The party leaders of the Greens and FPÖ focused on mobilizing their own voters in the ORF debate.
Werner Kogler arrived at the TV debate in a light blue suit, but that was where his rapprochement with the Blue Herbert Kickl ended.
Kogler once again called for a political “firewall” against the FPÖ: It is about not allowing “parties that represent far-right positions” into the government. Kickl sensed extremists on the other side of the room: “If you want to see an anti-democrat, then look in the mirror,” said the FPÖ leader to the Green chairman. Kogler had referred to people who protested against the Corona measures as “state refusers, neo-Nazis, and fascists.” This is not true, Kogler replied. He only pointed out to the peaceful protesters that “Mr. Küssel and many other neo-Nazis” had participated in these demonstrations.
No Green Decency Because of Schilling?
Kickl complained that he was compared to Hitler in a video, which was produced by an association of former Green politician Robert Luschnik. He stated that he had nothing to do with Hitler, “the greatest mass murderer in history.” Kogler reaffirmed that he had nothing to do with this video. However, Kickl also took shots at Kogler’s party: The Greens had campaigned with the promise of decency before the 2019 election. But then they “carefully trampled decency underfoot,” the FPÖ chief said regarding the Lena Schilling case, adding, “You were the political godfather,” referring to Kogler.
As expected, the two also disagreed on whether Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a role model (Kickl) or a deterrent example (as Kogler believes) in migration issues. In what ways negotiations can continue with Russia despite the attack on Ukraine (Kickl supports this). And on the issue of Austrian security, it became apparent how positions can change.
While Kickl was still in favor of a federal Trojan horse as Interior Minister, he now rejects messenger surveillance: If there is enough suspicion to justify such surveillance, one should directly access the suspects instead. Kogler pointed out that he is not entirely against messenger surveillance. However, a concept is needed that meets the requirements of the Constitutional Court, which struck down the federal Trojan horse introduced under the coalition of the ÖVP and FPÖ due to excessive intrusion intensity. In this regard, he was glad that Kickl had learned something, according to Kogler.
Would Intelligence Services Trust Kickl?
While Kickl referred to his experience as Interior Minister on security issues, Kogler stated that there would have been serious consequences if Kickl and the FPÖ had not been ousted from the government in 2019. Otherwise, foreign intelligence services would not want to cooperate with Austria due to domestic issues (keyword: BVT affair). And then they “might not have prevented” the attack on the Taylor Swift concert, Kogler said.
Kickl denied this, just as the two would have argued much longer if it weren’t already time for the next debate. Conclusion: Since there were hardly any voters to be won from each other, both focused on mobilizing their own supporters in the TV debate. This may have been successful, and the two after this evening were just as unlikely to enter into a joint coalition as before.