Christof Bitschi:

“Bought a truck to practise negotiating”

Vorarlberg's FPÖ leader Christof Bitschi goes into the next rounds of negotiations with a broad chest.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

The FPÖ's provincial party leader is in a good mood after the great election result and the prospects of a seat in the government. In order to be prepared for the coalition talks with the governor, he recently bought a truck and practiced negotiating, he told the "Krone" newspaper. 

The 33-year-old, who is managing director of the family business Martin Bitschi Transporte GmbH, emphasizes that he really had bought a suitable vehicle. And yes, he is quite satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations.

Well prepared, the shrewd FPÖ leader will hold in-depth talks with those close to Markus Wallner on Thursday. The Freedom Party leader will then be assisted by former FPÖ party chairman Daniel Allgäuer, regional managing director Dominik Hagen and Joachim Weixlbaumer. 

Markus Wallner does not want a situation like that in Vienna after the election and is stepping on the gas to form a government.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie/Krone KREATIV)

"The in-depth talks are a further step towards coalition negotiations," he commented very matter-of-factly on the governor's decision. In possible coalition negotiations, which would then start on Monday, Christof Bitschi wants to focus on the familiar themes of family, security and affordable living from the election campaign. 

Who will be provincial governor?
The exciting questions - how many and which departments the FPÖ will get - will probably only be discussed at the end. It is unlikely that Bitschi will allow himself to be fobbed off with fewer members of government, as party leader Hubert Gorbach once did, in exchange for the position of provincial governor.

For one thing, the Freedom Party member has already announced that he cares little for offices and titles. On the other hand, it would probably not be in the ÖVP's interests for Bitschi to run the government if the worst comes to the worst. As a reminder: in summer 2022, Wallner would have gone on sick leave for several weeks due to a burnout, leaving state governor Schöbi-Fink in charge.