When war broke out

Nehammer: “Kickl’s reaction affected me”

After 265 days, the former chancellor is back with a book.(Bild: Imre Antal)

He was Chancellor of the Republic for 1132 days, then the FPÖ won the election. After unsuccessful negotiations for a government without Kickl, Karl Nehammer resigned in January. In his first interview as former chancellor, he talks about turbulent times, regained freedoms and his new book.

In Vienna's oldest reinforced concrete building, the former listed stands of the Krieau harness racing track, the "Red Bull Mediahaus" now resides after 60 years of vacancy. A meeting room with a terrace has been reserved on the fourth floor, and a freshly printed book entitled "Sich selbst treu bleiben" (EcoWing Verlag) lies on the round glass table. The author is former Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who is sitting next door in the make-up room - in addition to the "Krone" Sunday interview, two television appearances are scheduled for this Friday afternoon. "I like this combination of wood and glass," he says later during our interview, "this is also where my book was written." He has five major "Krone" interviews ahead of him, all about corona, fences, "rotes Gsindl" and his visit to Vladimir Putin.