In the EU elections in June

Schilling wants “500,000 votes for climate protection”

(Bild: APA/Robert Jäger)

The Austrian Greens' lead candidate in the EU elections, Lena Schilling, wants to achieve "500,000 votes for climate protection" on June 9 - a similar number to the one the Greens achieved in the 2019 EU elections. She cited the phasing out of fossil fuels, the mobility transition and climate change adaptation as her priorities, while at the same time ensuring social justice.

In the 2019 EU elections, the Greens won 532,193 votes, giving them a 14.1% share of the vote. Initially, this gave the domestic Greens two seats, and then three after the increase in the number of seats allocated to Austria from 18 to 19. The Greens' most recent goal was to maintain this number.

Schilling: "Compromises always hurt"
Schilling explained on ORF's "Pressestunde" on Sunday that she had been taking to the streets for her concerns for years and now she wanted to represent them in parliament, Schilling defended her change of role. She would not give up her ideals, but at the same time would also fight for compromises, "and compromises always hurt", she said in response to criticism from the ranks of climate activists. Once again, she criticized "Fridays For Future" founder Greta Thunberg and her statements on Israel and Palestine. It is important: "The climate crisis will not diminish if the climate movement is weakened."

Took a stand on faux pas against ORF satirist
When asked about her youth and her gaffe against ORF satirist Peter Klien, in which she placed Norway in the EU on the day of her election for the Greens, Schilling said: "I can't promise, but it may not have been my last mistake." She has been immersing herself in EU issues for some time and has spent the last few months talking to experts and attending briefings.

The Green Party prefers to travel "in an exemplary manner" by train.

(Bild: Grüne)

ÖVP has "slowed things down in many areas"
In response to accusations of a lack of assertiveness on the part of the Greens in Austria's federal government, Schilling referred to the actions of the main coalition partner. It is the ÖVP that has "slowed things down in many areas". And the fact that Austria is finding it so difficult to overcome its dependence on Russian natural gas is due to the "gagging agreements" concluded under Sebastian Kurz as Chancellor.

Schilling wants to travel a lot by train as an EU mandate holder
She cited the need to make environmentally friendly mobility cheaper as an important goal. One of the ways in which the Greens want to achieve this is by introducing a low rail fare for connections between the capitals of the EU. A maximum of ten cents per kilometer should be charged. Schilling said that the last time she flew was five or six years ago and that she intends to travel as much as possible by train, even as an EU mandate holder.

The top candidate defended the fact that the Greens voted against the majority of points in the EU asylum and migration pact. Housing people in large camps on the EU's external borders would not be the solution. There is also nothing in the pact about people drowning in the Mediterranean. What is needed is an orderly distribution mechanism, fast and fair procedures, humanity and the possibility of orderly migration.

Schilling remained vague on the question of whether climate refugees should be granted the right to asylum. In any case, the issue must be addressed and the climate crisis must be tackled sustainably so that people are not forced to leave their homes. Because: "If islands sink, where will the people go?"