"Out of the question"

Sobotka: Coalition with “Kickl” FPÖ ruled out

A coalition with the FPÖ under party leader Herbert Kickl has long been ruled out by the ÖVP, but National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka has now extended this statement. He would "definitely not" elect Kickl himself as President of the National Council.

"The Kickl-FPÖ is out of the question, and there is currently no other FPÖ," said Sobotka. He would put his hand in the fire for that. "The FPÖ has developed into a leader's party, the so-called People's Chancellor is almost degradingly revered in the FPÖ."

He also questions previous customs, such as the fact that the party with the most votes appoints the President of the National Council, with regard to the Freedom Party. There is no automatism here and Parliament will think carefully about who it elects as President after the National Council elections.

Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) and Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP)(Bild: APA/ROBERT JAEGER)

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Nominate a person who "can fill the office"
He himself would "definitely not" elect Kickl as President of the National Council and Sobotka assumed that all parties would act responsibly and nominate a person "who they expect to be able to fill the office well".

In any case, the aim is for the ÖVP to emerge from the election as number one and for Karl Nehammer to remain Federal Chancellor, he is quoted as saying in the news magazine "profil".

"I'm not a bully pearl"
Sobotka once again rejected accusations that he himself had damaged the office of President of the National Council. There had been repeated investigations against him, but no charges. He also defended his style. "I'm not a bully." He just has a clear stance, which he sometimes conveys with the necessary emphasis.