Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen received FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl for a one-on-one meeting in the Hofburg. The winner of the election went into the meeting with “positive expectations”.
Herbert Kickl knows the premises. Here, in the presidential office in the Leopoldina wing of the Hofburg, the Federal President swore him in as Minister of the Interior in 2017. Two years later, the same Federal President dismissed him from his government post at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). Kickl caused great damage to both the ÖVP and the Federal President.
On Friday it was Alexander Van der Bellen who again asked Kickl to speak to the Hofburg, in his office behind the famous red wallpaper door. The president wants to meet the leaders of all five parliamentary parties.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl APA / Helmut Fohringer
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He appeared at the appointment as formally as he rarely did, wearing a dark blue tie and a white handkerchief, he shook the hand of the Federal President – whom he called “channel mummy” – in a friendly way and let Van der Bellen ahead. the entrance to his office. Kickl told the journalists together that he had positive expectations regarding the appointment.
The conversation itself took place in private and, at an hour and a half, lasted longer than the official appointment for an hour. Little was known about the subject; When asked by the press, they only talked about a “correct atmosphere” in the Hofburg. Kickl will make a statement about the conversation today, Saturday.
Preparing for the appointment, he, who has often criticized Van der Bellen violently in the past, said that there were definite similarities between him and the Federal President that could be built upon. Democracy and human rights as well as fundamental rights and freedom are just as important to him as Van der Bellen. A lot is at stake for Kickl – whether Van der Bellen would swear him in as a member of the government or even as chancellor is an open question.
Next week the Federal President will meet with the leaders of the other parties. On Monday he will hold talks with ÖVP boss and Chancellor Karl Nehammer and SPÖ boss Andreas Babler, and on Tuesday with Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Green Party leader Werner Kogler. The order depends on the strength of the parties’ votes in the National Council election. (oh)