It is the second time that the Opera Ball takes place without presenter Alfons Haider. Some are happy, others are still outraged by the ORF’s exchange with Andi Knoll. Haider himself sees it realistically, as he says in the krone.tv talk: “You were not born to present a show for 60 years.” But he is eternally grateful for the 24 years: “No one can do that for me anymore.”
While the ÖVP will be represented at the Vienna Opera Ball with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and several ministers, the green coalition partner is rather rare. Instead of Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, State Secretary for Culture Andrea Mayer of the Greens will be present. In any case, last year the SPÖ was represented by Viennese mayor Michael Ludwig.
‘State ball is a mandatory exercise’
However, FPÖ politicians are rarely seen at the Opera Ball. Does that bother you? “Personally, I don’t miss a Herbert Kickl at all. I don’t think anyone there will watch less. If Mr. Kickl isn’t there, it’s not his job. I believe that the Chancellor and the members of the government are not really going there voluntarily. This is the state ball and it is a mandatory practice. The freestyle is different. It’s part of it.”
Yet, as head of state and government, Haider has “a bad feeling” when he thinks about Herbert Kickl. Would he describe this as right-wing extremist, as was previously done by Chancellor Nehammer and the Green Party’s top candidate for the EU, Lena Schilling? “Who am I to decide that?” There is a constitutional protection agency for that. Yet he also thinks it would be wrong “if we just pick a politician and say that to prevent him, you have to vote for us.”
According to Haider, people are waiting for announcements. “They want to hear why you should vote for someone and what they do differently than their competitors. Not just this terse statement that it is a fight between two personalities for the chancellor’s seat. Much has already been promised, but the paper has patience.
“Then good night, Europe”
Personally, Haider’s main wish is for an end to the wars. “What happens there every day is a fuse that blows. “It’s burning everywhere.” It’s not just Hamas, the Palestinians and the Israelis. “There is much more going on, Iran and the other militias. The superpowers will play their game and we will have a war in Europe. That worries me very much.” Haider sees the elections in America as particularly crucial. “If Europe suddenly finds itself there overnight and has to protect itself on its own, then good night. This won’t be fun.’
You can see the entire interview with Alfons Haider in the video above.
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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.
