The Big Interview – Why Now, Mr. Governor?

The Tyrolean flag flies on the meadow behind the “Isserwirt” in Lans, at the foot of the Patscherkofel. Günther Platter sits on a wooden bench in the shade of a small linden tree, completely introverted, the city of Innsbruck below him, and the Nordkette Mountains glisten in the sun on the other side. “Yesterday we celebrated the 80th birthday of former governor Herwig van Staa,” he says later, during a tour of the rooms of the 700-year-old house, which has been in the family for 16 generations. The poet Georg Trakl spent a lot of time here, “Evening in Lans” tells about it. Platter requested this spot for the farewell interview, with birdsong as background music.

„krone“: It has now been 48 hours since you announced your withdrawal. Which feeling dominates?
Günther dish: Huge relief because everything went so smoothly. And a little sadness too. I was in top politics for 36 years. Mayor, State Councilor, Member of the Provincial Council, Minister of Defence, Minister of the Interior and Governor of Tyrol for 14 years with great enthusiasm. It’s a nice job. Saying goodbye is certainly an emotional affair, but I am convinced that it is the right choice.

In May 2021 you announced that you would lead the Tyrolean People’s Party as a top candidate in the 2023 state elections. Was that half-hearted?
No, that was my intent at the time. But then a lot happened. I chaired the state governor’s conference and dealt with only three federal chancellors during this six-month period. I think there were eight in all. Then came the conference of the state governors in Achensee, where decisions were made against my will. Vaccination mandatory, lockdown for everyone. Although we had agreed that in advance, that will not happen again. Especially since we continued in Tyrol in March 2020 and at that time closed the winter season. All this has hit me very hard. Then it happened. Hostilities, insults, threats.

What threats?
Also death threats. I turned everything over to the police. That was not new to me. In 2007, when I was Minister of the Interior, I received a letter with a projectile. But this time, the family was involved. Then this anti-vaccination column took place 75 kilometers from Innsbruck to Zams, where I live. The police closed it off well, but as a result we had to be checked by the Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution. I have to say that politicians have felt an unbelievable coldness since this pandemic. Without feeling sorry for yourself, but how do you deal with politicians today? I’ve never heard so many people interested in politics say, “I’m not doing this to myself.”

Were there times when you were scared?
Personally not, because as a former gendarmerie I know that the Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution has everything under control.

In your farewell speech, you said there are days you don’t want to experience again. Which?
There are actually quite a few. For example, when the federal government declared Tyrol as a risk area because of the South African variant. And also the day when the Bavarian Prime Minister Söder blocked the border with Tyrol. At the time, I officially asked the Bavarian State Chancellery if I could drive to Vienna via the Deutsches Eck to meet the Chancellor, and I received a written reply: “No.” That was no longer the Europe I imagined .

Have you forgiven Sebastian Kurz in the meantime?
There has already been a heated discussion. But we spoke out.

The Kurz era in one sentence?
He was an extremely successful election campaigner and remains to me a very successful politician, despite much hostilities.

Speaking of elections: did you resign for fear of a bad election result or why else now?
The opposite is the case. The opening steps reversed the mood. She is already a lot more positive than in the spring. Although it is true that the momentum that the state parties had in the last elections is currently lacking. Why now? I didn’t make this decision overnight. After the Achensee Conference and the threats that followed, I had many conversations. With my family, with my friends. It became increasingly clear: five years is not enough for me. My mother touched me the most. She said she would like to experience that once in my life I should have some rest. When I told her my decision, she cried on the phone.

Did your mountain misfortune have anything to do with the surprising decision you made for yourself?
If you ask me… It was indeed a razor-sharp affair. It was my own fault as I was alone on a ski tour. I fell and was unconscious. After that, despite serial vertebral fractures and a knocked-out tooth, I still left myself. Some meant: A soft dog, as they say in Tyrol. I am very grateful that it turned out okay.

You mentioned the federal party’s lack of momentum. But shouldn’t what is happening in your party right now be described as a headwind?
Yes, and I regret that, but I trust that Karl Nehammer will lead the party out again. With all the ups and downs that politics continues to have, it’s important not to lose confidence. People need to feel that politics is fun despite everything. I didn’t lose that joy until the end. I have remained an optimist. Because a pessimist – you know that? – is the only mess on which nothing grows. laughs

What was the best and worst day in the past 36 years?
The last election success with more than 44 percent, that is one of the best days. A bad day was when the Hypo Bank almost went bankrupt and we managed to make it within four days. The absolute worst day was the flood disaster in 2005. I was in Afghanistan at the time as defense secretary, so I went straight back and flew there by helicopter. It was horrible. But thank goodness there were no deaths and we put everything back as it was.

Early elections will be held in Tyrol on 25 September. Why not leave the stage to your successor Anton Mattle for this?
I understand this question. And I also offered Anton Mattle who I could hand over in July. He said I should stay. That makes sense, because otherwise we would have had to reshuffle the government three months before the elections. Anton Mattle also does not want to be elected by the state parliament shortly before the elections, but wants to be legitimized by the population.

What are you most looking forward to on the morning of September 26?
As soon as I wake up I go up the mountain, into the Zammerloch. There’s a level there that looks down on Zams. Then you have that foresight that I would recommend to many politicians. That may sound cheesy now, but it always makes me think how incredibly lucky it is to live in this country.

And your further plans?
I haven’t thought about that yet. Spending time with my grandchildren, making music, hiking in the mountains. But no longer with the ambition to torment me. I have climbed so many peaks, but one. I have not managed the Matterhorn. That would be too dangerous for me now.

Are you going to write a book?
Who should read that? None of these political books interest anyone anyway. laughs – I also swore not to yell through the media. I stay out of everyday politics.

How old do you want to be?
My mother is 91. So I must have good genes. But age doesn’t matter. But that you feel fit and still can do something. I have two things planned for the coming phase of my life: first, to decide for myself when to resign, second, to spend as many days as possible worth living.