Van der Bellen in Salzburg: “Life cannot go on as before”
In view of the war, Alexander Van der Bellen warned that society should always remember the “causes and connections, the causality” that led to the war. “Let’s never forget them. Because that is exactly what Putin wants: that we no longer see what is being fought and died for in Ukraine. Namely about what we believe in. Um our values! To live our art. For our peace. And about our freedom to live a happy life.”
Don’t fool yourself, says Van der Bellen, dhe war in Ukraine, the conflict “between despotism and freedom will not be over in a few weeks or months. It has only just begun.”
“Were we too greedy?”
Van der Bellen rhetorically holds up a mirror to the festival audience with questions, so to speak, in passages such as: “We didn’t see what Putin’s intention was when he generously supplied half of Europe with cheap gas. When he distributed lucrative supervisory board mandates in half of Europe. That he brought Europe into a dependency. We didn’t see it. Or did we not want to see it? Maybe because it was convenient? Because we believed too much in an economic win-win situation? Because maybe we were too greedy?”
The Federal President encourages thinking in scenarios. In the “most convenient case, Van der Bellen thinks better of it”. The gas would continue to flow, but, Van der Bellen asks: “Do we really want to continue a massive one?” Living dependent on a dictator’s good humor?”
“Pay with Freedom”
Another scenario, according to Van der Bellen in his speech, would be “that Europe gives in and the sanctions are lifted”. The oligarchs’ accounts would thaw again, leaving Ukraine to its fate. The price for that would be high. “I am convinced of that. In this scenario, we would pay with our sovereignty, with our security and above all: with our freedom.” Because Russia’s president is “not waging war against sanctions. He is waging an imperialist war:”
In Russia, one person, namely Putin, determines “how the many have to live. And the many have to obey.”
“The Realistic Scenario”
Alexander Van der Bellen considers it likely and realistic that the war and suffering will continue. “Could get even worse”. That Putin will continue to throttle or stop gas supplies. “He will not hesitate for a second to do so if he deems it opportune. We have to prepare for that. Now.”
It is his responsibility as head of state to point this out. And to state clearly: “It lie challenging years for us, our community and for our democratic institutions before us.”
“Heading towards a problem of de-solidarization”
The consequences of the war did not go unnoticed by society. Rather, they would put society to the test. “Austria is heading for a massive energy problem. We are heading towards a massive inflation problem. If we don’t act now, we’re heading towards a massive loss of solidarity.”
You can’t hand these thoughts over to the festival dressing room, you have to face them. Reflect on “European strengths. Let’s not talk Europe down,” says Van der Bellen, and he is convinced: “Together we are invincible”.
“Despot practice: divide and rule”
In order to take action against the division of society, may Europe, society, remember the values, the common ability. The EU is one of the three largest economies, born from the lessons of two world wars. Those who, in whatever form, are involved with the “interests of Putin ssympathize or actually or supposedly collaborate with him, endanger our cohesion doubly. We must not allow ourselves to be divided! Because that is an ancient despotic practice: divide and rule”.
“Fundamental rethinking” in the crisis
The head of state assumes that the future will “look different than most had hoped for”. What’s more, a “fundamental rethinking” is needed. Austria should make itself more independent in terms of energy supply, it must not allow itself to suffer lasting economic damage. In Austria, no one will be left alone, regardless of whether it is someone who has been expelled from Ukraine or someone who can no longer afford the heating in Austria.
Whether it’s war, crisis or inflation, Van der Bellen warns “to reduce excess where possible. Everyone and everyone as best they can.”
Towards the end of his speech, the Federal President suggested saving wherever possible. Austria and Europe could do that. “In this situation we are a community of destiny. We have to be ready to accept, that our lives in these times can’t just go on as before, if we are what we are what matters to us what generations before us have stood for don’t want to lose.”
Finally, he addresses everyone – from the government, the opposition, the social partners to the chambers, churches, companies and factories – to show “how we are when it matters”. Like Europe, Austria should believe in itself.