Climate protection is “influenced to the left” and is instrumentalized very strongly by some groups, says NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger in krone.tv conversation with Jana Pasching. The subject should “come from the left corner”. The NEOS boss also elaborates on the actions of the last generation. “I understand the desperation of young people, but we have to reach the middle.” The fight against the market economy and capitalism will not succeed. Politicians, on the other hand, are in a “confidence crisis”. You have to “hack for the country and not for the party”.
“Eleven years ago, when NEOS was founded, people were convinced that the old parties couldn’t get it together anymore,” explains Meinl-Reisinger. “No lived internal party democracy, incredible lack of transparency, everything behind closed doors,” she summarizes. “I mean, we see politicians backfiring instead of talking about transparency on an equal footing.”
When asked if she thinks that cross-shots, as SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner recently had to accept, would also have happened to a man, Meinl-Reisinger says: “I’ve asked myself this question from time to time, I admit it … and I often hear that, but she (Rendi-Wagner) will probably also play a part in it.”
ORF: “Mail haggling and corrupt systems”
When it comes to corruption, one has to keep rolling up one’s sleeves. “As a mother of three, I want them to learn that it’s about what they can do, not who they know.” According to the Commission of Inquiry, everything is now on the table, it is up to the other parties to get down to business. As before, a law on freedom of information is needed, as well as stricter criminal law rules for corruption in the case of job scams. You also see this with the ORF, which is now a political issue again, says Meinl-Reisinger: This “structurally corrupt system” must be contained. “When it comes to chasing poles there and which party has more influence there, it’s not about who is the best there. Fewer and fewer people have confidence in public broadcasting.” With the demand for money and another form of financing, the question of why an ORF is needed and how it can be set up more freely must also be answered.
“Teachers are being killed by bureaucracy”
The NEOS boss sees a huge need for action in the education system. Our school system is not only expensive, but also unfair. Meinl-Reisinger argues for an “autonomous common school”. You have to get away from ministries, politically occupied education departments and decrees. “Teachers are overwhelmed by bureaucracy and regulations.” In model countries such as Estonia or Finland, pupils would also learn and live much more independently. “That does something for the children in terms of independence and personal responsibility and we will also need that in the future,” said the politician. “We don’t even know a lot of the questions our kids have to answer.”
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.
