Apparently, Lower Austrian Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner does not see her cooperation with the FPÖ at state level as a role model for the federal government. Because on Sunday the ÖVP politician stated: There is no cooperation with Herbert Kickl. ‘That is what is certain. Everything else is open,” says Mikl-Leitner.
After all, there is “a wide variety of government coalitions in the nine states, which means a wide variety of demands. At the federal level, the situation is of course completely different.” When it comes to kickl’s rejection, she relies on the expertise of Chancellor Karl Nehammer: Accordingly, he is a security risk, as was evident from his dealings with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-Terrorism (BVT), he has a different understanding of democracy and has also shown that as Minister of the Interior he said he cannot do it.”
“No matter how the elections turn out, Nehammer will stay”
For her party, Mikl-Leitner was confident in both the EU and National Council elections: “I think the chances are intact for a good result.” Nehammer praised her as a statesman and said he was the right chancellor and party chairman. This also applies after the poor performance of the People’s Party in the EU elections. “No matter how the elections turn out, Karl Nehammer will remain chairman of the federal party.” Before the National Council elections, Mikl-Leitner expected the election campaign to start after the summer – “as it stands now.”
Payment card: “If you are looking for protection, you are not looking for cash”
Mikl-Leitner defended the payment card for asylum seekers currently promoted by the ÖVP against criticism. NGOs describe this as “stigmatising” and emphasize that those affected receive such small amounts that transfers to their country of origin are not a problem anyway. The payment card should make the basic service system even more efficient, says Mikl-Leitner, and if cash transfers are not a problem anyway, the switch to benefits in kind should not be a problem either. “If you look for protection, you look for security, but certainly not for money.”
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.
