There will be elections in Lower Austria in a month. An important election, not least for the ÖVP, which is in danger of losing its absolute majority. But what else could happen in the next four weeks? “There is still a lot to come”, says political expert and journalist Oswald Hicker from Lower Austria in the conversation on krone.tv with Jana Pasching. The fronts in Lower Austria are hardened. “With the current atomic bombs being thrown at each other, I think that the basis for discussion will also be destroyed after the election.”
At the moment it almost seems as if there are no campaign issues in Lower Austria, says Hicker. The problems that dominate at the moment go in the direction of corruption and favoritism. “The actual issues – and there are many here – don’t get through.”
‘First place for FPÖ in the distant future’
While the FPÖ is in first place at the federal level, the picture in Lower Austria before the elections is different: “First place is still a long way off here,” says Hicker. The ÖVP also discussed some of the FPÖ’s topics in Lower Austria “very credibly”. In addition, the FPÖ has a personnel problem. In Udo Landbauer, the party has a top candidate who is already in charge of the “song book affair”. Just a few weeks ago, Landbauer called the state capital of St. Pölten a “rape town”. That is too much for many Lower Austrians. “He is a brilliant rhetorician, but he lacks poise.”
Hicker says he is particularly enthusiastic about the FPÖ internal competition between farmer and State Councilor Gottfried Waldhäusl. “Those two are not green with each other.” You can now also see from the list of states that the Waldhäusl faction is no longer taken into account and that the farmers’ faction is being strengthened earlier. “Of course that is the case with many parties.” You can think what you like of Waldhäusl, says Hicker, but he would achieve one thing: “He comes to the ‘ZiB 2’ and of course serves his clientele very well with it.” Here they are two interesting personalities within the FPÖ.
Colorful coalition against Mikl-Leitner
After the elections, a three-party coalition between the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS is increasingly likely, says Hicker. “One will try to push the state governor off her chair.” That is also realistic if the three have a majority. “Right now it’s really top of the line.” The Greens were currently notable for their restraint. Here he feels that the ÖVP already has a coalition partner ready in the form of the Greens, says Hicker.
You can see the entire interview with journalist Oswald Hicker in the video above.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
