Reinhold Lopatka, the ÖVP’s best EU candidate, was a guest in the ‘Rainer Nowak Talk’. He spoke on krone.tv about the upcoming elections, Wolfgang Schüssel and the FPÖ then and now.
Reinhold Lopatka found clear words in a conversation with Rainer Nowak and ‘Krone’ political expert Petja Mladenova. “The clear goal is for the European People’s Party to play a leading role in the EU elections. The second goal is for the ÖVP to make a significant contribution.” Under Sebastian Kurz there was 34.5 percent in the last elections, that will not work this time, said journalist Mladenova and Lopatka knew that too. But the elections took place shortly after Ibiza and the driving force there was Sebastian Kurz. According to Lopatka, the most important election motive.
However, the Styrian only partially thinks about the bad polls for himself and his party. They were often wrong. “But of course they are an incentive. There is no reason to sit back.”
He didn’t impose himself; Chancellor Karl Nehammer asked him if he wanted to stand as a candidate. “I was approached by Nehammer, I said yes, and also when I was asked if I wanted to become head of the delegation.”
He maintains a good relationship with the party rebel Othmar Karas. “We were in the student association together, applied to join the EU together and still work very well together today. That will not change after the elections.” Lopatka also appreciates the SP candidate Andreas Schieder, they were very happy that they were at the discussion together.
“What happens after the elections in Austria is no longer my coffee.”
“Are you turquoise or black?” Nowak wanted to know. He was influenced by Erhard Busek, by Ursula Plassnig and especially by Wolfgang Schüssel. “So black through and through.”
What does the former black-blue supporter think about the FPÖ today? “We say: if the Union did not exist, we would have to invent it. The FPÖ says today that the EU has failed and that the future lies with nation states. Vilimsky even speaks of a madhouse. They want to destroy the project. We say yes, there are problems that need to be solved. In the case of migration or overregulation.”
The government with the FPÖ under Schüssel had a preamble: they wanted to continue to actively work on the further development of the EU. “Kickl and Vilimsyk will never sign such a preamble. The FPÖ under Kickl is different from the one we worked with when I was there.”
In general, however, Lopatka says clearly: “My area is Europe, what happens after the elections in Austria is not my coffee.”
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.
