz-Vienna flight connection after the Semmering Base Tunnel goes into operation (expected at the end of 2029), the waters are running high on this side of the Semmering.

Karl-Heinz Dernoscheg, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, is particularly upset about the fact that it doubts the WKO study according to which the ecological effect of discontinuing domestic flights would be limited.

Karl-Heinz Dernoscheg, Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

(Bild: Kronenzeitung)

"You can't leave it at that, these studies have a basis in fact. After the A9, it's now the Graz airport - if you want to do lasting damage to a business location, you would probably act like the Minister," the Chamber Director shakes his head.

"Ideology-driven politics harms business location" 
Governor Christopher Drexler is now also taking off his glacé gloves. "The airport is an indispensable hub, especially for the Styrian economy. The Graz-Vienna connection is not about luxury pleasure flights, but about the connection for our internationally networked companies! The ideology-driven policy of the Greens is massively damaging the business location."

Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

In the view of the Styrian ÖVP leader, five points are needed for a successful economic future: the three-lane expansion of the A9 in the south of Graz, the continuation of the S36 and the construction of the S37 in the Mur Valley (with this he is fully in line with Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer), the expansion of the Graz-Marburg railroad line, the connection of Graz Airport to the Koralm Railway and, of course, securing the Graz-Vienna flight connection.

"NGO activist"
"However, all of this is failing due to the refusal of the Green Transport Minister. Anyone who acts like an NGO activist and does not have the good of the country in mind cannot, in my view, be a member of the federal government in the future," the governor rumbles in the direction of Vienna.