TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG, editorial: “Signs of weakness” by Wolfgang Sablatnig

2024-01-16 21:00:30

Edition from Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Innsbruck (OTS) – When will the National Council elections take place? The discussion shows that the People’s Party is entering the super election year battered and unsettled. The question is not how to win the most, but how to lose the least.

After September 29th it will be too late. Everything else is open. Should the National Council election take place on May 26th? Will it be held together with the EU elections on June 9th? Or does the motto “persevere” win? Then election day is September 29th.

At the beginning of this super election year, Austria is in the middle of a discussion about the date for the National Council election. The speculation is not new. However, the time to dissolve parliament and schedule new elections is becoming increasingly scarce. In addition, the ÖVP chancellor’s party is providing explosive material: party leader Karl Nehammer is inviting people to a keynote speech in Wels at the end of next week. The topic is what the Turquoises call the “Future Plan 2030”. Of course, this is the start of the “super election year” with EU elections (June 9th), National Council elections (?), local council elections in Innsbruck (April 14th) and Salzburg (March 10th) as well as state elections in Vorarlberg (October). and Styria (November).

From the ÖVP’s point of view, an argument for an earlier election date could be that the motivation of the officials should not suffer as a result of a defeat in the EU elections. Parts of the party have also had problems with their green coalition partner for a long time. Ministers Leonore Gewessler and Alma Zadić in particular are a source of friction.

On the other hand, it is clear that the ÖVP will not come close to its 2019 result. Theories about the mutual influence of elections often resemble the famous look into the crystal ball. But there is nothing wrong with the loss of influence, positions and therefore power. Postponing this can therefore be a motive for a later appointment. Maybe the economy will still develop positively and the electorate will be lenient. And maybe the blue ones will stumble too?

In any case, the tenor shows what the ÖVP is doing. All considerations are aimed at keeping losses low. Nobody talks about “victory” or “success” for the Turquoises for a long time.