Vienna's leadership shake-up sparks calls for housing and safety reforms
Vienna's leadership shake-up sparks calls for housing and safety reforms
Vienna's leadership shake-up sparks calls for housing and safety reforms
Vienna's housing and women's affairs departments are set for a leadership change. Elke Hanel-Torsch will replace Kathrin Gaál in both roles. The shift comes as the city's main opposition party, the ÖVP, pushes for major policy reforms.
The party is demanding a 'political fresh start', calling for stricter rules, faster housing upgrades, and new safety measures for women.
Over the past five years, Vienna's municipal housing provider, GWG, has poured over €1 billion into modernising its properties. In the Per-Albin district, 5,000 apartments underwent full renovations, finishing in 2024. Another 3,200 units in Favoriten received energy-efficient upgrades between 2023 and 2025. The 'Grüner Gemeindebau' initiative, running since 2022, has also fitted 1,500 flats in Simmering with solar panels and better insulation.
The ÖVP now wants to speed up these renovations further. They propose requiring future tenants to prove German language skills at B1 level. The party also insists on earmarking extra housing subsidies solely for residential projects. Another demand is the return of allotment garden plot sales, banned since 2021.
On women's safety, the ÖVP has called for an annual report on risks and protections. They also want more security staff on public transport and an expansion of women-only taxis. Additionally, the party is pushing for a trial of Sunday shopping in tourist areas, timed around the Eurovision Song Contest.
Economic policies feature too. The ÖVP is advocating for stronger support for affordable homeownership, including reviving rent-to-own schemes. These plans aim to make buying a home more accessible for lower-income families.
Hanel-Torsch's appointment coincides with growing pressure for policy changes. The GWG's modernisation drive continues, but the ÖVP's proposals could reshape housing rules, safety measures, and economic support. If adopted, the reforms would affect thousands of Viennese residents in the coming years.