Criticism of Gewessler

S8: Black-blue outcry after “green joy”

Lobner (left) and Landbauer have nothing good to say about the Green Ministry of Transport. The trigger is the "pleasing" result from the S8.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Patrick Huber, ÖVP NÖ, NLK Pfeffer)

If her days as Transport Minister were not already numbered, there would be a hail of calls for her resignation from Lower Austria against the Green Party's Leonore Gewessler. The reason: her actually independent civil servants had exchanged internal e-mails about the "pleasing" Marchfeld expressway.

Columns of cars through villages, massive delays, exhaust fumes, noise - an entire region has been suffering for years from the unacceptable traffic situation through the Marchfeld. This assessment by Gänserndorf's mayor René Lobner (ÖVP) must be shared by anyone who has ever been on the B8 at peak times.

Eco-ideology before practical policy
But the expressway, which was actually approved by federal law, has been delayed, first indefinitely postponed by Leonore Gewessler, then overturned by the courts. And much to the delight of her own officials, as "Krone" has uncovered. "Ideological sensitivities are being placed above factual policy here," emphasizes Lobner: "It's good that her reign of terror in the Ministry of Transport will soon come to an end!"

"Commuters are being mocked"
Udo Landbauer, the state's deputy minister, who may soon be able to continue his transport agendas at federal level, echoes this sentiment: "The fact that the ideologically driven transport minister and the Federal Environment Agency, which she heads, consider the court ruling to end the S8 to be very pleasing speaks volumes and shows that the Green transport minister is clearly completely ignoring the suffering of thousands of commuters, families, local residents and businesses and making a mockery of their concerns."

Both parties now see new opportunities for the Marchfeld region in the coalition negotiations at federal level.