"More to be attributed to the KPÖ"

Edtstadler thinks very little of a pact with Babler’s SPÖ

Constitutional and European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP)

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Constitution and Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) has expressed little sympathy for a coalition with the SPÖ in view of the National Council elections. "An SPÖ under Andreas Babler, whose ideas are more akin to those of the KPÖ, is not really something to start with", Edtstadler criticized the red party leader.

Edtstadler denounced Babler's idea of a 32-hour week with full wage compensation.

Edtstadler only rules out coalition with Kickl
At the same time, Edtstadler confirmed at the business talk organized by Thomas Prantner's consulting agency C3 in Vienna that she would rule out a coalition with Kickl's FPÖ, "because I really have the feeling that this party is being held hostage by him. And I don't have the impression that they can free themselves from it." However, Edtstadler did not rule out a coalition with the FPÖ as such. "I am deeply democratic and a constitutional minister and would not completely rule out a party from the outset."

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

Minister hopes for an "alliance of the reasonable"
She hopes that the polls - which see the FPÖ in the lead - are not correct and that "we can still turn it around, at least for my party", said Edtstadler. There are many constructive forces in the country that do not put populism first. She hopes for a result in the National Council elections that will enable "an alliance of the sensible".

I hope for a result in the National Council elections that makes an alliance of the reasonable possible.

Verfassungs- und Europaministerin Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP)

Zeiler criticizes the current state of the SPÖ
Media manager Gerhard Zeiler, who has repeatedly been in the running for the SPÖ party chairmanship himself, said that the Social Democrats had succumbed to the disease that the ÖVP used to have, namely "slaughtering each other". Both former major parties are not doing well today. However, they and smaller parties would ultimately uphold democracy, freedom and the social welfare state.

Media manager Gerhard Zeiler

(Bild: APA/FLORIAN WIESER)

Zeiler hopes that FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl will not become chancellor and that the FPÖ will not join the government. Both, especially the former, would damage Austria "to an extent that we all cannot imagine".

Austria is already known for various scandals such as Wirecard, Signa and BVT. "I wouldn't want to see a Chancellor Herbert Kickl on top of that." The forces based on democracy and freedom have an "obligation to prevent what will harm Austria".