It was said that a third of the self-proclaimed goal of 20,000 members, which were necessary to secure financing, had already been reached two weeks following the announcement that they wanted to run in the National Council election.
The purpose of the evening is for the members to network with each other and to find out “who can join in and how,” said Wlazny in his speech. You need people who “take to the streets with declarations of support” or organize events, as well as “experts” who can contribute their know-how and simple party members.
“A big if”
If they succeed in the National Council election – there is still a big if – they want to be represented in all 39 regional constituencies. “Because we are a reform movement,” the party leader called out to the neo-party members, some of whom had traveled from the federal states, and received loud applause from men in rocker suits embroidered with the “Turbobier” band logo as well as from those in slim-fit suits. All age groups were also represented.
In order for the desire to actually be on the ballot in the next National Council election to become reality, the party needs money. Wlazny announced around two weeks ago that they want to achieve 20,000 memberships – one costs 59 euros – by the deadline. Today we have over 6,000 and have already achieved a third of the financing goal. He is confident that the remaining two thirds can also be secured.
A lot is missing
There is currently a lot missing financially – you need money for structure, organization, legal advice, IT and accounting, Wlazny explained to the members. And: “We’re a good team, but we’re not here for Lau either.” At the moment we receive around 150,000 euros a year in party funding, but by law this can only be used for expenses in the city of Vienna, where the Beer Party has eleven district councilors.
Once once more, Wlazny painted the picture of his party as “FC Simmering”, which wants to get into the Bundesliga. “And as you know, the Bundesliga plays in all federal states” (Lower Austria and Burgenland currently do not have a team in the Austrian Bundesliga, note). Applied to politics, this means that we want “beer party get-togethers” starting from the state capitals in all federal states. From the stage he called on those listening to consider whether such events might be organized.
Content was not an issue in the speech. Addressed by journalists before the event, Wlazny once once more emphasized “equal opportunities” without elaborating further and the goal “that people get through their everyday lives better.” They also want to reach out to those who “may have already turned away from politics.” The current team has been “hacking” for weeks, including agreeing on how they want to position themselves on various issues.
Concentration of power
When asked regarding the role of his father – according to media reports, the power within the beer party is concentrated heavily on the board, where Wlazny father and son currently sit alongside a cashier and a secretary – the younger of the two said, “we are all the driving force” , and “how else can you start a movement if not with people you trust?”
Wlazny announced that the evening would go “to the bitter end.” For media representatives, however, it ended early; they were asked to leave the house immediately following his speech. There will be a “follow-up date” to today’s on February 19th, but Wlazny has not announced any details for the time being.
