In view of the “many legitimate concerns” – specifically in relation to inflation, the Ukraine war and the climate crisis – he appealed to cohesion and solidarity within Austria and the EU. Van der Bellen also criticized the government.
Deportations: Discussion with Minister of the Interior
The communication of the anti-inflation packages is “improvable”. More than 30 billion packages have been put together, but he too has lost track of “what comes into force when” and what needs to be applied for where. He also referred to recent statements by members of the government: “Very unfortunate wording has been used.” One must, for example, “avoid questioning supreme court judgments in public”. Van der Bellen said he would “seek talks” with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) in the next few days, alluding to statements by the department head on the deportation of young people.
The incumbent president promised that he would “do his own” to improve integrity, conscientiousness and decency, who – about a week after his hiking accident on the Kaunergrat – presented himself quite agile on a high plateau at around 2,000 meters above sea level in front of the representatives of the press presented. He has spent his whole life in the mountains – for a “clearer view” and to “step by step leave the lowlands of everyday life” behind, says the man from Kaunertal, who, together with his wife Doris Schmidauer and the press, went to the Verpeilhütte hiked.
“Weighting” is essential “especially in times when so much shimmering and justified fears” are on people’s minds. It is “one of the challenges for the Federal President” to “always focus on the big picture” and to distinguish between the “important and less important issues”.
Climate crisis: “Tell the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable”
At the beginning of his speech, the former leader of the Greens spoke about the climate crisis under this premise. You have to “tell people the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable” instead of “promising seductive things”. “A president must lead, not seduce,” Van der Bellen has repeatedly stated – including in the context of the Ukraine war. One should not promise people that their situation would improve if the sanctions were lifted, Van der Bellen also referred to inflation.
“Putin is not only attacking Ukraine, but also our way of life,” continued Van der Bellen, appealing for unity: “We have to defend ourselves, resist, contradict and look.” “Solidarity is our weapon,” said the President: “We can put Putin in his place.”
“You know me,” Van der Bellen, who won 50.3 percent in a runoff against his blue opponent Norbert Hofer in 2016, tried to build on his experience. Anyway: Sometimes he even has the feeling that he has found something like his “destiny” “at a mature age”. He looks forward to a possible second term of office with “respect”; he has “gained in self-confidence, experience, strength and knowledge,” stressed Van der Bellen. He believes in “integrity, conscientiousness and decency” and wants to “represent Austria with integrity” and “appear seriously to the outside world”.
Van der Bellen is currently collecting declarations of support for his re-election. He and a number of others, including lesser-known private individuals and representatives of small parties, have until Friday, 5 p.m.
Lawyer and columnist Tassilo Wallentin announced that he had received around 18,000 statements of support. This is three times more than what is required for a candidacy.
Source: Nachrichten
