UN Security Council: Spindelegger Sees Good Chances for Austria

Spindelegger emphasized in a conversation with the APA that it is crucial "to take a mediating position and consider all opinions." This has worked well in the past and will be successful this time as well. For this reason, he is overall confident that the election will succeed. During the council membership from 2009 to 2011, Spindelegger held the office of Foreign Minister.

Spindelegger: Austria is valued as a reliable partner

At that time, Austria was able to assert itself in a three-way race for two seats against Iceland, but in the election by the UN General Assembly, it ended up behind Turkey. "It was an open race," said Spindelegger. Shortly before the vote, all three states believed they had the necessary votes. "That means you can't feel secure, even if you have many commitments." As a candidate for the Security Council, one must be able to "contribute something." In Austria's case, this is the "good tradition of fully supporting and shaping diplomacy and efforts at the UN level." Many states also appreciate "that Austria is a reliable partner and has not always been at the forefront of a particular movement."

When asked whether the purse strings also need to be loosened, Spindelegger referred to the Caribbean island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines' wish for a school bus. "The bus was quickly found, but transporting it there was a much more difficult task," chuckled the former Vice Chancellor. This time, Austria must also compete with two rivals, namely Portugal and Germany. When asked whether clear support for Israel could prove to be a handicap for Austria, Spindelegger referred to Germany. It is "just as clearly to be seen on Israel's side. Therefore, I do not believe that this will be decisive."

Party leadership for Spindelegger "much stronger challenge" than ministerial office

With the current Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS), Spindelegger not only shares the candidacy for a Security Council seat but was also, like her, both chief diplomat and party leader. The difficulty of this combination is that while traveling, "you still have to keep an ear on what is happening in your own country," said Spindelegger. "Therefore, I wish her good luck in managing all of this, but compared to what a government office entails, the party leadership is a much stronger challenge."

Spindelegger will retire at the end of December after ten years as the head of the Vienna-based migration organization ICMPD, having previously been a member of the Federal Council, a National Council member, a European Parliament member, Second President of the National Council, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and Vice Chancellor. When asked about his favorite role, Spindelegger replied: "Each has its specific characteristics, but being the Foreign Minister of the Republic is indeed a very special honor and responsibility and has brought a lot of joy."

Spindelegger still "100 percent" supports Kurz

Spindelegger is considered the federal political discoverer of Sebastian Kurz, whom he brought into the government in 2011 as State Secretary for Integration. Three years later, he handed over the office of Foreign Minister to him when he himself moved to the Ministry of Finance. When asked if he had looked at Kurz closely enough at the time, Spindelegger said: "Yes, absolutely. And I still support him 100 percent." Not everything in politics should be "taken literally," he said, alluding to the sharp criticism of the twice involuntarily departed Chancellor's conduct in office.

"I believe that he nevertheless shaped a great era for Austria, won two elections with impressive support from the population (...) and that he was also a good representative for Austria as a personality," said Spindelegger, who also referred to the recent acquittal in the perjury trial. Perhaps this will also succeed in the other case, "we will see," said the former ÖVP leader. He is not aware of any comeback plans, so it is "a bit idle to speculate about it," he added in response to a related question.

Spindelegger himself definitely has no comeback plans. A few days after his 66th birthday, a new life is set to begin for him with the turn of the year. "I will try to learn the carpentry trade, that's what I have planned," said the Lower Austrian. He already has a mentor, and the goal is to be able to craft a table himself.

(APA/Red)

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