Subjects partly changed

ÖVP admits: “Leitkultur” campaign not optimal

The People's Party was looking for Austrian values.

(Bild: P. Huber)

The ÖVP admitted on Thursday that the "Leitkultur" campaign was not ideal. According to General Secretary Christian Stocker, the poster with the slogan "Tradition instead of multiculturalism" has now been deleted. Other poster subjects have been partially changed.

The Secretary General said this at a press conference. Meanwhile, his colleague and Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) has received a rejection for her expert council, which is supposed to develop an Austrian "Leitkultur". The party polarizes more than it unites with its "unspeakable" subjects, said sociologist and political consultant Kenan Güngör. After an initial meeting, he decided not to participate. Under the given conditions, it was not possible for him to make a meaningful contribution.

Sociologist and political consultant Kenan Güngör

(Bild: krone.tv)

"Slogan borrowed from the AfD"
The slogan "Leitkultur statt Multikulti", borrowed from the German AfD, is not only right-wing populist, but also unrealistic. The sociologist cited the example that around half of Austrians would probably be against rural traditions such as putting up the maypole. He himself looks for Easter eggs with his children and also celebrates Christmas. Güngör is a native Alevi Kurd from Turkey. "I appreciate it when you connect things and that is so much more the reality of life."

I appreciate it when you connect things and that is so much more the reality of life.

Soziologe Kenan Güngör

"If I constantly address immigrants like lepers, they feel like that. They think they don't really want me," he said. At the same time, the political advisor noted that Integration Minister Susanne Raab had spoken very carefully about the topic at the Council's first meeting.

Redefining the concept of homeland
As an alternative, the political advisor suggests redefining the concept of homeland in the 21st century and dealing sensibly with the autochthonous population's latent fear of being displaced. "You have to take the concerns seriously, really seriously, unfortunately very often politicians tend to parrot them."

"I would have been pleased if he had continued to be available for the development of the mission statement," said ÖVP General Secretary Christian Stocker on Güngör's decision. However, this should be respected.