Former LH turns 95

Politician was not Josef Ratzenböck’s dream job

His successors Josef Pühringer (right) and Thomas Stelzer (left) congratulate Josef Ratzenböck on his 95th birthday.(Bild: ANTONIO BAYER)

"We must work for a strong European community, it is the most important guarantee of peace for us, if there is one at all! War is the most terrible and horrible thing - I have experienced it!" This was said by former governor Josef Ratzenböck 15 years ago. He turns 95 on April 15.

Josef Ratzenböck was Governor of Upper Austria from 1977 to 1995. Many referred to him as the "father of the province" because of his credible closeness to the people. After his time as governor, he was head of the Seniors' Association until 2017. The ÖVP politician, who will turn 95 next Monday, is still concerned with daily events. His statements from back then are still sadly relevant.

And this is what Josef Ratzenböck says about

• his well-being:
  I'm actually doing very well, considering I'm 95 years old! I live in the "4-star Hotel Anneliese" (Ratzenböck's wife, note) and receive excellent care! It's just that my walking is no longer working - that's why I'm no longer in public.

• onhis 95th birthday:
  It's an incredibly old age for a member of the Ratzenböck family. My father was 76, my grandfather and my great-grandfather too! At 76, I became familiar with death. I believed that I too would have to say goodbye at the age of 76. Looking back, it was an exciting life full of variety, I wouldn't want to miss anything - and hopefully it will continue for a while yet.

• about whether he follows current political developments in Austria and Europe:
  If you've been involved in politics all your life, you can't help but follow political developments. Incidentally, all citizens should actually be interested. After all, it's about their future and the future of our society.

• His dream job:
  That wasn't a politician. My dream job would have been a farmer. I pursued this profession on my parents' farm during my studies, but things turned out differently for me than I thought. But I always remained a farmer, I satisfied my farming passion in the garden when I was still able to. I planted, sowed and harvested, and I was always more enthusiastic about planting and sowing than harvesting.

• His most moving moments as governor:
  There are quite a few. First and foremost is definitely the cutting of the barbed wire after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The joy at the opening of this painful border was immense. Secondly, for me as a convinced European, joining the European Union and thus securing a peaceful European future. I fondly remember when we raised the European flag in front of the Landhaus. Other highlights were the establishment of the BMW plant in Upper Austria, the construction of the Pyhrnautobahn and the opening of the Kalkalpen National Park.

• about the Second World War:
  

  I had to enlist in November 1944 at the age of 15. Six classmates from my school class, the 6th grade of the academic grammar school, were killed in action. We saw how the towns were bombed. Some families in Neukirchen lost three or four sons. One family in Veitsberg lost five sons. The EU is therefore the best idea anyone in Europe could ever have. At last, war is no longer being waged, at least in the EU area. Politicians have nothing more important to do than to ensure that people can live in peace - that is the most important thing.

• the threat of war in Europe:
  War has not been overcome in Europe, as we can see with Mr. Putin's brutal war of aggression on Ukraine. But in the EU, I hope it has. I can only appeal to everyone to strengthen and further develop the European peace model. There is no sensible alternative.
• his wishes for his 95th birthday:
  Health and well-being for my family, with whom I hope to spend many more years, and internationally I wish for peace.