Behind the scenes – Nehammer’s clean hands again and his chance

We wrote afterwards: “After shaking hundreds of hands before the start of the official part, during his hour-long speech he grabbed his nose, cheek and mouth at what felt like at least once a minute. How did an observer whisper it? “For the next two years, let’s not tell our kids, don’t touch your face!”

The newly elected federal party chairman did not want to let that go and reacted during the night. The hands were disinfected, he assured, because that was already a standard for him before Corona. He always carries a disinfectant with him. And there’s also an explanation for the face grip: “It was sweltering hot on stage.” Yes, we want to believe that. Because it was also very hot in the hall for the guests.

Brutally hot atmosphere
The atmosphere in the room was also heated. From the first minute it was all about one thing: a top result for the new chairman. Styrian ÖVP host Hermann Schützenhöfer was just one of the cheerleaders. He put the delegates on the right track when he noted: “All of Austria is watching us. Unfortunately, party conferences have been reduced to that – to the result.” The calculation went well. Because apart from the result, little will happen in the history of Austrian domestic policy.

cracker statements
The new chairman’s much too long speech – it is not destined to go down in history. How did a former federal party chairman put it after Nehammer’s speech? “It’s always a tough decision during party conference speeches: do I start with two or three big statements, or do I try to use them all?” Nehammer had clearly opted for the second variant: Nothing edgy, but something for everyone, “a colorful kettle”, as our German neighbors like to say. Maybe that’s what makes a “folk festival”.

Nehammer’s chances
“Will you give him a chance?” asks one of the leaders of the People’s Party reproachfully. And at the same time indicates that the media has been dealing with Nehammer in a less friendly way lately. The concerned ÖVP grandees can be reasonably satisfied with the Sunday coverage. “Nehammer new ÖVP superman” is the headline of the “Krone”. “Can’t do more”, headlines the “Kurier”. The tenor across the board: Remarkable, this 100 percent. The question is much less whether the media gives Nehammer a chance. Whether the voters and ultimately his party friends give him the chance.

Between 99.1 and 100 percent
The greatest danger to the chairman in the ÖVP always remains his party friends. Reinhold Mitterlehner – elected in 2014 by 99.1 percent – but overthrown by Sebastian Kurz. Shortly in the late summer of the previous year, with a demonstratively loud roar and 99.4 percent at the top, he was impressively re-elected – finally with a nice round of applause and sent to early political retirement on Saturday. Will they keep Nehammer at the top for decades longer than the average of 3.3 years? Even the much insulted Pamela Rendi-Wagner has been party leader of the SPÖ for longer than the average ÖVP chairman.

“Like the Reds”
Although Rendi-Wagner was also an issue at the party conference of the ÖVP. Club president August “Gust” Wöginger, who was on top form in his speech and brought the hot party room to a boil, shouted into the crowd of delegates: “Don’t do it like the Reds: standing ovations for Pam at the party conference, and then choose they don’t have a quarter. We’re not like that!” Saturday it happened: standing ovations for Karl Nehammer – and everyone voted for him.

So far good. Which Wöginger also added: “We are chancellor and will remain so.” But what if the voters don’t play along? Then the next chairman of the People’s Party is guaranteed to wobble!