Near Salzburg: Chancellor Nehammer threatens Gazprom with taking over the storage facility
You will be elected ÖVP leader at the party conference on Saturday. ARE YOU GIVING THE MOST IMPORTANT SPEECH OF YOUR LIFE?
KARL NEHAMMER: I got my attention with superlatives. The joint speech that I have given as Chancellor so far was the one in Mauthausen in the presence of Israel’s Foreign Minister Lapid, where the assassination of his grandfather was discussed.
How do you want to create a spirit of optimism? How exactly do you want to set it up?
The range of topics is wide. Of course, an important part of my speech will be addressed to the party, its officials and members. The People’s Party is going through a difficult phase. It’s also about regaining the trust that has been lost to some extent. The other part is about the issues that concern everyone in our big country: crisis, war, pandemic, energy costs, inflation. In my political agenda, I always start from the arc of human life, from birth to old age. Just today we announced a substantial nursing care reform, which we will now implement.
Where exactly do you want to start?
It would be disrespectful to the officials who elect me if I say so publicly now.
Confused with the idea of siphoning off profits from publicly traded energy companies?
I don’t see the confusion. Who have I confused?
The group’s share price has collapsed.
I see the debate a bit differently. We are experiencing one of the most violent crises in the Second Republic. At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing and energy companies are making high profits, there is no ban on thinking. These are real problems for people who can no longer afford electricity. We are faced with the challenge that there is no group in Austria that is not queuing up at the finance minister to receive compensation and aid.
You don’t move away from the idea?
I don’t see why I should move away. I’m not sticking to a specific model, but have instructed the Minister of Finance to draw up proposals. The issue concerns all European governments. If it is forbidden to think about the most diverse models in a democracy, we will soon have no room for maneuver at all.
Nobody forbids you. But your push has made quite a splash.
When I’m afraid of something making waves, there’s no longer a discussion process. There has never been a crisis like this, as traditional pigeonholed approaches no longer work.
They say there should be no bans on thinking. Does this also apply to wealth taxes?
Tax increases are not the best way to deal with crises.
And a reduction in VAT on groceries?
There shouldn’t be a ban on thinking there either, the Vice Chancellor brought that up. The question is, who am I helping with this? Am I helping the low-income? Who guarantees that it will be delivered to the consumer? I’m a friend of concrete support for those who need it.
Since Corona, Austria has been unable to stop spending money. Do you also see savings potential somewhere?
We cannot completely prevent inflation, we can only mitigate its consequences. The price increase is noticeable and visible. We must also face people with the truth clearly. Inflation also means loss of value. We fight against these consequences.
The finance minister has proposed that cold progression be abolished in 2023. Do you agree?
That’s a common idea. We still have a difficult situation ahead of us, the autumn pay round. It must end well for employees and employers alike, because no one benefits when deals are made that endanger jobs. We have to make sure that people have more money at their disposal, but at the same time the spiral of inflation is not pushed further up. It’s a complex interaction.
Finland and Sweden join NATO, while in Austria reference to neutrality nips the debate in the bud. Why did you declare the debate closed?
I declared it over for me. I can’t ban anyone from discussing, where are we? Security policy is neutrality policy. If you deal with our accession to the EU, you will see how much neutrality has changed. We support all sanctions, show solidarity within the EU, offer our role as mediators, but we do not belong to any defense alliance. Sweden and Finland share a border with Russia.
They say neutrality benefits us. But does it also protect us?
When it comes to an aggressor, the neutral has a duty to protect himself. We’re doing that by massively increasing the army’s budget. Our advantage is that we live in a European security architecture that also has a desired component.
The fact that the Finns are joining NATO is an indication that an EU army is not a random idea?
Austria would also speak out against a European army because the EU’s structures are not designed in such a way that the deployment of an army is conceivable.
What have you done so far to reduce dependence on Russian gas?
There is a multi-stage plan with the energy minister, and the chancellor is not doing it alone. We’re looking at where we can buy quantities of gas elsewhere. Storage is currently filling up constantly. First of all, we will establish a state strategic reserve. Then we are also owners of gas. We have to take precautions so that all companies fill up the storage tanks. We are also clear and determined on the storage facility taken over from Gazprom in Haidach. If this WILL NOT be filled, we will consider measures to ensure that it needs to be filled.
Do you want to nationalize the Gazprom storage facility, like in Germany?
No, there is another way to access the storage. That means “use it or lose it”. If you use it everything is ok, if you don’t use it other companies can access it. Haidach is strategically important for Germany, but also for the western federal states of Austria.
How long do YOU give Gazprom to fill the store?
We are now creating the legal framework. Gazprom is already feeling the pressure. We’re going about this with determination. If it is not filled, other energy companies should use it.
In Vorarlberg there was turbulence because of the advertisements at the Economic Association. Can you rule out the possibility that a time bomb is ticking in a federal state in another federal state?
The focus on the ÖVP is wrong. All parties, including the SPÖ, face a major challenge. It is imperative that the ÖVP sets a good example on the issue of transparency, on party financing, and also on media transparency.
How externally determined were you during the last personnel shift?
The only other-determined thing I experienced was the time factor. When I became party chairman, it was clear to me that I wanted to change this mini lake area structure. The resignation of the two ministers was the opportunity for staff, but also changes in responsibilities
Is the logic of federations and states experiencing a renaissance?
Norbert Totschnig, the new Minister of Agriculture, is deeply involved in the matter as Director of the Farmers’ Union. He’s a top man. He is from East Tyrol, but has lived in Vienna for a long time? Will he be taken over by the Viennese? How does the attribution work? Will I stay forever where I was born? This is an absurd discussion. If someone comes from a sub-organization, that counts as ÖVP logic. The fact that Global 2000 provides the climate protection minister is not an issue. I don’t care if someone comes from a federal government or an NGO. Qualifying is what counts for me, nothing else.
Will the party recover before the next state election?
This is a speculative question, but I will do everything for it.
Do you believe in it?
Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken on the task.