2023-12-24 10:22:48
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) appealed for solidarity in society at Christmas. In the ORF fundraising program “Licht ins Dunkel” he called for people to “discover more of the middle once more”; there was “a lot of space for encounters.”
Nehammer also emphasized the importance of volunteer work and willingness to donate. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler wanted to spread good news on Christmas morning – CO2 emissions in Austria are likely to have fallen in 2023. FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl also pleaded for cohesion and commonality in the country in a broadcast. In this way, democracy can become so strong “that we can defeat the many threats, ignorance, paternalism and oppression.”
The time in which Jesus was born in Bethlehem was not a peaceful one, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn drew parallels on ORF to the present, which is characterized, among other things, by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. However, the Christmas story shows that God is on the side of the weak. Diakonie director Maria Katharina Moser also emphasized that Christmas is a festival of hope.
After reports on Saturday evening of a possible planned terrorist attack on Vienna, but also Cologne and Madrid, Schönborn also expressed his gratitude for the vigilance of the executive. Chief Rabbi Jaron Engelmayer reported a worrying increase in anti-Semitism, and expressed his gratitude for the clear signal from politicians that they would continue to guarantee Jewish life.
Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm, Family Minister Susanne Raab (both ÖVP) and Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) were on the donation phone. During the morning broadcast, the “Ö3 Christmas miracle” also came to an end. The campaign raised 5,239,214 euros, with Ö3 listeners able to order music requests and at the same time donate to the “Licht ins Dunkel” emergency aid fund. So far, 320,000 euros have been raised for families in need through the “Ö3 Wundertüte”, in which cell phones are donated, it said in a press release.
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