The founder of the beer party, Dominik Wlazny, alias Marco Pogo, was promoting the event on Wednesday. “We feel like doing something,” he said. “Let’s get the beer party on the ballot!”
But the response so far is still manageable. No specific figures were given at yesterday’s press conference. The beer party recently announced that it currently has around 8,500 members. Now Wlazny explained that they are holding on to over 500,000 euros.
In mid-January, the 37-year-old announced that his party would run in the National Council election when it had 20,000 members and revenue of 1.2 million euros. If you want to become a member, you have to pay 59 euros per year. He named April 30 as the date on which a decision on the candidacy should be made. Yesterday, Wlazny did not rule out the possibility that the beer party could run even if it failed to achieve its goals.
The structures of the beer party, which was initially a joke project, are not very democratic. Wlazny and his father Michael sit on the four-person board. In the event of a tie, the vote of the family duo has more weight. The punk musician and doctor did not want to commit to the statutes. “The whole thing will be reflected organizationally in a change to the statutes,” he said.
A video analysis by Wolfgang Braun:
From education to values
Wlazny likes to remain vague. Many of his political announcements are nothing more than headlines. He is against child poverty, for more education, equal rights for women, care reform, and a health system that works even without a golden credit card. On the subject of migration, he spoke out in favor of human rights, knowledge of German as a basic requirement and a compass of values that does not consist of schnitzel and dirndl, but is about tolerance and appreciation. He left it open whether he wanted to finance everything with the rich tax. After all, the party has until the election at the end of September to put together its agenda.
But its central message is different anyway: a commitment to optimism. “In our hearts, we are confident that everything is not as bad as we are led to believe,” Wlazny said. And immediately formulated the slogan: “What rhymes with beer? Us!”
members
According to surveys, the likelihood that Wlazny will make it into the National Council is high. The Linz Market Institute recently saw the beer party at five percent, other surveys put it at eight percent.
In the next few weeks, Wlazny wants to continue to appeal for support; in some federal states there are already contact persons. No name has yet been given for Upper Austria. The beer party is also expected to hold a meeting in Linz next week. Regular meetings are also planned in the regional constituencies.
Author
Annette Gantner
Internal politics editor
Annette Gantner
