Before National Council elections

Lower Austria: Ministerial duel over state list is decided

With Gerhard Karner and Klaudia Tanner, the ÖVP Lower Austria can send two political heavyweights from the ministerial bench into the race for the National Council.(Bild: www.picturedesk.com, GEPA, stock.adobe.comSEPA Media, Krone KREATIV)

One is black, pithy and comes from the Pröll era - as does the other. With Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, the ÖVP Lower Austria has two political heavyweights that it can put on the top of the list for the National Council elections. Now, however, the most powerful regional organization has had to make a decision.

You don't have to look far for a Lower Austrian signature in the federal government. It starts with Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who, as is well known, was politically socialized in St. Pölten's Ferstlergasse, and ends with Bernhard Ebner, who is now to manage the election campaign for the federal ÖVP after the election defeat in the wide state.

In between them is long-term provincial deputy Wolfgang Sobotka, who has played himself into the ground with his ongoing anti-charm offensive for golden wings and in various U-committees. So who will the most powerful national organization of the Turks, which according to its own statements has never been black, but always blue-yellow, send into the race for the National Council this autumn?

Tanner forges ahead, Karner catches up
With two ministers, the government bench in parliament is well staffed: as reported, the "Krone" recently gave Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner the better cards. The ÖAAB was blamed too much by the Farmers' Association for Johanna Mikl-Leitner being allowed to remain governor of Lower Austria after the ÖVP's historically worst result, according to reports from behind the political scenes. And also that Interior Minister Gerhard Karner had recently made up significant ground in the internal rankings.

VPNÖ regional managing director Matthias Zauner, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner(Bild: VPNÖ)

"Lower Austria Party" met in Vienna
The provincial party executive committee met on Wednesday, conveniently for the ministers at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. The two then appeared together in front of the cameras. Sukus emphasized their unity: they would go into the National Council elections with "a dual leadership for our country". But because paper is not at all patient against its reputation, only one name can appear first on the ballot paper. And that is that of Gerhard Karner.

It is an honor and a great responsibility for me to stand for the Lower Austrian People's Party in this election. And to fight together with Klaudia Tanner for Karl Nehammer and our Austria.

Innenminister Gerhard Karner

"This is how the alphabet works"
The presentation was preceded by plenty of mutual praise. Karner praised the cooperation between the police and the Austrian Armed Forces, while Tanner spoke of Karl Nehammer's goals for Austria - performance, family and security. In the latter area, Lower Austria has two absolute specialists on the government bench, said Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. It was therefore also her wish that both ministers should head the election list in a dual leadership. A nomination that was also unanimously accepted by the provincial party executive.

Just as police officers and soldiers work together to ensure security in our country, I will also fight side by side and shoulder to shoulder with Gerhard Karner for a better future.

Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner

The ÖVP leadership made it exciting until the names were named. It was only in the last sentence that Matthias Zauner, the party's regional managing director, pointed out that the order on the ballot paper was in alphabetical order. Which meant that Gerhard Karner would get his turn, as Zauner confirmed when asked: "That's how the alphabet works."