Will he be EU Commissioner?

Now fixed: Othmar Karas will not run in the fall

Othmar Karas in the ORF "Pressestunde"

(Bild: orf.on (Screenshot))

There has been much speculation in recent months about the political future of EU veteran Othmar Karas (ÖVP). As is well known, he did not run with his own list in the EU elections, and since Sunday it has also been clear that he will not stand in the National Council elections in the fall.

The 66-year-old said this on ORF's "Pressestunde" program. However, he would "be available" as the new EU Commissioner. He left open the answer to the question of whether he would run in the next presidential election. "Do you know what will happen in four years' time?" Karas asked the counter-question. "I don't know."

Did not stand in the last EU election
Karas had repeatedly and openly opposed the ÖVP party line and had recently not been nominated for the EU elections. There had been rumors about the ÖVP politician's own political project for some time. On "Pressestunde", he now explained that he had indeed thought about running in the National Council elections with his own list. He only does things "that make sense" and that "have a chance of shaping the future".

The result of the consultations was that "at the moment, there is not enough scope for shaping this". "That is why I and my team will not be standing in the National Council elections," Karas said. Running would have led to a further fragmentation of the party landscape and made it even more difficult to form a government, Karas said.

Interest in the post of EU Commissioner
Karas, on the other hand, was very interested in the post of EU Commissioner. He was recently proposed by the NEOS and also received support from Greens and SPÖ politicians. Karas emphasized that he was pleased to be nominated in recognition of his work. However, the appointment requires a government resolution and a majority in the main committee. "If this proposal were to be made, then I would be available," emphasized Karas. What is done with his statement is not in his hands.

Repeatedly straying from the ÖVP line
Karas is not really in good standing with the ÖVP leadership, as he has repeatedly strayed from the party line in the past, sometimes publicly criticizing the federal party's course. For example, Karas criticized the role of the People's Party in Europe or its position on asylum and migration. He also criticized various "sham debates" such as the one initiated by ÖVP leader and Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer to enshrine the right to cash in the constitution.

Karas entered the EU Parliament for the People's Party in 1999. He headed the ÖVP delegation from 2006 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2019. In January 2022, the native of Lower Austria was elected First Vice-President of the European Parliament. He previously held this office from 2012 to 2014 and from 2019 to 2022.