The Big Interview – Doesn’t politics let you go, Mr Kern?

Barefoot, dressed in chinos and a dark blue T-shirt, Christian Kern opens the door of his renovated winegrower’s home on the edge of the Vienna Woods. Black and white portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider hang on the walls. “My ex-wife bought them in the Westlicht gallery,” says the former chancellor, while preparing espresso and strawberries with peppered crème frache and maple syrup. He and his wife have been separated since February. “Yet we remain professionally connected,” emphasizes Kern. Our interview takes place at the large wooden table in the courtyard, wild vines grow on the old walls. “Divorce dog” Sammy, the friendly silver Labrador, never leaves his owner’s side.

„krone“:It’s been five years since you left politics. What are you doing now?
Christian Core: We have our own company which I run together with Eveline, my ex-wife and Bernhard Raberger. “Blue Minds Company” develops and invests in companies engaged in sustainable technologies. For example with the software for charging stations for electric cars, with the recycling of car batteries, or the optimal use of energy from wind and solar systems. We now have a portfolio of 16 companies. The largest produces glass for the photovoltaic industry, where we are the European market leader. We have offices in Vienna, Germany and Israel. A total of 65 people work for us.

Politics caught up with you again last week. According to the “Krone” survey, 45 percent would welcome a new party, which is more than twice as much approval as the ÖVP currently achieves. Her name emerged as the best candidate. What went through your head?
All this seems to be an expression of concern about the enormous problems we are facing. The economic crisis is accelerating, inflation is robbing people of their livelihood. There is a lot of fear in society right now. And at the same time we experience a policy that is only concerned with itself. In such a situation, there is of course a need for something new. I can assure you, however, that I will not find a match.

So why are so many in political circles saying this behind closed doors?
summer heat. laughs

Have you personally contributed nothing at all to these rumours?
I’ve been talking to many policymakers in this country over the past few months about the impact of the crisis. Actually with all parties except the FPÖ. I am intensively involved with the energy markets and since the end of last year I have seen what lies ahead. The outcome of these conversations was frustrating.

Weil?
I haven’t found anyone to talk to who takes the situation seriously. We are on a burning platform and if we don’t start removing it soon, it won’t end well.

Did these meetings lead to the claim that you had secret conversations with Reinhold Mitterlehner, Othmar Karas and others via a new platform?
I swear on my dog’s eyesight – laughs – that I was not present at secret conversations. But maybe there is a wrong core next to a wrong Klitschko. As far as I know, no such meeting ever took place. As far as my conversations are concerned, unfortunately, in Austria, everyone always thinks that personal interests are at stake. No one can imagine that someone has a substantive concern and does not want to become anything – which applies expressly to me. Neither in a new party, nor in the SPÖ.

Still, isn’t it flattering to be named?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a certain satisfaction after Sebastian Kurz’s departure and the circumstances that led to it. Because those weren’t fair elections, because taxpayers’ money was being misused here. But the role of former chancellor is enough for me.

Can you rule out a comeback like Sebastian Kurz did forever?
Yes. I’m busy with my business, it’s going well and I’m enjoying it a lot. I really respect people who still put themselves into this fire every day.

On Twitter, however, you eagerly participate in political events. Can’t let go of politics?
She just can’t let go of me, because politics defines our lives much more today than ten or twenty years ago. In the past, politics was subordinate to economic interests. This has changed dramatically as a result of the climate crisis, pandemic and energy crisis, and politicians have a much greater responsibility. But I experience a political class in a deep sleep.

What should politicians do?
It should intervene en masse in the system and limit gas prices instead of pumping money into the system afterwards. That would simultaneously pull electricity prices down, and as a result, other prices would fall, which in turn would reduce inflation, rents and so on. But there are people in this country who are benefiting unbearably from the energy crisis. On the one hand, people are being pushed to the edge of existence and on the other, energy companies are considering how to increase their dividends. My old company, Verbund, will make 7.2 billion euros more profit. If people find out what’s going on there, then I wish those politically responsible for it the best of luck. The problem is that we have produced a generation of politicians who only think in terms of press conferences and headlines. 20 or 30 years ago there were great people in the Treasury Department, they were the economic and political elite. They have all been replaced by spokespersons.

Is the SPÖ well positioned for these challenges?
I don’t want to give advice to the SPÖ, they have to think for themselves how to position themselves. That is no longer my responsibility. I also believe that in the next National Council elections we will have considerably more parties to choose from than we have now. The dissatisfaction is palpable, people have the feeling that no one cares about solving the problems anymore.

Pamela Rendi-Wagner to be Chancellor?
This is what it looks like right now, yes. Autumn is going to be very difficult, it is about the existence of millions of people. Fear is currently eating away at our society, because people really don’t know how to make ends meet. Whoever can give these people answers will win the next election.

Maybe a new party?
That wouldn’t surprise me. But not with me. laughs

Will you remain a social democrat?
Absolutely, it’s a reflex. Although sometimes I ball my fist in my pocket and I think: is it okay? But party and football club, you don’t alternate that.

Do you think it is legitimate that Hans Peter Doskozil is so critical of the party leader?
My relationship with Hans Peter Doskozil was not always without friction. But we talked about it ourselves, he took the first step there, it was human size. And I must say that what he does has a clear handwriting. Doskozil really tackles the problems in Burgenland, from care about housing to the organic transition. He is one of the most successful state governors. Not having someone like that in the party would be downright crazy. You can like him or not, but you have to respect that.

Many feel he would be the better frontrunner.
I will not participate in the discussion.

You yourself have been Chancellor for only a year and a half. Do you sometimes regret that it was so short?
Yes, I would have liked to have done better… It is very difficult in politics to escape this populist circus. Delivering a punch line every day, delivering an image every day, that’s what makes the concrete work suffer. What is still relevant in politics today? That is the great dilemma: none of the existential questions are solved.

How do you rate the work of your now fifth successor?
Karl Nehammer did not take on an easy task, you have to admit that to him. The ÖVP, on the other hand, has a good chance of following the example of Italy’s Democrazia Cristiana, which has sunk into a swamp of scandal and corruption. I have always had excellent relations with many of the ÖVP state governors – Schützenhöfer, Platter, Haslauer – they are all politicians whom I respect very much. But after 37 years, it is time for the ÖVP to renew itself in the opposition. That will be good for the country.

How do you see the presidential election? None of the major parties has put forward a candidate.
Alexander Van der Bellen will carry the victory to the finish, there is no doubt about it. Anyone who ran into him would have had a really hard time. Still, it would not have been bad for democracy if the SPÖ and ÖVP had started this competition with their own candidates and arguments.

What will 2025 be?
I am hopeful that we can overcome the problems. What we really need in Austria is a strategy for prosperity. “We will get poorer” – that’s nice to say, but you also have to be able to name the problem and its solution.

They are noticeably slimmer than they were a year ago and a few gray hairs have appeared as well. How did that happen?
I exercise much more because of the dog, often five or six times a week. Sammy is my exercise coach. I now weigh 76 pounds again, the same as when I graduated from high school, although I wasn’t really striving for it. My wife’s divorce also played a role. We get on well, everything happened with the utmost mutual respect. But such a personal change is still a more serious turning point than my exit from politics.

Are you watching again?
At my age you have clear ideas and you are not willing to compromise. I also find myself reading The Economist more and more often than going out.