Turmoil in Styria

SPÖ fuels coalition dispute over fully slatted floors

Hannes Schwarz (SPÖ) wants a ban on fully slatted floors in pigsties.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Christian Jauschowetz, Sepp Pail)

The ÖVP farmers' association continues to strongly criticize the new Styrian FPÖ animal welfare councillor Hannes Amesbauer because he would welcome an end to fully slatted floors in pigsties. The Styrian SPÖ wants to fuel the first coalition dispute and is following up with a motion: "The state government must take a clear position."

"In an ideal world, no animal would have to live on slatted floors. It is not species-appropriate, the animals injure themselves. I would like to see a ban with compensation for farmers." This statement by Animal Welfare Councillor Hannes Amesbauer (FPÖ) in an interview with the "Krone" newspaper has put the Styrian Farmers' Association, a powerful ÖVP sub-organization, on the barricades.

Bernd Brodtrager from the Young Farmers' Association was the first to speak out, recommending that the state councillor "deal with the reality on livestock farms and the agricultural markets". Amesbauer would consider handouts for farmers. 

Franz Titschenbacher (left) greeted Mario Kunasek (FPÖ, center) at the Chamber of Agriculture reception.

(Bild: Jauschowetz Christian)

Harsh criticism from Titschenbacher
One day later, Franz Titschenbacher, Chairman of the Farmers' Union and President of the Chamber of Agriculture, followed up: Amesbauer was engaging in "election campaign populism" and "not on the side of hard-working farmers. Livestock farms need planning security and fair competitive conditions. Banning full splitting too quickly would force many farms to stop, as a result of which the security of supply of domestic pork would no longer be guaranteed." 

Amesbauer was not present at the Chamber of Agriculture's New Year's reception a week ago, but FPÖ Governor Mario Kunasek and FPÖ Provincial Councillor Stefan Hermann were. Both were greeted warmly and promised to treat each other with respect.

SPÖ submits controversial motion
The now opposition SPÖ wants to fuel this first coalition dispute. According to club chairman Hannes Schwarz, it is requesting that the ban on fully slatted floors be implemented immediately in the state parliament. "In addition, we are calling for the state government to provide financial support to facilitate the transition to animal welfare-friendly forms of husbandry."  

Jochen Bocksruker, Mayor of Bärnbach and SPÖ spokesperson for agriculture in the provincial parliament, also says: "Low-cost production from torture farming is neither sustainable nor viable for the future and should therefore be rejected as an economic model."

The clock is ticking: Solution needed by June 1
As a reminder: fully slatted floors have been banned in new buildings since 2023, while a transitional period until 2040 was planned for existing stables. The Constitutional Court ruled that this was too long and overturned the regulation. A new, shorter transitional period has been under discussion for a year now. A solution must be found by June 1.