Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) blamed Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) for the fact that the people in Mehring (Altötting district) voted against the construction of ten wind turbines in a referendum. The ten turbines were to become part of the largest wind farm in the Free State. It is to be built in the Altöttinger Forest, with a total of 40 wind turbines. It was not he himself who was responsible for planning the park, but “the Prime Minister,” said Aiwanger at the “Sunday get-together” on Bavarian television. People were “not convinced by this plan”. In the broadcast, Aiwanger also indicated that he would start planning the wind farm project all over again. “In the end there may not be any other way,” he said.
In addition to Söder, Aiwanger made Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) responsible for the outcome of the citizens’ initiative. As minister, Kaniber was also responsible for the Bavarian State Forests until autumn, on whose territory the wind farm is to be built. After the state elections, however, the state forests went to Aiwanger in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is responsible for energy issues then as now. This is also why the CSU and business have accused Aiwanger of not promoting the project enough to the people of Mehring and preferring to attend farmers’ protests.
“That’s absolute nonsense,” countered Aiwanger on Sunday in the BR: “The people didn’t vote against it because Aiwanger wasn’t there. But because they simply didn’t like the planning.” The planning “came too much from above, with the goal of having 40 wind turbines in the region, and the municipalities still don’t know the details: Where to go? How many?” The result of the citizens’ initiative is “a boomerang according to the motto: We want to be better integrated!”
Aiwanger is now turning the accusation that he himself didn’t speak enough to the local people towards the CSU: “There wasn’t enough communication with the citizens, yes, they weren’t involved appropriately. And now comes the accusation: The Aiwanger is guilty!” People have been presented with a fait accompli and he, Aiwanger, now has to “work things through.”
Plans for wind turbines were recently underway in seven communities. The “Gegenwind Altötting” initiative, which initiated the Mehringen citizens’ initiative, is already planning further requests there. Aiwanger has therefore announced talks with the communities and the citizens’ initiative. “I’ll go there,” he said, “but I won’t let myself be sent anywhere they would like me to go.”