If party leader Herbert Kickl has his way, there will be no escaping the FPÖ after the next national elections. Only a two-person setup with the PVV at the top is, according to the blue politician, ‘a guarantee for real change in Austria’. If there were coalition negotiations with the SPÖ, Kickl would not care who now chairs the party. As chairman of the PVV and future top candidate for his party, he still sees himself as undisputed.
The goal, of course, is still to make the FPÖ the strongest force in the federal government. In addition, one must become so important that a coalition of two without the PVV is not possible, because “the alternative would then be a form of traffic light. And if you don’t want that, you have to make the FPÖ the strongest power.” He now finds the motto of other parties interesting: “Not with the FPÖ!” In that respect, he has already experienced the most diverse variants. the ÖVP heard the opposite of what was said months ago.
conversations with everyone
Kickl leaves it completely open with whom he would like to govern, that this attitude is “completely stable”: “Because unlike some other parties, it goes without saying that we are in talks with all other parties. Getting together is another question. If the PVV becomes the strongest, then I would talk to the representatives of both parties in order of size – who the SPÖ has had as party leader until then.”
“It Doesn’t Matter Who We’re Dealing With”
Kickl has no preferences regarding a counterpart in the SPÖ. “I don’t care who we’re dealing with,” he says, referring to the outcome of the internal match between Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Hans Peter Doskosil and Andreas Babler. “I’m not afraid of any of the three. All three are leftists. And all three are kingpins, by the way, you have to say that.” Kickl sees himself firmly in the saddle: “There is only one FPÖ and that is the Kickl-FPÖ.”
Opposition to the ÖVP
Kickl disagrees with Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s (ÖVP) suggestion to link social benefits to the length of stay in Austria, as this is also a deterioration for Austrian citizens if they stay abroad for a longer period of time. “You have to go the Hungarian way,” says the FPÖ leader, “whoever enters the country illegally has no right to apply for asylum and therefore receives nothing from the state.” .
Kickl also has different incentives against the shortage of skilled workers than the ÖVP. “People just do the math and come to the conclusion that they can no longer own any property and that they will still end up with the minimum income at the end of their lives. So now they are trying to make something of their lives.” That is why people should earn accordingly, for example through tax cuts – but also through a statutory minimum wage, if this is not achieved by the social partners. “However, the state must also support the economy, so that she can afford it, otherwise there will probably be a migration of companies to low-wage countries.”
Neutrality must be maintained
Kickl continues to support the boycott of Zelensky’s speech in parliament. “For me, it’s not about showing solidarity with Ukraine, it’s about maintaining Austrian neutrality. Where else can I be neutral than in a war? We are convinced that neutrality is a future model and not an outdated one. distinguishes the FPÖ from all other parties.” It is irresponsible to destroy and ruin neutrality in a few months.
Happy with the state elections
Kickl is of course pleased with the results of the last state elections – in Carinthia there was a small plus, in Lower Austria even a government participation. So there were voices that would have thought liberty much less capable. “We refute that from election to election and are on the right track.” In Carinthia, the best result after the “Haider era” was achieved. He expects a historic result for Salzburg, where the SPÖ could be overtaken. However, Kickl does not want to “shout” anything.
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.
