The fact that Austria has dropped again in the current corruption perception index is taken calmly in the ÖVP. You do not see your own share. “The index only reflects the external perception,” said Christian Stocker, secretary general of the ÖVP, in a live conversation with moderator Conny Winiwarter. Yet he shows insight: “Currently, the ÖVP is struggling on all levels”. You want to do your best to regain trust. Chancellor Nehammer is “undisputed”.
At the moment, no one is sawing the chancellor’s chair, says Stocker. The election results in Lower Austria were a serious blow to the governing party. Stocker reflects on the ÖVP’s situation with unusual insight: “We didn’t do everything right, otherwise the election results and polls wouldn’t exist.”
“ÖVP fulfilled government tasks”
But he doesn’t want to belittle the government’s work: “It was always easier to read the book from behind.” Despite the difficult political situation, the tasks of the government have been fulfilled. Stocker refers, for example, to preventing mass unemployment, securing energy supplies and anti-inflation measures. Moreover, a collapse in economic growth could be prevented.
Loss of confidence: “We have to try harder”
However, voters do not seem reliable at the moment: only 30 percent trust the current government. Stocker: “We must do our best” It is a supreme discipline to regain lost confidence. It dropped nine places in the Corruption Perceptions Index. But that has nothing to do with the allegations of corruption by the ÖVP: “These are in the past and are therefore not included in the index”.
“FPÖ makes it too easy”
It hurts that the majority of the lost voters have migrated to the FPÖ. Have you focused too much on the core FPÖ issue of migration? no Stocker: “The migration issue is obvious. Austria is being taxed disproportionately and unreasonably.” However, he does not expect solutions from the FPÖ – and also attacks former FPÖ interior minister Kickl. The FPÖ only gave “simple answers to difficult questions”. And these answers “only describe the problem, they don’t solve it”.
The SPÖ also gets the fat: “Freezing rents is only a political demand, otherwise it would have been done in red Vienna long ago”.
You can see the entire interview with Christian Stocker in the video above. You can watch KroneLIVE every Monday through Friday from 9am.
Why has Austria slipped again in the corruption perception index? Does the FPÖ actually offer “only simple solutions”? Comment with us!
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.
