Pimpelmees – Kickl expects a government contract from VdB

“I don’t think he will let it come to that,” the liberal party leader responded to various signals from the Hofburg. According to him, anything other than the mandate to form a government in an election victory is a violation of the principle of equality, the FPÖ leader said during the “C3 Business Talk” on Thursday evening. Kickl again announced the goal of a two-party coalition with his party at the top.

Ibiza for Kickl “natural event”
Kickl said the federal president could not really explain his resignation as interior minister after the Ibiza video became known. The head of state would therefore find it even more difficult not to entrust an election winner with the formation of a government. Kickl described the video itself, which led to the fall of the then FPÖ-ÖVP government, as an elemental event, “it was as if the missile hit with no warning from the siren”.

Any party in the National Council “able to govern”
Kickl kept a low profile about coalition preferences. “For me, any party that enters the National Council is able to govern,” he said. He has no feelings of revenge against the former coalition partner ÖVP. On the contrary, one learns from disappointments, which was also useful in the government negotiations in Lower Austria, because “I learned that the ÖVP understands a language best. And that is the language of power.”

Does Kickl want to remain chancellor? “I’m working towards that,” he said, despite his experience as interior minister. (“That was a great ride”). As one of the first projects of a new government under blue leadership, Kickl wants to “save” Austrian sovereignty, i.e. neutrality. In addition, a “decade of education” is needed so that “people come out who are suitable for the labor market”.

Strache for Kickl “technically for the fish”
Speaking to Thomas Prantner, Kickl not only recapitulated the last hours of the turquoise-blue coalition, but also his times under his respective party leaders – and did not shy away from football comparisons. Heinz-Christian Strache was “technical to the fish”, “but a force in the box”. In contrast, Jörg Haider, who brought Kickl into politics, was “more of a midfield director”.

Blessing as “help from above”
Despite all the openness, during the “C3 Business Talk” in the Management Club, the FPÖ boss did not reveal anything private, because: “I have my ‘Kickl Fortress’ at home”. His passion for the mountains is no secret. He said: “Nature is dangerous, but it does not want to harm me. That is the difference from society.” Although Kickl has problems with some representatives of the official church, he came to faith through philosophy: “I had also blessed my office. I count on support from above.”