The Neos could be the second winner next to the FPÖ in the Styrian state elections. In any case, the confidence of their top candidate Niko Swatek is high. Unlike federal party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger, he has less interest in being part of a new government.
“Krone”: Mr. Swatek, in the election campaign you are also focusing on the Neos core issues of education, transparency, childcare and healthcare: are these actually the issues that most concern the people of Styria?
Niko Swatek: These are definitely the problems that bother citizens the most. If you are faced with exploding waiting times for operations in the hospital, if you cannot find statutory health insurers in the regions, if you cannot find a place for your child in daycare centers or kindergartens – these are problems that Styria faces every day and where the state government is finally confronted with, the problem needs to be resolved. She’s definitely managed the stagnation over the past five years and slept through a lot of things.
To stick with your findings: why would anything change after the elections?
I am a professional optimist and am convinced that our best days are still ahead of us – when politicians finally spit in their hands. I am also convinced that we Neos will win the elections, tip the balance and be the driving force that will bring about reforms in Styria again.
What makes you have so much confidence in the elections?
The encouragement on the street. We notice that our issues are well received, that citizens are dissatisfied with the way this country is governed, that politicians continue to argue with each other instead of tackling problems. If you look at the results of the EU and National Council elections, we have a tailwind for the state elections.
You have repeatedly been involved in heated debates in the state parliament, most recently with State Councilor for Education Werner Amon. Do you formulate things too harshly, or are the others too snappy?
I am surprised that the facts hurt the government parties so much. For example, if, according to the ministry, 18 million euros for childcare is not collected. The response is often petty and not based on facts.
How do you experience the general mood in the state parliament? Governor Drexler likes to praise the Styrian climate.
Ultimately, the majority decides, that is the government. Conversations across party lines about major compromises are rare. That’s a shame, every party has good ideas, I’m convinced of that.
As you like to emphasize, you want to tip the balance. If Neos comes into government: would you like to become a State Councilor for Education?
The government is not an end in itself. None of us think about positions and power. The debate over who gets to write a state governor on his business card on November 25 is the wrong one. Instead, we need to talk about the problems people face, including how to stimulate the shrinking economy.
But would you join a government?
We are only prepared to enter government if we see that the impasse will be broken. If other parties can be found that have the courage to finally tackle reforms, then we Neos are ready to enter government. If post-trading, cronyism and political self-interest continue to be at the forefront, I can promise that we will not be part of it. We are certainly not just a majority buyer.
All surveys show that the FPÖ will make strong gains. How do you explain that?
That is because politics has not solved enough problems in recent years. There are only two parties in this country that stand for change. We Neos stand for a positive, optimistic worldview, the FPÖ for a pessimistic, very backward-looking worldview. The FPÖ is a good fire detector, it sees fire sources, but cannot extinguish the fire.
Some see the election campaign for the state parliament as a duel, others as a battle between three parties at the top: is there a risk that the smaller parties will lose focus and tactical voters will choose a major party?
The last elections clearly show that tactical voting in Austria makes no sense. Take the elections in Vorarlberg for example: the main story from Governor Markus Wallner was that you absolutely have to vote for the ÖVP to prevent the FPÖ. And now he wants to start coalition talks with the FPÖ. It is therefore important that the Styrians know which problems need to be solved and who they trust to do so.
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.
