The presentation of the ÖVP as a centrist party ran through the speech by Chancellor and party leader Karl Nehammer. Former German Federal Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg also came to Klagenfurt to warn against Donald Trump’s re-election.
Nehammer, who received a standing ovation on the stage bathed in red and white light, announced something other than a “humorous speech”. Rather, he wants to concentrate “on what moves us forward, what makes us shape and not divide.”
Image: (APA/GERT EGGENBERGER)
After an excursion into European politics, Nehammer moved on to his “Austria plan” presented at the end of January and referred to what he saw as successful projects, such as the eco-social tax reform. “Real incomes have risen despite the difficult situation. And we have abolished the cold progression, the creeping erosion of wages.” While others would paint “everything black anyway,” people owe them “confidence, courage and performance.” Overtime should generally be tax-free and bureaucracy should be reduced and childcare should be the focus.
But you also have to admit to mistakes, to “things that were overlooked,” said Nehammer: “We have to listen to the people who wait forever for a specialist appointment.” There is a shortage of nursing staff and doctors. The fact that this topic is being taken seriously is demonstrated by the new statutory health insurance doctor positions, for which there are many more applicants.
Distinction from radical edges
Europe faces major challenges in security policy. Here too, it is important to take a stance, for example in the area of tension with Austria’s neutrality. He emphasized Austria’s solidarity with Israel: “In the fight against terror, we are allies and there is no neutrality towards terror.”
On the question of migration, Nehammer emphasized his separation from “those who are on the radical fringes.” These would work with false promises “that sound good but will never work”. But you shouldn’t just point the finger at them, but rather “say what is.” The area of the “over 1,000-year-old Christian-Jewish tradition, fundamental rights and civil liberties and culture” should be defined in such a way “that the extremists do not define it.” The big issue is the “leading culture for those who come to us: either accept it or leave the country again.”
“A political center of reason”
“We have an obligation: to give the political center the importance it has,” Nehammer said at the end of his speech. “It is the center of reason, pragmatics, solidarity and the clarity to address problems. We don’t need extremes for sensible politics. Let’s not divide, let’s tackle it together.”
Former German minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg had previously emphasized how important “a functioning Europe” was. A single country cannot achieve anything in this world. With regard to the upcoming US elections, Guttenberg sounded the alarm: Trump’s recent statements about NATO members that he wants to withhold support from are warning signs. He said: “If the USA were to fail – not entirely unlikely after Trump’s re-election – we Europeans are on our own.”
Image: (APA/GERT EGGENBERGER)
This also applies to the war in Ukraine: “Even if we often hear: Don’t we have other worries? These other worries pale in comparison to what happens if Vladimir Putin wins this war. He must not win this war !” These scenarios need to be given more attention in Europe. “If you only emphasize the national interest and sin against the next generations – that can’t be the case,” he said and addressed AfD politician Björn Höcke and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl directly.
Words of praise for Nehammer
There were words of praise for Karl Nehammer. In particular, his trip to Kiev and Moscow – for which he was scolded – was “important, necessary and courageous.” Some things, such as economic growth, are going better in Austria than in Germany. Austria is also a voice that is heard in the EU. And: “Karl Nehammer is one of the few sensible European statesmen.” His final tip: “Just dare to say and send a few things that are positive. The more you are receptive to things that are negative, the more we build bridges for the Höckes and Kickls of this earth. “
The Carinthian state party chairman Martin Gruber had previously warned against “right and left fringes” in his speech. People are elected for “attitude,” and this can also be demonstrated in the federal government: “through responsibility instead of populism.” This means “responsibility in politics, responsibility of each individual and responsibility in doing business for the benefit of the next generation.” Gruber said that one should not give in to “the pressure from the right” as well as the pressure from the left. Gruber dedicated the end of his speech to federal politics: “It is worth believing in a centrist politics. That is what Austria, Carinthia and Europe need and what we are putting forward with Karl Nehammer,” concluded Gruber.
