Hofer Before Burgenland Election: "I Assume That We Will Govern"
He considers anything else to be "very unlikely". In any case, he wants to stay in Burgenland.
Hofer Does Not Want to Commit to a Percentage Goal for the Burgenland Election
Hofer could imagine a coalition with both the SPÖ and the ÖVP. He has had good and bad experiences with both in his political career. Nothing has been agreed with either. He considers the red warnings of a blue-turquoise coalition to be a tactic to stabilize the core voters in case of losses. "I don't have to do that because I am currently growing very strongly," Hofer said.
Despite his confidence in victory, the former FPÖ federal party leader does not want to commit to goals in the form of percentages or votes. It should be a big plus - which is quite expected considering the 9.8 percent in the 2020 election. He also does not want to define offices such as that of the governor as a personal goal. At the end of the day, the voters would decide. "The goal can only be to do good politics wherever you are placed," Hofer said.
"I Would Be Very Reluctant to Leave, Even in Ten Years"
He does not want to seek a return to the federal level, even if he had to take a seat in the opposition. A candidacy for the federal presidential election in 2028 is also off the table for him, as it would not fit in with the five-year legislative period in Burgenland. For the future, Hofer does not rule out another attempt for the highest office in the state, but he has found a place in Burgenland where he feels comfortable. "I would be very reluctant to leave, even in ten years," he emphasized. There is less animosity here because people know each other privately. Hofer also does not want to be provoked during the election campaign: "I am too old a hand in politics for that."
Collaboration is easier at the state level than at other levels, according to Hofer. He stated that he has a good dialogue with Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ). At the same time, he criticised that the state is "divided". The SPÖ Burgenland is in conflict with the rest of the SPÖ and the state with Vienna. "I believe I have a better dialogue with Governor Ludwig (Michael, SPÖ, note) than many party friends here in Burgenland," said the top Freedom Party candidate. He also has good contacts with the Hungarian neighbours and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hofer's Concerns
If he is indeed in the government after the election, Hofer wants to revise the budget and adapt it to the new government programme. The financial situation of the state worries him, "because one knows exactly, certain things cannot be financed in the long run". Unlike Doskozil, he is against the state founding companies in various areas and competing with private companies. "I advocate a system where as much state as necessary is in use, and he wants as much state as possible," said the Pinkafelder.
In terms of health and care, Hofer wants to counteract the shortage of staff by emphasising these areas more in schools. It is important to convey to young people that "these things are part of life and should not be excluded from reality". At the same time, he wants to promote location policy and attract more companies to Burgenland. This could score points with security. "When someone goes out on the street in the evening, they can be bitten by mosquitoes, but they are not usually hit on the head," said Hofer, who also wants to include the core Freedom Party issue of asylum in the election campaign. He would particularly like to send young Syrians back after the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad. "Now they are needed in their homeland."
The fact that the SPÖ is at 47 percent and the FPÖ at 25 percent, a clear distance behind, according to a "BVZ" survey, does not make Hofer thoughtful. On the one hand, there is still time until the election and on the other hand, predictions have become so difficult that surveys often do not reflect what comes out in the end. He does not let this take away his optimism: "This is my attitude towards life and I can only recommend it. Life is better this way."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.