"Rainer Nowak Talk"

“We are not just there for the bobos in Vienna”

(Bild: krone.tv)

"The Rainer Nowak Talk": about the Greens in the government, the "challenging" relationship with the ÖVP and the possibilities after the upcoming National Council elections.

2024 is a landmark year - also for Austria's domestic politics. Also for the Greens. Klubobfrau Sigrid Maurer talks to Rainer Nowak on krone.tv about the upcoming elections and the coalition with the ÖVP: it is particularly challenging, but a coalition is always a compromise. "Day one is now four years old," said Maurer.

The Green signature? "We have managed to push through many points with the climate minister and justice minister, social affairs minister and Werner Kogler as captain. We have delivered." Former Green Party leader and co-discussant Eva Glawischnig agrees. The Greens would score points above all with strong women.

Green Party leader Sigrid Maurer(Bild: krone.tv)

Sebastian Kurz "pushed over the cliff"
 The ÖVP-affiliated communications expert Daniel Kapp attested that the Greens had taken the best of both worlds for themselves - "and Sebastian Kurz was pushed over the cliff. The ÖVP was in a state of shock and desperately wanted to continue governing. The Greens used their agenda. We will see greater polarization in the election campaign."

Communications expert Daniel Kapp(Bild: krone.tv)

First up are the EU elections. With activist Lena Schilling, Maurer believes that the party is forward-thinking and appealing to young people. Maurer sees the ÖVP as being caught up in too many different interests, whereas the Greens are all pulling in the same direction. Kapp counters that the ÖVP is a centrist party and a major party - in contrast to the Greens, who have no claim to growth with their portfolio. Maurer: "We are not just there for the bobos in Vienna." One example is urban sprawl, which is primarily an issue in rural areas. The Greens would take a very aggressive stance against this.

Former Green Party leader and co-discussant Eva Glawischnig(Bild: krone.tv)

Dispute over Zadic and WKStA
The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) and the Green Justice Minister Alma Zadic were also discussed. According to Kapp, she was responsible for the fact that files could be leaked. The WKStA must be able to work in peace, Maurer replied. In the interests of the population, who have a right to know how politicians are handling their tax money. These trials and proceedings should show that.

The National Council will be elected on September 29 - "that is our goal", says Maurer.

There are still a lot of plans. In the construction industry, care, the social sector and energy security. And after that? Will there be a three-party coalition with the ÖVP and SPÖ to prevent the FPÖ? Sigrid Maurer would have no problem with that. "We have worked well with the SPÖ and ÖVP in Vienna and Tyrol. Besides, nobody does climate protection except us."

"The Rainer Nowak Talk" - every Wednesday, 9.15 pm, on krone.tv.