The party that came third in the National Council elections will see heads rolling, says Erich Vogl, domestic policy journalist for “Krone”. The ÖVP has not yet succeeded in attracting votes with the ‘Kickl ghost’ story. The SPÖ is now trying to position itself “more centrally” “because Babler has noticed the signals”.
“A serious defeat for the ÖVP,” says Erich Vogl on the occasion of the election results in Innsbruck. Former ÖVP deputy mayor Johannes Anzengruber, who was expelled from his party, clearly had the upper hand against the incumbent Georg Willi in the second election on Sunday with almost 60 percent. Previously, the ÖVP suffered a heavy defeat with Florian Tursky as the top candidate. “The ÖVP should be very concerned. We continue to see the polls with the FPÖ far ahead. Even though Herbert Kickl doesn’t have 30 percent; He will certainly get 26 to 28 percent.” Public transport is stagnating neck and neck with Andreas Babler at 22 percent. “If the ÖVP wants to get started, it must do so quickly.”
“It’s about your own survival”
Vogl assumes that whoever comes third in the National Council elections will be replaced. ‘Or Babler or Nehammer. That means: it is also about your own survival.”
Babler’s “Steamlock”
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler presented his plan ‘With heart and mind for Austria’ on Saturday, in which he also highlights topics in which the SPÖ is traditionally less at home. For example, the demand for more police officers, but also for ankle bracelets for people who are not allowed to approach people. “SPÖ greats such as Heinz Fischer recently said that the SPÖ should not move further to the left. You can’t win anything with such a left-wing election manifesto. Positions that reach more towards the center are needed. The SPÖ is doing that now, Babler has noticed the signals.”
Babler also wants to turn his SPÖ from a ‘steam train into a rail jet’, as he announced this weekend. Vogl says: “If you say you are a steam train, that is not a good starting signal.”
Decisive reforms are needed
An important election issue for many parties is migration. A problem that in itself is not new, but in one respect it is expanding. Namely in the form of family immigration. Several hundred Syrian children and women come every month, mainly to Vienna, and are now causing major political outrage. Schools in particular would be pushed to the limit. In fact, the problem was foreseeable, according to data from Agenda Austria. Vogl: “Politicians clearly did not see the problem coming.” Similar to other issues that people did not want to see in time – such as the pension wave, which is currently causing concern in many sectors: “The politicians who are” now that they are in power, they may not care. But certainly not for future generations. We must finally dare to implement drastic reforms here.”
You can see the entire interview with Erich Vogl in the video above!
We explain what Austria is currently dealing with: the latest news conversations with politicians and experts.
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.
