Metropole - October 2017

MELANGE

People notice when she walks into a room. Something

in the combination of her warm demeanor, calm en-

thusiasm and infectious laugh catches people off

guard. Born in Favoriten to a German father and a

mother from the Bohemian Forest, Renate Brauner is

certainly as Viennese as they come. As the Executive

City Councillor of Finance, Economic and Interna-

tional Affairs she deals with questions of budget,

spending and equality. In fact, the topic of social

equality has accompanied her all her life.

Brauner – who has lived in, and loved, the 5th dis-

trict for 20 years – was the first in her family to go to

university. “Back then it was not a given, if you were

from a humble background,” Brauner explained.

When she graduated from the University of Vienna

with a degree in economics, she already felt the need to

be involved in policy.

“I was always interested, because I knew that without

things like free school books, free public transport for

students, I could never have gotten my degree. My par-

ents couldn’t afford it.”

She is a product of Bruno Kreisky’s open education

policies, Brauner says. She stood up for women’s rights,

protested antiquated curricula and the nuclear power

plant in Zwentendorf. And when she encountered the

neofascist organization Aktion Neue Rechte marching

with anti-Semitic banners, she knew she needed to take

action. Soon after, she joined the social democratic stu-

dent organization. Many of these themes have stayed

with her: inclusion regardless of heritage or gender, and

class-free access to higher education.

Life for women in politics has changed since the ‘80s,

and the nonstop schedule of a politician has – if any-

thing – gotten even more intense. “Of course there are

moments when I wish I saw my husband more often,”

she says. “But, on the other hand, I have to say it’s a whole

lot of fun,” she laughs.

Earlier that day she had been at a rally for the SPÖ

women’s organization. “For about 20 years I’ve been

the head of this group. Just seeing so many enthusias-

tic young women and being able to help them ... it’s a

topic that’s close to my heart.”

She’s also a proponent of quotas. “Not because I think

quotas are great,” she explains. “I think it’s sad that we

need them.” For instance, she seldom hears now that

there are no women in certain industries. “If you force

them, strangely enough, women are suddenly there.”

She sees plenty of room for improvement in techno-

logical fields, but says it’s a step-by-step process.

Her other focus is “smart city” Vienna, which means

intelligent solutions in all areas – “from using new and

innovative technologies, to the most important thing,

the Viennese USP: social inclusion.” It is this interna-

tionalism, she says, that makes Vienna so alive.

People often discuss the competition with other cit-

ies like Prague or Budapest: “Everything’s cheaper, the

workforce is cheaper.” She thinks these aren’t the deci-

sive factors for a city’s success.

“In reality, the only things that count in international

comparisons are intelligent solutions and quality.” To-

day, quality means science, research, development

and young ideas.

But upward mobility requires support – a leg up –

from the government, Brauner says. “I think this

American dream is nonsense,” she shakes her head.

“Thinking you can just suck it up, work hard and get

rich, that’s just rubbish. It’s really a question of the

social circumstances.”

So Brauner and her team are committed to promot-

ing equal opportunity in education and employment.

“We don’t want education, university or career

chances to depend on your gender or the color of you

skin,” she stresses. It’s about fairness. “That’s what

makes a difference.”

Gregors Konditorei

A Crusader for

Social Equality

Executive City Councillor Renate Brauner

on living well, quotas for women, and why

the American dream is nonsense

by Margaret Childs

Where to

find Renate

Brauner

in October

Gregors Konditorei

The location of our interview

is a café and bakery owned

by Gregor Lemmerer.

Through the window, you

see mouthwatering cakes

and confections being

crafted. Brauner loves the

“super muesli”.

5., Schönbrunner

Strasse 42

gregors-konditorei.at

Filmcasino

This one-of-a-kind relic of

‘50s architecture has a dedi-

cated following of people

like Brauner, for both

“sophisticated” films and

blockbusters. “When I can

find the time *cough,

cough* I love catching a

movie there.”

5., Margaretenstrasse 78 

(01) 587 90 62

filmcasino.at

Dining Ruhm

Two brothers, Marcel and

Sascha Ruhm, created this

Asian fusion hotspot after

colorful careers abroad, from

The Fat Duck in London to

Nobu Matsuhisa in St.

Moritz and Mykonos.

4., Lambrechtgasse 9

Tue-Sat, 11:00-14:00 &

17:00-23:

diningruhm.at

curated_by_vienna

Brauner recommends this

citywide event, organized by

the Vienna Business

Agency, when Viennese

galleries display the work of

international contemporary

artists. This year’s theme

“image/reads/text”

examines the significance

and function of language in

contemporary art with

exhibitions in 21 galleries

accross Vienna.

For locations visit:

PHOTO: CATHERINE MARGARET. Through October 14