2023-07-19 20:00:33
Innsbruck (OTS) – He’s doing it once more. And that’s good. But the critical words of the Federal President will probably fade away once more. That has a lot to do with the politicians in office, but also a little with Alexander Van der Bellen.
How self-evident does Alexander Van der Bellen not only speak of democracy, which is to be defended, but of liberal democracy. The governments in Hungary and Poland also call themselves democratic. Giorgia Meloni would definitely describe her government as democratic. So what does Van der Bellen mean when he says that liberal democracy is in danger? A liberal democracy is inconceivable without a functioning constitutional state, without independent media that don’t howl with the powerful, but control them. Liberal democracy requires a kind of parliamentarianism that does not see itself as a government agent.
If the Federal President warns of the dangers once more in his opening speech of the Bregenz Festival, it is because he recognizes a populism that aims to divide society and exposes institutions to ridicule. All of this forms dangerous gateways. The transition to autocracy is gradual. Therefore vigilance is called for. But this reminder should roll off once more with those responsible.
This is surprising, since Van der Bellen uses a pictorial language that should have an effect. Recalls his picture of the “water damage” for the republic in view of the ÖVP affairs. In Bregenz, he borrowed the “broken window theory” from escalating vandalism. And he explained: “Why do I mention this theory? Because in our country right now, I think, some windows are being broken. We shouldn’t get used to that.” The political ignoramuses will shake themselves briefly and say: We’re not meant to be, we’re not breaking any windows.
Yes, Van der Bellen spoke very generally. Well, he mentioned the dispute regarding the normals in the country. However, he did not say specifically that it is more than just unworthy for a chancellor’s party to divide a society into normal and abnormal people. In his appeal once morest the populists in the country, he left open who he was counting here. The head of state is right when he says there are so many issues that need to be discussed and resolved. He named climate, social cohesion and education as representative of many. But who refuses a solution here? His former Green party friends and the ÖVP are in the government. In the Ibiza affair, he was specific with his criticism of the FPÖ. Again, specificity would be appropriate.
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