A wildly gesticulating, speechifying politician with a glass at the table that obviously doesn’t just contain water; the scene is actually immediately reminiscent of the Ibiza video. But this time it is Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) who, in a secretly recorded mobile phone video, recommends McDonald’s burgers as a meal for the children of socially disadvantaged families. Criticism from political competition was of course inevitable.
First and foremost, Neo-SPÖ leader Andreas Babler issued a rebuke: “Austrians deserve a chancellor who respects people instead of despising them,” he wrote on Twitter.
Hergovich: “A shame”
Babler’s party colleague from Lower Austria, Sven Hergovich, speaks of a “last-class attack”: “As a former regional manager of AMS, I would like to protect the thousands of employees who do great work. The mistakes and mood swings in politics are not their fault. You just have to pay for it and correct mistakes.’ It is ‘a shame that a chancellor does not use his position to hold the country together, but deliberately attacks those who have less.’
Kickl: “Empathetic, inhuman”
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl described Nehammer in a broadcast as “lacking empathy, inhuman and distant”: “Every time Nehammer thinks he is one of his equals, this mentality breaks through in him, which we know all too well from ÖVP leadership team – Keyword mob !” Kickl continued: “What we see in this video is unworthy of a chancellor. If Leopold Figl were still alive, he would be ashamed to death.”
Green coalition partner was shocked
There is also criticism from the green coalition partner. MP Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic spoke out on Twitter and spoke of a “part of civil violence”, which was not surprising, but also “frightening in this openness”: “The question is also: who are the claqueurs who are at the expense of women at risk of poverty and unemployed people have fun.”
Green security spokesman Georg Bürstmayr was also critical of Nehammer’s inflammatory speech: “The obvious goal of this federal government and coalition must be that parents – whether as a couple or alone – have hot, healthy meals for their children every day.” children can prepare, in a safe and warm environment at home. THAT is the bare minimum.”
Just a PR stunt by “Mister Message Control”?
Nehammer was filmed in a bar during an official event in Salzburg, infuriating himself over social policies. He simply advised part-time workers to “work more” and said about child poverty that you can get a hamburger as a hot meal at McDonald’s for just 1.40 euros.
It was originally believed to be just a fun evening, which was leaked. But now the first doubts are arising as to whether this could not be a targeted PR campaign by the team led by communications manager Gerald Fleischmann, also known as ‘Mister Message Control’.
In terms of style it is reminiscent of Kurz-Sager
In terms of style, the battle rhetoric is certainly reminiscent of the performances of former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in the election campaign. He also once said, “Achievement must be worthwhile in our country” and advised young people to “buy real estate to combat poverty among the elderly.” In any case, Fleischmann has been head of communications for the People’s Party again since November 2022. And media close to the ÖVP are already assuming the desired twist that Nehammer “only says what everyone thinks”.
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.
