Ex-Chancellor Nehammer Wants to "Stay True to Himself" in New Book

Ex-Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) looks back on his term in his new book "Staying True to Oneself." He rejects the accusation of being responsible for the budget crisis and opposes "scapegoat fetishism." However, he sharply criticizes FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. Nehammer, who resigned in January 2025 after failed coalition negotiations, states that he always tried to make the right decision.

Resignation Was Necessary to "Stay True to Oneself"

"I have always stayed true to myself!" writes Nehammer, currently Deputy Director of the European Investment Bank, about his time as a politician. Before and after the 2024 national election, in which the ÖVP came in second, he ruled out a government collaboration with the leading FPÖ under Kickl. After the sudden end of government negotiations with SPÖ and NEOS, which Nehammer recounts in the book, he resigned instead of attempting to work with the Freedom Party.

Nehammer on Extremism

Nehammer dedicates much space in his book to warning against radical right and left forces, and thus also attacking Kickl. When the Chancellor informed him by phone about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kickl expressed doubts and questioned the "secured information, confirmed hundreds of times by all intelligence services in the world," he criticizes. Nehammer also shares his personal background. He was particularly influenced as a child by his great-aunt, who always rejected a government participation of the Freedom Party due to her experiences with National Socialism.

Denial of Involvement in Budget Crisis

The ex-Chancellor remains convinced of his actions in office. He refuses to accept the accusations that his government caused the current budget crisis. He attributes the situation to high inflation and economic forecasts that turned out to be incorrect. There was no consensus on how to proceed. The black-green coalition only distributed money once with the one-time anti-inflation bonus. All other payments were consumption-oriented. The money certainly did not "disappear into any holes."

"Completely Ridiculous" Demands by Herbert Kickl in Coalition Negotiations

Regarding the ÖVP's approach after his resignation, Nehammer hardly comments. The then interim party leader of the People's Party and current Chancellor Christian Stocker had to endure a lot of criticism for his willingness to negotiate with Kickl despite all announcements to the contrary. Nehammer again goes on the offensive against the FPÖ here. It was always clear to him that his successor "would not give up our principles," Stocker had clearly shown Kickl "our red lines" in the ultimately failed negotiations. Kickl's demand for "German as a language of science" was, for example, "completely ridiculous."

Nehammer's Stance on Gaza

In terms of foreign policy, the former chancellor mainly comments on Israel, a special moment for him was obviously the liberation of the Austrian-Israeli citizen Tal Shoham from Hamas captivity. He defends Austria's friendly stance towards Israel, which is accused of genocide in Gaza by a UN commission. He sees this as a reversal of perpetrator and victim. It is not Israel that is responsible for the suffering in the Gaza Strip, but the terrorist organization Hamas.

FPÖ: "Hardly to be Surpassed in Audacity"

The review of the book by the Freedom Party Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz was not very friendly. It is "hardly to be surpassed in audacity and a mockery of the Austrian population." The book is an inadequate attempt to "sugarcoat one's own catastrophic term in office and to shirk responsibility for an unprecedented political failure." Nehammer had "driven Austria into the wall at full speed." As a "thank you," he was rewarded by the system with a "breakfast director position" as an EU banker, for which he completely lacks the professional qualifications, according to Schnedlitz.

(APA/Red)

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