Interview with JVP boss – Berger: ‘I would describe myself as Catholic’

“crown”: Mr. Berger, how long have you been in Vienna?
Dominik Berger: I came to Vienna from Tyrol in 2018 as a parliamentary assistant to Josef Lettenbichler, who was a member of parliament at the time.

You were also ÖH chairman in Innsbruck. What did you study?
Gravy, but I never finished that. I switched to human resources management, but as I became more professional, I progressed less in my studies (laughs).

The area of ​​responsibility is structural work
What does your day-to-day work as general secretary of the JVP look like?
I support our federal president Claudia Plakolm in leading the largest political youth organization, my task is the structural work.

The young farmers must repay the received Corona funds. Was the JVP also affected?
There was an application from a local group in Upper Austria due to incorrect information, but they refunded it when it became clear that it was not legit.

At Christmas, you engaged in what we call a “Catholic brawl” on Twitter. are you Catholic
Yes. I would describe myself as Catholic.

“Restrictive external border surveillance is necessary”
On the asylum issue, the Tyrolean bishop takes a different position than the ÖVP, he does not speak of a refugee crisis, but of a housing crisis. How is that compatible?
The ÖVP has a Christian-social value base, which is also reflected in the functions. Restrictive protection of the external borders is necessary to help those who really need help and to live in an open Europe without borders. Here we have a problem that we clearly recognize.

Mrs Plakolm said the asylum system was broken. What do you mean?
At the moment it is not those most in need of protection who come to us, but those who can afford it. Males exist in greater numbers than females, but they need no less protection. That does not work.

The ÖVP has been in government since 1990. What did you miss?
20 years ago it was not possible to solve a refugee flow that did not exist at the time. Many of the questions are also European questions. The asylum system does not operate fairly in Europe.

Affordable housing is on the agenda for the future
How are you? Plans for the future?
I have the privilege of working for a very cool boss. My claim is that I support the JVP so that something happens for young people. It’s hard for me to say what will happen next.

What’s on the agenda of the JVP?
Create affordable housing and create the best possible conditions for volunteers.

Mrs. Plakom became known, among other things, for the saying “At the age of 30 she built a house, fathered a child and planted a tree”. You’re 27, what does that look like?
No house yet and no kids – I plant on Twitter (laughs).