“The Rainer Nowak Talk”: Entrepreneur Sepp Schellhorn is back with the Neos. He criticizes the power of the states and finally calls for urgently needed reforms.
About three years ago, the stunning restaurateur and entrepreneur Sepp Schellhorn left Neos and politics. He will celebrate a comeback in 2024. “Krone” anchor Rainer Nowak wants to know “Why”? Schellhorn: “I was also tense because of the pandemic. And I wanted to get out of the arguments in politics. Now I have realized that I do want to contribute. The economy needs an engine and a contact person. I feel called to do that.”
Recently, people have been promised blue or turquoise from the sky. “There are major challenges. Inflation, social benefits. How do we do this? If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t exist. We must finally reform this state. It doesn’t work with just the watering can principle.”
“That upsets me – that’s why I’m back”
Veit Dengler, media manager and co-founder of Neos, was also a guest of Rainer Nowak, as was Ida Metzger, head of domestic policy of “Krone”. He assists Schellhorn and uses Switzerland or Scandinavian countries as a model. “There are reforms there in different areas. Can you show me the reforms in Austria? These countries also have less debt. In Austria they just say that things should stay the way they are. Example pension system.”
Ida Metzger smugly said that Sepp Schellhorn returned because he wasn’t completely satisfied with the Neos. The Neos don’t have to change clothes, answers 56-year-old Schellhorn. Even if you only make limited progress in elections and surveys. He presents new ways. “We have very expensive school and health care systems. And it doesn’t really work. The social partnership cannot think of anything other than bonuses for housebuilders.”
Usually you need a different system. “The governors of the states are dragging the government to pieces. With the exception of Vienna, the state parliaments are overestimated. And then there are absurdities such as the schnitzel bonus. In Austria we make politics for politicians, not for taxpayers.” Schellhorn points to a lack of transparency. And too much bureaucracy. “That upsets me, that’s why I’m back.”
An ‘inn child’ criticizes the U committees
Dengler says that Sweden abolished official secrecy in 1766, and Austria only now. This says it all. The Neos stand for transparency and progress.
Ida Metzger also estimates the chances of the Neos to end up in a three-party coalition with the ÖVP and SPÖ quite well after the elections.
Schellhorn believes the Neos should work on the largest faction. That of the non-voters. Go to the people.
‘I’m a pub boy, we need the regular table more. Arguments are exchanged, people hit each other on the head and the next day they talk to each other again. You can’t leave that to social media.” The entrepreneur also sees the U-committees as problematic. “That’s too populist for me. I’m more in favor of expert committees.” Addendum: “We need to listen to those who hack and pay taxes every day. We are not sufficiently aware of this.”
“The Rainer Nowak Talk” – every Wednesday, 9:15 PM, on krone.tv
Every Wednesday, Katia Wagner discusses socio-political issues affecting Austria with guests from politics and society in the show of the same name.
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.
