Elephant Tour “Krone” – “You only get an opportunity like this once every 60 years”

These may be the most exciting elections in Burgenland that have ever taken place, said Rainer Nowak, deputy editor of ‘Krone’ in the expert analysis after the elephant round on Puls 24. With Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) and Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) two candidates who are among Austria’s “most dazzling” politicians would compete against each other. Even the SPÖ is afraid of Doskozil.

Red or blue?
A duel in which the main question is: will the SPÖ succeed in winning the absolute again with Doskozil or will Hofer and his FPÖ, with the support of the ÖVP, succeed in gaining the seat of the state governor despite the Reds being in first place to stand?

“Governing past” a strong SPÖ?
For political scientist Kathrin Stainer-Hämmerle, a blue-black state government could be a realistic scenario. In the federal government it is clear that the ÖVP and FPÖ are closer to each other than the ÖVP and SPÖ. Pollster and IFDD boss Christoph Haselmayer was also convinced: “If the ÖVP and FPÖ have a majority in the Burgenland state parliament, they will probably form a coalition with each other – no matter how strong the Social Democrats will become next Sunday.” in recent weeks he repeatedly made a duel announcement to Doskozil. “If I get the opportunity to form a coalition besides the SPÖ, then I must do so. I only get an opportunity like this once every sixty years,” said Haselmayer.

According to Stainer-Hämmerle, the ‘governing in the past’ of a strong SPÖ would not be a novelty. Also in Carinthia, the ÖVP and the Freedom Party have repeatedly appointed Jörg Haider as state governor. “The question is of course also how high you can raise the price for collaboration.” But it would certainly be democratic. “A majority is a majority,” says the political scientist.

Coalition difficult for Doskozil
The personal relationship of trust between the candidates also plays an important role. “It seems to me that there is no close connection between Christian Sagartz and Hans Peter Doskozil,” Stainer-Hämmerle analyzed. This has to do with the fact that the ÖVP has sharply attacked the economic policy of the state governor – keyword ‘Doskonomics’ –, according to Nowak. If Doskozil doesn’t stick to the absolute, he will probably have trouble sleeping when he thinks about possible coalition partners: “He doesn’t want to be in a coalition with Norbert Hofer or with this ÖVP.”

Debt and budget “not decisive for the elections”
The topics of debt and transparency were important for the Greens and Neos in the TV showdown. But can you win elections with it? No, it was just a ‘side phase’ that was not decisive for the elections, according to Haselmayer. But only as long as there are no problems, Nowak added. Because then the ‘planned economy from Eisenstadt’ could quickly become the main stage.

In general, Stainer-Hämmerle would have liked to see the Green top candidate Anja Haider-Wallner show less restraint in the TV confrontation. “She could have been more aggressive more often than not.”

“Never Never”
At the end of the discussion, the question arose with whom the SPÖ could form a coalition if it lost the Absolute. Hofer announced during the elephant round that he wanted to stay in Burgenland, Stainer-Hämmerle said. This would reduce the odds between red and blue. However, political personnel are often changed after election days, which could open other avenues. Nowak sees it the same way: “You should never say never in Austria.” For Haselmayer, a lot depends on how many parties make it into the state parliament. “As things stand now, three rather than four.” There is also the possibility that Doskozil could defend the Absolute. “That would be a mega sensation.”