The “Krone” competition was a great success: there were many happy faces in the new Parliament and the visitors were overwhelmed by the beautiful building on the Ring. During the guided tour for our readers on Wednesday, even Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was the surprise guest, the participants of the Thursday appointments ‘only’ had to be satisfied with the extremely competent and friendly employees of the visitors’ service.
Time and time again, surveys show great dissatisfaction with politics among the population. The parliamentary sweepstakes “Krone” tells a different story. Thousands of Austrians participated. Wednesday evening the first of the 50 x 2 winners cashed in their prize. And they got more than promised. The group of nearly 40 people not only enjoyed an exclusive tour of the newly renovated Parliament and a voucher for the new restaurant in the High House, but Chancellor Nehammer personally welcomed the readers of “Krone” and introduced himself in the conference room of the National Council explains how plenary sessions work .
Nehammer showed his place and chatted inside out about everyday political life. The 62-year-old Rudolf Zickl from Vienna wanted to know from the head of government what a chancellor’s working day looks like. “It’s a big change when you become a person of public interest and everyone recognizes you,” the chancellor replied. Despite the very labour-intensive job, he also finds time for his family, for example at Christmas.
“Politicians are civil servants, but they are only human beings”
The chancellor gets serious at the end of the meeting. “It’s a very challenging time. The attacks got stronger. I would ask you not to forget that we are civil servants, but also human beings.” Nehammer seems to be well received by most. “He comes across as sympathetic”, says a man who, as an SPÖ voter, prefers not to be named, he adds with a wink. it to the most photographed object in Parliament: the golden Bösendorfer grand piano.
The beautiful piece caused a sensation in the run-up to the reopening of Parliament because of the rental costs of 3,000 euros per month. On this evening, however, it turns out to be a connecting element. When two visitors play shortly afterwards, a family atmosphere is created in the group as if by magic. You applaud and start talking. Only the extra large black and white photos in the so-called reception lounge are not so well received. Several visitors complain to the “Krone” about the “terrible paintings”.
“We have given democracy away”
The historic meeting room, also known as the Bundesvergaderzaal, immediately looks all the more beautiful afterwards. This is the absolute highlight and jewel of the house. You can see that in the eyes of the visitors. “That’s big. You flash right away,” 75-year-old Viennese Franz Hödl marvels. Like most of the group’s participants, he is in Haus am Ring for the first time.
“It was a good investment,” says almost everyone. The investment costs of more than 400 million euros are a lot of money, but the visitors are satisfied. “I think it’s super cool,” says 29-year-old Julia Wrann from Carinthia about her first visit to parliament and meeting the chancellor. Mr. and Mrs. Schemerka, a retired couple from Vienna, are also enthusiastic and “proud of our country”. “Austria is a good country,” Chancellor Nehammer concluded his speech.
Completely without chancellor, but no less informative and entertaining, two more tours continued on Thursday. Here, too, there was much surprise and admiration for the new House – with one exception: this time too, the oversized black-and-white photos in the so-called reception room were not well received by the participants. But as we all know, art can be debated.
“Krone” editor-in-chief Klaus Hermann: “We raffled democracy and people are happy with their beautiful new parliament.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
