Kickl announces FPÖ "Joker" for Federal Presidential Election 2028

The FPÖ intends to field its own candidate in the presidential election in 2028. Party leader Herbert Kickl announced this in an APA interview before the party congress. He did not mention specific names, but: "This time the cards will be completely reshuffled and I believe we will play a joker." Kickl suggests Europe should "approach" Russia. He views the Carinthian SPÖ's signaled openness towards the FPÖ positively.

FPÖ Gains in Polls

On Saturday, Kickl's re-election as chairman is on the agenda. Around 850 delegates are expected at the party congress in the Salzburg exhibition center. The FPÖ has been on the rise in elections for years, becoming the strongest party in the 2024 national election. However, participation in the government was prevented by a coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS. Nevertheless, the Freedom Party has made significant gains in polls and could currently reach up to 35 percent.

"People's Chancellor" Remains Kickl's Goal

Kickl continues to pursue the goal of becoming "People's Chancellor" in Austria: "I think this party congress will naturally be all about this renewal project for Austria. And in one word, that is the People's Chancellorship." The FPÖ leader wants to advance the "renewal project" for Austria. "This means a system change insofar as it is about a re-democratization in Austria." It should by no means be a departure from democracy, as some warn, but quite the opposite: "It is the reconnection of politics to what corresponds to the interests of the population. The goal is actually to shift the balance of power in Austria in favor of the population. And quite properly," hopes Kickl.

He also does not want to "forget" the Federal President, as he emphasizes. Which Freedom Party member will run for the succession of Alexander Van der Bellen in three years remains a secret for now. "No, I am not naming any names now. We are not letting our opponents see our cards."

Kickl is not worried that government participation could be prevented again after the next national election. "It makes a difference if you have a large gap to the next-placed party." Thus, in the last election, they managed to jump from third to first place. "But it is apparently still not enough. The ÖVP still believes they won the elections. Therefore, our goal will be to widen this gap. And I am quite sure that things will start moving. Also in the ÖVP."

Kickl brushes off criticism of his rare public appearances in the summer. "Honestly, I don't think much of politicians who jump in front of every camera and bite into every microphone, making people feel harassed and stalked," he says. He was indeed "out and about" in the summer, "but not organized in the form of any party events." In general, it is sometimes good to "slow down a bit, to then restart with even more energy."

Cooperation in Carinthia Nothing New

Rumors that he might switch to Carinthian state politics are denied by Kickl, even though he feels honored. For private reasons alone, he has been in Carinthia more often in the summer than originally planned and has been frequently addressed about the political situation there. "But I have promised the Austrian population that we will do everything to bring good years to the people. And that is best achieved from the top of the government," says the FPÖ leader.

In statements by the new Carinthian SPÖ leader Daniel Fellner, which signal an openness towards the Freedom Party in the state, Kickl sees at least "interesting signals," although they are not new. In the state, the SPÖ and FPÖ have repeatedly worked well together. Apart from the federal level, there is generally a sense of openness towards the FPÖ. "I do think that there is a huge discomfort in the SPÖ with the course of Andreas Babler." The exclusion of the FPÖ is a "self-imposed confinement of the SPÖ," which limits options.

Expectations for Inquiry Committees

Kickl also has high expectations for the inquiry committees planned by his faction in parliament, first regarding the Pilnacek case, then the Corona measures. The FPÖ leader does not believe it might be too late for Corona, as the handling of it has inflicted deep wounds on the Austrian soul. "All the psychological suffering, the division of society, and an enormous economic damage" have arisen.

The handling of Corona or climate change, criticized by Kickl, also promotes the rise of right-wing parties worldwide, Kickl believes, for example in the USA. "Politics is always required to respond to great discomfort among the population. And Donald Trump recognized that very well. That we are dealing with a kind of society-destroying mental plague in terms of rainbow culture, wokeism, and so on, which disguises itself as progress. I think it's good that there is now a counter-movement, where the middle of society, the ordinary people who keep this country alive, also resist being presented with something they cannot relate to. This applies especially to the entire asylum area."

"Time Window" for Russia Policy Open

Trump's alleged shift in Ukraine policy does not irritate Kickl. It could also be a tactical maneuver. No one in Austria has a clear insight here. In light of recent airspace violations in European states by Russian drones, the FPÖ leader warns against hasty actions. "I can only advise Europe not to rush into a countermeasure that might trigger total escalation. The heads of state should take a cue from former US President Kennedy and his reasonable approach during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Austria's position must be, in any case, to strengthen and expand its own neutrality."

In general, Kickl advocates for a different approach to Russia. With Trump's disinterest in Europe, there is currently "a time window open to attempt a rapprochement between Europe and Russia. This is precisely what the Americans have long not wanted. The goal should be a common security architecture instead of a revival of the Cold War or even a Third World War. And we simply have the situation that we are on a common continent with Russia. Russia will not dissolve into thin air," says Kickl. "This is an attempt. Maybe it will be well received, maybe not. But to be accused of not trying, I really consider that negligent."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.