Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s big election speech caused a lot of discussion. SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS speak of ‘fooling’ and deceiving citizens. Andreas Babler considers Nehammer’s performance an “embarrassing climax”.
What Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in Wels on Tuesday in front of about 2,000 ÖVP supporters was not new. During the week, the contents of the widely announced ‘Austria plan’ were widely distributed.
In front of around 2,000 ÖVP supporters, the Chancellor tried much harder to position himself as the only alternative to FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl – for forty minutes. “In the style of a military officer. Loud and insulting,” analyzes political scientist Peter Filzmaier for krone.at. According to Nehammer, Austrians will have to answer one question for themselves in the next elections: do they want to entrust their vote to someone who shapes or divides?
Babler sees an “embarrassing climax” reached
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has found an answer for himself. Nehammer’s speech was a “very sad and embarrassing climax”. The Social Democrat did not skimp on strong words. In his first reaction Babler literally spoke of “fooling” and “mockery”. The government has achieved nothing during its time in office. Much more: The ÖVP has caused chaos and stagnation for decades.
The speech was the “highlight of this sad spectacle” and a marriage proposal to Herbert Kickl. He cited inflation as an example of turquoise green’s failure. “This government is done.”
FPÖ sees “citizen deception maneuvers”
The Freedom Party views Nehammer’s meeting as a “major civilian deception maneuver by a notorious crisis denier who no longer has a future as chancellor,” FPÖ Secretary General Christian Hafenecker said in a broadcast.
The People’s Party is said to be so afraid of Kickl that he was the “secret star guest at this strange ÖVP swan song meeting”. The FPÖ considers this the “disappointing conclusion to a thoroughly bizarre production”. Even before Nehammer’s speech, Kickl declared, “Karli, it’s over!”
How credible is the ÖVP?
NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos also sees credibility problems in the Chancellor’s words: “Who should believe someone who has worked at the Ministry of Economy for almost four decades and now wants a ‘regime change’ in economic policy?” man.
The ÖVP has been in government for decades and apparently has no plan. “Who should believe that she now suddenly knows how to make Austria better?” NEOS boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger had already described the ÖVP as tired and corrupt that morning and had spoken out for new elections as soon as possible.
Häme also comes from the green corner. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) identified much of the “old thinking of a right-wing conservative party” in “ZIB 1.” Climate activist and designated EU top candidate Lena Schilling assumes on Platform X that the People’s Party is in favor of the ‘Austria Plan’ decade was wrong. The content is more like “1980”.
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.
