Close result

Wind power referendum with a narrow result

The debate went on for weeks and the Carinthians voted on Sunday.

(Bild: Naturfreunde/Walter Mietschke)

Carinthians over the age of 16 voted on Sunday on a possible ban on the installation of further wind turbines. The result was extremely close - the urban-rural divide is also striking. The fronts in the province were hardened in advance, the mood between the opponents was heated - a ballot paper with a bomb threat against the FPÖ alerted the authorities.

The first Carinthians cast their votes in the referendum in the early hours of the morning, when polling stations opened at seven o'clock. It was about the future of wind power in Carinthia - a clear rejection would be a first step towards a total ban. All Carinthians over the age of 16 are entitled to take part in the survey. They had until noon - in Klagenfurt and Villach until 1 pm.

Specifically, the question was: "Should the construction of further wind turbines on mountains and alpine pastures in Carinthia be prohibited by state law to protect Carinthian nature (including the landscape)?" The FPÖ and individual members of Team Carinthia tabled the motion for a referendum in the Carinthian state parliament.

Close result: Carinthians against wind power
Shortly before 5 p.m., the first official result: 51.5 percent of Carinthians voted YES, 48.5 percent voted NO - confirming suspicions that the race could be close. In plain language: Carinthia decided against wind power on Sunday. The voter turnout of 34.9 percent is quite respectable for a referendum.

"We are delighted with all those who are against wind power about this result. The government should take this to heart," says FP party leader Erwin Angerer.

Deputy Governor Martin Gruber (ÖVP) wants to "take the concerns of Carinthians seriously": "In the coming days, we will be inviting all provincial parliamentary parties and social partners to working discussions. We are continuing to work on the regulation, but will examine how best to proceed legally. It is important that we get objectivity back into the debate and less fairy tales and myths."

How the other parties reacted
The reactions of those parties that are not represented in the Carinthian state parliament were clear. "With the 'YES' vote on the wind power ban, Carinthia has hit 'pause' on the energy transition - a dangerous step backwards that further cements dependence on climate and environmentally harmful fossil fuels and despots," criticizes Olga Voglauer, member of the National Council. "Unfortunately, the provincial government has missed the opportunity to move towards a sustainable energy future with a tailwind."

Should the construction of further wind turbines on mountains and alpine pastures in Carinthia be prohibited by state law to protect Carinthian nature (including the landscape)?

Fragestellung der Windkraft-Volksbefragung in Kärnten

The NEOS see the consultation as a missed opportunity. "A key issue for the future was misused for a populist 'think-tank' vote," says Janos Juvan, head of the regional party. "Time and money were wasted, while the actual task - the expansion of renewable energies - fell by the wayside." He therefore appeals to the provincial government to "finally get into gear."

While the FPÖ campaigned extensively for a ban, the governing parties, social partners, nature conservation and scientific organizations as well as the Catholic Church came out with a clear no to the ban. Whatever the outcome of the survey, the result is not legally binding.

Consultation on mountains over 40 years ago
The population of Carinthia has already been surveyed once on a topic relating to the Carinthian mountains. The question "Should the open landscape in the area of the Nockalm Road be declared a protected area (landscape or nature reserve) to preserve the Nock region?" on December 7, 1980 was not about wind turbines, but about hotel villages, ski slopes and lifts. 

The Carinthians ultimately rejected the idea of a "Carinthian Arlberg". With a voter turnout of 21.2 percent, 73,738 eligible voters voted "YES". This 94.3 percent was clearly missed today.