NEOS boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger accuses the government of not having learned from the crises of recent years. Once again the impression is created of a corrupt system in which some can judge themselves, she said in a speech on Sunday.
She referred, among other things, to the events surrounding the bankruptcy of the furniture chain Kika-Leiner. The result is a feeling of powerlessness among the population, which reinforces the desire for a “strong man”. “If we are not careful, we will wake up in an illiberal democracy, which of course is an autocracy,” Beate Meinl-Reisinger warned. ÖVP and SPÖ would not have the recipes for future challenges, they are only concerned with maintaining power. The FPÖ, on the other hand, is working on a ‘Fortress Austria’.
But that does not go together with democracy, said the NEOS boss. For example, Europe needs a common approach on asylum and migration. The asylum law must be improved, at the same time not everyone could be admitted. “Protection at the external borders, but the guarantee of security and freedom within,” explains the politician. The NEOS also want a common EU army and defend themselves against “enemies of the open society”.
“SPÖ and FPÖ populist”
In her speech, Meinl-Reisinger described both the FPÖ and SPÖ as “populist”. However, after the crises of recent years such as the financial, migration and climate crisis and the current inflation, there is no time for optimism.
FPÖ Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz replied to Meinl-Reisinger in a broadcast that the PVV was “in the middle of society”. Her warnings about a “strong man” and an “autocracy” are ridiculous. The NEOS are only frustrated because hardly anyone wants to design the pink one in Austria. Meinl-Reisinger gave her speech at the Meinl Rösthalle in Ottakring in front of about 300 party members, and another 1000 people followed the event via stream.
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.
