Mikl-Leitner on ORF:

“No coalition with Kickl, everything else open”

State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) does not see her state coalition as a role model for the federal government.

(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

Apparently, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, governor of Lower Austria, does not see her cooperation with the FPÖ at state level as a model for the federal government. On Sunday, the ÖVP politician stated that there would be no cooperation with Herbert Kickl. "That is what is fixed. Everything else is open," said Mikl-Leitner.

After all, there are "very different governing coalitions in the nine federal states, which means very different conditions. The situation at federal level is of course completely different". As far as the rejection of Kickl was concerned, she relied on the expertise of Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer: according to him, he was a security risk, as had been seen in his dealings with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT), had a different understanding of democracy and had also "shown that he can't do it" as Minister of the Interior.

Karl Nehammer and Werner Kogler are still in coalition. But the cards will be reshuffled at the next National Council elections.

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

"No matter how the elections turn out, Nehammer stays"
Mikl-Leitner was confident about her party for both the EU and National Council elections: "I think the chances of a good result are intact." She praised Nehammer as a statesman, saying he was the right Federal Chancellor and party leader. This also applies after a poor performance by the People's Party in the EU elections. "No matter how the elections turn out: Karl Nehammer will remain Federal Party Chairman." For the National Council elections, Mikl-Leitner expected the election campaign to begin after the summer - "as it looks now." 

Payment card: "Those seeking protection are not looking for cash"
Mikl-Leitner defended the payment card for asylum seekers currently being promoted by the ÖVP against criticism. NGOs had described it as "stigmatizing" and stressed that those affected would receive such small amounts that remittances to their countries of origin would not be an issue anyway. According to Mikl-Leitner, the payment card should make the system of basic services even more efficient, and if cash transfers are not an issue anyway, a switch to benefits in kind should not be a problem either. "People looking for protection are looking for security, but certainly not for cash."