Early on, Kiggle launched an attack on Nehhammer on a topic critical to his foundation: handling the CoV pandemic. The ÖVP-Green coalition tried to bring the country to a “dictatorial state of emergency,” Kickel said, calling the lockdown for unvaccinated people “pure persecution.”
Nehhammer, a staunch supporter of the state throughout the entire conflict, tried to use common sense several times and avoided intervention, speaking of one of the greatest challenges of the Second Republic.
Controversy over CoV measures
FPÖ leader Herbert Kigl caused a controversial start when he focused the topic on CoV measures.
Nehammer accuses Giggle of being intimidating
From the beginning, Giggling called for the Republic to shut down, Nehammer recalled. He admitted that the government had made mistakes – but decisions had been made and they were not in vain. The basis of all decisions was always to save human lives. And Nehhammer made a position that he would repeat on other occasions during the conflict: the FPÖ increased fear in order to exploit it, while he, Nehhammer and the ÖVP acted.
Giggle adheres to conspiracy theories when he claims that the World Health Organization (WHO) is the coming world government, and Nehammer, among other things, justified his rejection of an alliance with Giggle. He accused Nehammer of being blind.
Differences in soil sealing
When it came to the topic of soil compaction, Nehammer advocated an approach “with a sense of proportion and reason” and did not want to commit to a daily maximum limit. Climate protection must be weighed here with other goals such as establishing affordable housing and businesses and food security.
Gigl insisted he was in favor of a daily cap, but above all he was against an EU-wide requirement. Super regional planning is needed and should not be in the hands of municipalities alone. Here Nehhammer Kickle pointed out that states provide the framework for municipalities anyway.
Climate targets and manipulation of Russian gas
There were clear differences between ÖVP boss Karl Nehhammer and FPÖ boss Herbert Kigl on the topic of climate goals.
Common sense and sense of proportion when it comes to CO2 neutrality
Nehamer did not directly answer the question of whether he would support CO2-neutral – climate protection goals by 2040 in a future coalition. He also stressed on how to use common sense to get rid of dependence on fossil energy. Photovoltaics, wind power, but also dense forests are important here.
Giggle used the title to once again signal his critical and negative stance against the EU. When it comes to climate goals, “political herd instinct” should not yield to the EU’s ideas. Gigl said there is a “sense of proportion” here – for example, in a region freed from Russian gas.
Broad agreement on economic policy
There was broad agreement on the topic of economic policy and how to get Austria out of recession. Nehhammer was “delighted” to have Giggle accept his own project, the “Austria Project”. Giggle agreed on many common causes, but accused Nehhammer of capitulating to the Greens when it came to the energy center factor.
Why an alliance with the FPÖ without Herbert Kickle?
ÖVP Chancellor Nehammer once again explained why he is excluding Kickl as a partner in government.
Controversy over “Sky Shield”.
The fight became more contentious when it came to defense policy and neutrality. Nehhammer strongly defended the “Sky Shield” air defense shield – along with other European nations. Austria must take national security seriously, and it must stand up to an attacking state, at least for a while. Nehhammer presented cooperation with other countries as a “buying society”.
Gicl asserted that it was an illusion that Austria could hold back a great power like Russia. “Sky Shield” is “definitely” a violation of neutrality, since it involves joining an alliance that is — by Giggle’s account — already at war with Russia. Joining NATO through the back door. Nehammer again accused Giggling of being intimidating. It is about protecting our own people.
The FPÖ wants to be a strong partner in a coalition with the ÖVP
FPÖ leader Herbert Kigl explains why he wants to be at the top.
The FPÖ leader did not respond to a question about whether he would nix the unanimity in the EU Council needed for Russia sanctions. Instead, he presented the FPÖ position: sanctions are another form of war, one must finally break out of the spiral of expansionism, as former Democratic US President John F. said Giggle, taking a cue from Kennedy and his “peace speech.” In 1963, it put an end to the Cold War.
Conversely, Nehhammer did not respond to a question about whether agreeing to Russia sanctions was a condition for a coalition with the Freedom Party. He spoke of his own mediation efforts and indicated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was reacting to any signs of weakness. The sanctions were based on the Central European lesson of World War II: there should never again be war in Europe and there should never again be attempts to move borders by military means.
Analysis of ORF TV duels with political scientist Steiner-Hammerl
Political scientist Kathryn Steiner-Hammerle (FH Carinthia) analyzes on ZIB2 after the last TV duels on ORF between Andreas Popler (SPÖ) and Pete Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) and then Karl Nehhammer (ÖVP) and Herbert Kiegl (FPÖ).
The last topic in the televised fight was asylum and migration. Here both of them repeated their familiar positions. FPÖ demands are typical: they seem plausible at first, but lead to nothing because they cannot be implemented. Kickl, on the other hand, called the EU migration deal a “bad package”, saying that Austria needs a fortress and other national solutions – then at some point the pressure on the EU will become too strong and there will be a “fortress Europe”, said Kickl.
