In the “Bei Budgen” interview, the 80-year-old assesses Chancellor Nehammer’s work as positive, although he finds the party color turquoise “disgusting”. Kurz could “not be denied” a return. “He led this party successfully for several years. It would have been a sign of weakness from ÖVP Chancellor Karl Nehammer if he had asked Sebastian Kurz not to speak at the ÖVP Presidential Day,” said Görg.
Sebastian Kurz recently ruled out returning to politics. However, Görg expects that Kurz will not distance himself from politics forever. “I suspect he’s going to start having withdrawal symptoms very soon. Someone like him, who has broadcast politics from every pore, will find it difficult to live well in the long run, but in the anonymous,” said the ex-politician. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried again in the Politics to come back”, but before that he had to get the potential criminal case over with positively.
shipment notice
“Vienna Today” on May 14, 2022 at 7 p.m., ORF 2
Demarcation Nehammer to Kurz
Karl Nehammer has long been considered a confidant of Sebastian Kurz. There are also said to be phone calls between the two several times a month. It is “very difficult” for Nehammer to distance himself from Kurz politically, since Sebastian Kurz would have “outshone” politics. “Every frantic attempt to do everything differently will not work. I think Karl Nehammer has managed to keep his balance quite well so far,” Görg continued.
“Turquoise is a hideous color”
The ÖVP will appear under a different name in the future. Instead of “The New People’s Party” it should only read “The People’s Party”. The ÖVP is changing its name again, but not its party color. “I would have preferred the party to have continued to call itself the “New People’s Party” and given up the turquoise. Turquoise is a horrible color, I never understood how to choose turquoise as a party color. In truth, turquoise was not really present for me as a contrast to black, “said Görg.
There is much more to leading the party, such as having ambition and gathering the best around you. “I sometimes had the impression with Sebastian that he said I was enough, I’m so popular and I outshine everything. It doesn’t really matter who becomes a minister with me because I outshine everything anyway,” criticized Görg. He saw weaknesses in particular of Kurz’s management skills.
resignations of ministers
The Austrian ÖVP ministers Elisabeth Köstinger and Margarete Schramböck have surprisingly announced their resignation – just a few days before the ÖVP party conference, at which a new beginning is to be staged. The two politicians had risen steeply with ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Görg doesn’t know what exactly happened behind the scenes, “and even if I did, I wouldn’t say it.”
Two things played a role: “The department of former Minister Schramböck for digitization and business location was a dog department. It had far too few competencies and far too many economic competencies have been given to other departments,” explained the former ÖVP Vienna boss Görg does not want to judge Chancellor Nehammer’s resignation: “I’m not speculating about that.”
Performance by Secretary General Sachslehner
He is also unable to rate the performance of ÖVP General Secretary Laura Sachslehner. “I don’t know her very well. Rumors of replacement about the General Secretary appeared before the ministerial resignations, but the ÖVP denied them. “She’s a very young woman, I think that’s positive. You have to give her some time, I think To say it is premature, can she or can she not, “said Görg. After a few months, no judgment could be made.
“I don’t believe in new elections”
After the most recent resignations, debates about new elections have flared up again. SPÖ and FPÖ are pushing for it. Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) also spoke out in favor of this, but unlikely for the ex-politician. “I don’t believe in new elections. The two parties that make the decision have no interest in new elections,” said Görg.
Role of the Viennese ÖVP
According to current surveys, the Viennese ÖVP is around ten percent – this corresponds to half the result of the last municipal elections in 2020. Without tailwind from the federal party, it is “extremely difficult for the Viennese ÖVP to get on its feet. That was always the case and always will be. I think Karl Mahrer is doing his job excellently,” praised the former ÖVP Vienna boss. “As an opposition politician, it all got on my nerves. This non-stop saying, that’s wrong and that’s wrong.”
In conversations with the designated Viennese ÖVP boss Karl Mahrer, Görg often warns “not to be too nice”, because that would not be honored by the voters.