Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen wants to hold the office for another six years. He emphasized that several times yesterday in ZIB2. The incumbent defended that he would not engage in any election discussions with his competitors, and he did not want to speculate regarding a possible runoff.
Interview with Alexander Van der Bellen
In the ZIB2 interview series with the candidates for the federal presidential election, this time it is Alexander Van der Bellen’s (Federal President and presidential candidate) turn. The ZIB2 reached him on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York.
He would be happy if he was confirmed with a majority on election Sunday in early October, said the incumbent. However, it is important that as many people as possible go to the ballot box. “I appeal to everyone to exercise their right to vote,” said Van der Bellen.
“I’m not afraid of anything”
When asked regarding the recent drop in approval ratings and whether he was afraid that the gap to the other candidates would be smaller, the Federal President replied: “I’m not afraid of anything.” He was happy regarding “any kind of approval”.
It was his decision not to engage in media discussions with his competitors, and this should be respected. Because, according to Van der Bellen, the incumbent Federal President must ensure that the office is not damaged. He did not respond to the question of how the office might be damaged by election discussions.
Rather, the head of state said that the point of TV confrontations was to present one’s own positions. You have to give your competitors this opportunity. But the incumbent no longer needed this platform – analogously – because the population had already been able to get an idea of him.
Van der Bellen wants to ensure calm and prudence
He has exercised the office of Federal President “with pleasure” in recent years – and he wants to continue to do so. “It was a boost of energy to be confronted with sensitive events,” said Van der Bellen, who referred to many of his decisions. He sees his role in ensuring calm and prudence.
