ÖVP in Brussels

Lopatka on EU elections: “I am the best candidate”

(Bild: krone.tv)

In an interview on krone.tv, Reinhold Lopatka takes a stand on a number of EU issues, such as the issue of people smugglers: "If in future all asylum procedures no longer have to take place here, but in transit zones at the EU's external border or in third countries, then those who travel with people smugglers and have made it to Vienna or Berlin, for example, will no longer have an advantage. Then nobody would spend any more money on it. That would put a stop to the smugglers."  

The future of Ukraine would very much depend on Donald Trump. Lopatka: "The election in the USA will certainly be the decisive factor in how things develop here. Then the fog will clear. Until then, things will continue as they have been until now."

EU top candidate for the ÖVP, Reinhold Lopatka(Bild: krone.tv)

In other words, some would say there is too much support, others that it is too little and too slow. With regard to Hungary, Lopatka attests to Orban that at the end of the day, even if he "often opened his mouth wide", he would have agreed to all EU requirements. Including the sanctions, for example. Lopatka summarized: "He is only unsound in the area of refugees."  

Lopatka best suited candidate
Lopatka considers himself well prepared for the EU elections, even though Karl Nehammer had also asked other people to run for the ÖVP leadership candidacy before him. Lopatka: "It is true that Schallenberg and Edtstadler have been asked, I have made enquiries here. Both are ministers, both are professionals. But I say to them, as far as parliamentary work is concerned, I think I am the most suitable candidate. I have chaired the European Affairs Committee here in the Austrian Parliament for more than 10 years, was previously Secretary of State for Europe and also had the task of representing Austria as State Secretary for Finance in Brussels. So I know the work in Brussels."  

Watch the full interview with Reinhold Lopatka in the video above!