Is Austria in chains? Anyone who believes that will probably choose Kickl. You shouldn’t be surprised at what is possible.
Innsbruck (OTS) – There’s one thing you can’t blame Herbert Kickl for. He says what he wants. Even if he takes on different roles. Most recently, in the ZiB-2 interview a few days ago, he appeared pastoral and wanted to appear statesmanlike. At the New Year’s meeting he practiced the role of the people’s tribune, pretending to want to become a people’s chancellor. His listeners cheered loudly and seemed drunk with power. Kickl attacked the government, the Federal President, the other opposition parties and the media. They are all in a “power-hungry swingers club”. The supporters roared. Kickl sees himself as a fighter against the system, as he says. The right-wing nationalist politician has long seen his FPÖ as a “freedom movement”. He is happy to use the catchphrase of the Identitarians, the New Right: remigration. Because when the “system people” (Kickl) hear this word, which means nothing other than a forced deportation of people with a migration background and even mass deportation, everyone gasps, says Kickl with delight.
No, everything is by no means okay. A lot of things are wrong. And just like Jörg Haider once did, Kickl also scores goals with an all-round strike. But is Austria trapped? Yes, says Kickl, and he wants to take off the chains. Anyone who sees it this way will probably vote for the FPÖ in the coming elections – and want the country to become an illiberal democracy. Formally, Austria will continue to be a democracy, but with massive restrictions on liberal achievements. This affects the judiciary, the media and parliament. We shouldn’t be surprised in retrospect. Because Kickl says what he wants.
Questions & Contact:
Tiroler Tageszeitung
0512 5354 5101
editor-in-chief@tt.com