Domestic politics are in the middle of a hot phase. Important elections are scheduled for this year, especially those for the National Council in September. Rainer Nowak had an illustrious group as guests. The ÖVP-affiliated strategy advisor Heidi Glück and the club bosses of the SPÖ and ÖVP, Philip Kucher and August Wöginger. It was mainly about someone who was not in the room. Herbert Kickl.
How can you prevent your FPÖ from ruling? The Blues have been way ahead in all polls for months. Wöginger remains optimistic. Opinion polls can be misleading. “Perfume should be sniffed, not drunk. “I remember Rendi Wagner’s polls and what happened to her then,” the ÖVP man recalled about the once powerful SPÖ woman. “I feel a revival. I also believe that Kickl has passed the peak with the FPÖ. When he talks about wanted lists and people in Graz dipping into their own party coffers, many will wonder: should he lead the country into the future?” Kickl cannot create a state. Chancellor Nehammer has made this clear time and time again.
‘Don’t make Kickl bigger than he is’
For SPÖ representative Kucher it is clear: “The question is whether there is a black-blue government or a strong social democracy. Only with the SPÖ can you prevent Kickl.”
Heidi Glück warned the former grand coalition members SPÖ and ÖVP because they had already reached an agreement with an election winner, Kickl. “You have to concentrate more on your own people and business. The sheer demarcation makes Kickl much bigger than he deserves and is.” Furthermore, the ÖVP must remember that it is a business party and communicate that as such. At the SPÖ, on the other hand, you regularly read different points of view. A sign of not exactly strength and unity.
Kucher shot again in Kickl’s direction – he and Co. have always cheated their people in government, the little people, and his people have always cheated their little people in government.
“Concerns that the Mikl-Leitners will prevail”
Given these circumstances, Nowak identified a certain nostalgia for a revival of the ÖVP and SPÖ. Kucher and Wöginger certainly had words of praise for each other about the consensus and previous collaboration. “The SPÖ is constructive in many areas, comparable to the NEOS,” said Kucher. But he also expressed concern that “the Mikl-Leitners will prevail. If successful, the ÖVP will govern together with the FPÖ. See Lower Austria or Salzburg.”
The current University committees were also discussed. “If you smash each other’s heads, post-election negotiations will be difficult,” said Rainer Nowak. The discussants also saw the danger, although they did point out the need for parliamentary processing. Kucher: “At Cofag we are talking about 15 billion in taxpayers’ money. It cannot be used to finance the millions in profits of the super-rich.”
Wöginger: “I didn’t want the committees. But if that is the case, we are not only looking at the ÖVP, but also at other areas and former ministries. I hope it will not be a bloodbath like previous committees.”
In “The Rainer Nowak Talk” every Wednesday at 9:15 p.m., top guests from politics and public debate debate the topics that particularly move and excite the whole of Austria.
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.
