"Krone" commentary

Drexler will also have to convince the “grim”

Commentary on the major issues affecting Austria: Klaus Herrmann, Managing Editor-in-Chief(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com)

On Monday evening, Governor Christopher Drexler rang in the election year with his grand "Styria speech". But are big words enough for him to defend his office as governor? 

Christopher Drexler addressed just about all of the issues where the shoe pinches in his "Styria speech" yesterday evening in Graz. He spanned a colorful arc in white and green. He offered some new things, some tried and tested, some good things, some things worth discussing, some things that were long overdue but not yet done. And some things that not everyone will like.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

The governor, who owes his office to his predecessor and his party, but not yet to the people of Styria, and who is running for first place in the Styrian elections for the first time in late fall, spoke very openly about the current mood. He addressed the "fear of material loss, of losing one's own standard of living" and the "fear of losing one's cultural identity" - his formulation for the fears triggered by the waves of migration.

Some "look grim"
Drexler also talked about his meetings with many people in the country. Many are friendly and approachable. But some look down or to the side, "or look grim". You have to approach them and understand their feelings better.

A Herculean task. Drexler will also have to convince "grim" people in order to defend his office as governor. He is not lacking in good intentions. Now he has to communicate them credibly and in their language to the people of Styria. Then Christopher Drexler's chances of giving the Styrian governor's speech on Styria's Josef Day in 2025 are intact.