The inaugural interview – Van der Bellen about Chancellor: “Sponge over it”

„krone“: Mr President, when it comes to press freedom, Austria has fallen to 31st place, behind countries such as Namibia and Argentina. As far as the ranking of democracy is concerned, we were relegated to an electoral democracy. There were also scandals such as assembly lines, corruption investigations, violations of the constitution, attacks on the judiciary. It all happened while you were president. At best, words of warning were heard. Are these the right references for another six years of Alexander Van der Bellen?
Alexander Vander Bellen: That was a bit much at once. The press freedom ranking is alarming. Whether it is right is another question. I am also concerned about the future, especially of the print media, because I think independent reporting is essential for a liberal democracy. This also has consequences for the ORF. This is a hot topic and I don’t know what you think, but I’m concerned.

Just worrying is enough?
That is the role of the Federal President. There are speeches, there are conversations behind the wallpaper door that are and remain confidential, and there are contacts outside the wallpaper door. For some it is always too much, for others it is not enough. So I have to live with that.

With regard to the domestic political situation. Did the Austrians deserve new elections not long ago?
We have a federal government with a majority in parliament. It has come about in a democratic way. There is a coalition agreement. As long as this is the case, it is up to parliament to decide when new elections will be held or not. It is not my job as Federal President to call new elections.

“I cannot and will not believe that we live in a country where this is really necessary in this form,” you said at the time of the deportations of children under the then Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, one of which, by the way, was illegal. It wasn’t until months later that you said, “I think Karl Nehammer has a chance to be a good chancellor.” How does that fit together?
One action was the deportation of children, under circumstances that I believe are wrong. And then I spoke in public. It’s a great example of “He hasn’t always been quiet. He’s already spoken out publicly.” It really pissed me off that there was no other option in this case.A year later Karl Nehammer became Chancellor.Apart from this matter I got on well with him as Home Secretary and I trust that he is a good Chancellor.

Do you trust that he is a good chancellor? So not currently?
Let me be more specific: I have a relationship of trust with him. Whether he sees it that way, I dare not say. Allow me to be so careful, but I think he has a chance to be a good chancellor.

Karl Nehammer also said about Corona: “So many viruses in one room. But now we don’t care anymore.” He has apologized, but how dangerous do you think such anti-scientific statements are?
Well, forget it. Well, I also improvised at the time and said something, which makes you think later that I shouldn’t have said it.

Will you also say sponge about National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka? Do you still find it tolerable, and if so, why?
In the official hierarchy, Wolfgang Sobotka is the second man in the state, if you will. And if the National Council or members of the National Council have a problem with him, they deal with him in the National Council.

The abuse investigation, the fuss about his chairmanship of the U-Commission, the tasteless comparisons from 1933, etc. Don’t you worry about all that?
no In our democracy, this must be clarified by parliament.

You had a good relationship with Vladimir Putin in Sochi. Were you mistaken about him, and if so, how did this mistake come about?
I was not the only one who did not foresee this attack on Ukraine. It is true that I have met Vladimir Putin a number of times. The visit to Sochi three years ago had several reasons. Perhaps the most important was the creation of the so-called Sochi dialogue. An attempt to maintain a dialogue beyond the sanctions imposed on Russia at the time for its annexation of Crimea. I think that’s especially important for a neutral country like Austria.

You even invited Putin to the Salzburg Festival.
President Radew from Bulgaria was a guest at the Salzburg Festival last summer. And the day before my colleague Caputova from Slovakia. This is nothing unusual. Many presidents are just as interested in the famous Salzburg Festival as I am.

Life in Austria is becoming less and less affordable, the population is getting poorer. You were on the social market yourself, of course only for a local visit. Doesn’t politicians have a duty to help people more in the fight against inflation instead of watching.
Politicians don’t watch, but there is a wide variety of support measures. But I agree with you on one point: we must not allow those who are already struggling to make ends meet to be left to their own devices.

According to surveys, neutrality is of immeasurable importance to Austrians. But why can’t you even talk about it in a relaxed way in a country like Austria.
I know from my childhood how important neutrality was and is for Austria. Suddenly we were a free country again. I think we missed two things in the past. First, there is the question of national defence. I’ve been admonishing that for five years because the investment backlog in the military is huge. This cannot continue. And secondly, the role of professional diplomacy should not be underestimated. That is the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I think we need to rethink that and invest more.

About crises in general. When German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Green Party explain topics like war, gas phasing out and aid to Ukraine, I understand everything, if our Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler says something about the same topics, I understand next to nothing. Is it me?
(laughs) I agree that Robert Habeck describes the crisis situation we are in very well. Habeck is a very good communicator there.

Who can explain that so well here in Austria?
We all try the best.

What do you think when you, as a refugee child, hear the devaluation arguments of ÖVP Secretary General Laura Sachslehner about citizenship?
Then I think to myself, because she’s wrong. Few moments in my life have touched me more than when the mayor of the Kaunertal Valley a few years ago at a meeting in the pilgrimage church Kaltenbrunn declared to the assembled staff, I say it in the local dialect: “Bischt as a refugee child kemma, and now his some of us a little more.” And that’s very beautiful, and I think citizenship is something incredibly valuable, but we shouldn’t pretend it’s something that takes 20 years to earn.

What could be citizenship criteria?
That you get them after a certain number of years. Six years, I’m just throwing that away now.

You said at your press conference on Monday that you were a “young boy” five years ago. You were 73 years old at the time. What is your secret of eternal youth?
(laughs) Relatively young Hupfer, I said. There is no secret at all. I enjoy my job.