“There’s not really anything to do with an SPÖ under (party leader Andreas, note) Babler, whose ideas are more attributable to the KPÖ than anything else with a 32-hour week with full wage compensation,” said Edtstadler on Monday evening at the business talk from Thomas Prantner’s consulting agency C3 in Vienna.
At the same time, Edtstadler confirmed that she was ruling out a coalition with the Kickl-FPÖ, “because I really have the feeling that this party is in his captivity. And I don’t have the impression that they can free themselves from it.” However, Edtstadler did not rule out a coalition with the FPÖ as such. “I am a deeply democrat and constitutional minister and would not completely exclude a party from the outset.”
She hopes that the polls – which show the FPÖ at the top – are not correct and “we can still turn it around, at least for my party,” said Edtstadler. There are many constructive forces in the country that do not prioritize populism. She hopes for a result in the National Council election that will enable “an alliance of sensible people”.
The media manager Gerhard Zeiler, who himself was repeatedly in discussion for the SPÖ party chairmanship, said that the Social Democrats had succumbed to the disease that the ÖVP used to have, namely “butchering each other.” Both former major parties are not doing well today. However, they and smaller parties would ultimately maintain democracy, freedom and the social welfare state.
Zeiler wishes that FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl does not become chancellor and that the FPÖ does not participate in government. Both, especially the first, would damage Austria “to an extent that none of us can imagine.” Austria is already known for various scandals such as Wirecard, Signa and BVT. “I don’t wish that there would also be a Chancellor Herbert Kickl.” The forces based on democracy and freedom have an “obligation to prevent what will harm Austria.”
