There was great outrage after the Ash Wednesday speech by FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, who was particularly strict with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The blue frontman literally described the red-white-red head of state as “mummy” and “senile”. The ÖVP found that Kickl had crossed new boundaries with his “hate speech”. Criticism also came from NEOS.
Kickl has long been at odds with Van der Bellen. The most recent rulings of the Hofburg, according to which the FPÖ leader should not be sure, even if he wins the elections, that he will automatically be given the mandate to form a government, have not yet disappeared from the PVV. “This mummy in the Hofburg”, the FPÖ chairman literally raged on Ash Wednesday, this “political chameleon”.
‘Van der Bellen is the greatest threat to the state’
It was already known that Van der Bellen was “senile”, “but now he has forgotten that he is the president of a neutral country” and believes he is the head of state in a NATO country. Van der Bellen was “the greatest threat to democracy and the state”, who should be “removed from office”, the FPÖ boss grumbled.
ÖVP: “Kickl has finally been disqualified”
Viennese ÖVP boss Karl Mahrer was shocked in a broadcast on Thursday. “Herbert Kickl’s statements are reminiscent of the darkest chapter in our history,” said Mahrer. The “targeted agitation” was “unbearable”. As a society, you have to make sure that history does not repeat itself. Because times of crisis are “unfortunately also a good breeding ground for popular demagogues”, the ÖVP politician warned. His verdict was: “With the latest statements, Herbert Kickl has finally disqualified himself from all positions of responsibility in this republic.”
NEOS: “This is not how we want to treat the Federal President”
NEOS boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger wrote on Twitter that she herself does not shy away from arguments and “sometimes goes too far with formulations”. “But we don’t want to treat each other the way Kickl does!” she criticized. “Not with older people, not with the Federal President’s office!”
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.
