"Krone" summer interview
Hofer on Strache: “Chapter closed for me”
Summer is coming to an end and with it this year's krone.tv "Summer Talks". Norbert Hofer concludes the program in the Cavallo Lounge in Vienna. The FPÖ leader, who only took over the helm of the party last year after the Ibiza affair and the departure of Heinz-Christian Strache, explains in a talk with Katia Wagner why the Strache chapter is closed for him, how the FPÖ would have dealt with the health crisis, why he does not want to apologize for his Koran-corona comparison and how high his expectations are for the Vienna elections.
In the last summer interview, Hofer's goal was to do so well in the national elections that "black-green is not an option". However, the new leader of the crisis-ridden Freedom Party did not succeed. Instead, he has returned to the good old opposition role with the party and, with three important offices (Third President of the National Council, Federal Party Chairman and Provincial Party Chairman in Burgenland), he also has a lot to do himself.
"Would have taken measures faster"
In view of the current chaos surrounding the Croatian returnees, Hofer once again criticized the government's "excessive" corona measures. Although he is not a denier of the virus and would have acted in the same way as Kurz, Anschober and co. in March and April, he would have "acted faster" in both the shutdown and the easing of restrictions. In any case, an FPÖ in government would not force people to wear a mask everywhere, as Hofer explains: "There would be hygiene options everywhere, compulsory masks only in health facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies and a general health offensive such as daily sports lessons at school."
"Must be allowed to criticize a religion"
The party leader recently caused a stir at an FPÖ event in Vienna-Favoriten. During his speech at Viktor-Adler-Markt, Hofer claimed that "corona is less dangerous than the Koran", earning him fierce criticism from representatives of the Islamic faith communities. "I only said what worries me more. We have many IS returnees in the country who are extremely dangerous," said Hofer, not wishing to apologize for his statements. "I and my family also received death threats afterwards just because I criticized a religion - that must be allowed."
The Koran is misunderstood by many and that is the real danger.
Norbert Hofer über seinen "Koran"-Sager
"Doesn't want Strache's votes at all"
With his statements, Hofer, who is otherwise described by many supporters as "too nice", continues in exactly the same tone as his predecessor and ex-leader. However, Strache's candidacy in the upcoming elections in Vienna does not seem to annoy or worry him, the Strache chapter is closed for him: "He will not be represented in the next state parliament. He won't take any votes away from us either, because when I see how the candidates on his list appear and argue, I don't want those kinds of votes."
In the video above, you can find out how he stands in the next presidential election, what chances he gives his party colleague Dominik Nepp in Vienna and who should lead the FPÖ in the future. Afterwards, Katia Wagner analyzed the interview together with pollster Christoph Haselmayer.
You can watch the other krone.tv"Summer Talks" here:
Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler at the Wailand winery: "There has never been so much climate protection!"
SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner at BirdYard: "Masks have fallen without a concept"
NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger at BirdYard: "You don't feel much from the Greens"
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at the ÖVP Political Academy: "Corona at a worrying level"
This article has been automatically translated,
read the original article here.
Kommentare
Da dieser Artikel älter als 18 Monate ist, ist zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt kein Kommentieren mehr möglich.
Wir laden Sie ein, bei einer aktuelleren themenrelevanten Story mitzudiskutieren: Themenübersicht.
Bei Fragen können Sie sich gern an das Community-Team per Mail an forum@krone.at wenden.