In his televised speech on the national holiday, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen called for integrity in politics. To keep democracy and the rule of law intact, the population must be able to rely on politicians “always acting in the interest of the people, never for their own”. This calls for the strictest possible laws and regulations and more preventive measures will also be needed. “And I’ll never tire of claiming them.”
In his speech, the head of state also called on viewers to have confidence.
“The world has become more unstable. Times are stormy,” he said, referring to various crises of recent years, from the Ibiza scandal to global disasters such as pandemics, the war in Ukraine, “climate emergency”, inflation and the energy crisis. But if society remains constructive and looking to the future, “we can do anything”.
To be able to rely on
For example, there is not one big, simple answer to the climate crisis, but many small actions that together form the answer. It is about trying, learning, rethinking and persisting in ambiguity.
“And trust in the things our society is built on. That’s what matters now,” said the president, who in this year’s speech invited viewers to peek behind the famous wallpaper door — after all, “transparency never hurts and these rooms here are above all your rooms.” .
unpredictable times
In increasingly unpredictable times, society needs a strong inner compass in the form of indisputable principles, emphasized Van der Bellen. “And thank goodness we have those principles.”
Article 1 of human rights (everyone has equal rights) is a principle of Austrian democratic principles, the Federal Constitution clearly defines the political interaction of the republic, the functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law. To keep democracy and the rule of law intact, they also need “integrated politicians,” he stressed.
Among the principles that give orientation to society, Van der Bellen also mentioned permanent military neutrality and the principle of solidarity – in Austria and throughout Europe. “As a society, we don’t leave anyone behind.” This must also apply to our descendants, who through effective measures to protect the climate must leave behind a planet “that can remain a home for all of us”.
Van der Bellen argued for the willingness to learn more and to supplement old knowledge with new, to remain constructive – also in word choice – to look ahead and focus on the solution. “If we uphold these principles and orient ourselves accordingly. If we all stick to these principles together, we as a community are resilient and we can do anything.”
Source: Krone
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
