Kickl Criticizes ‘Compromise’ as Political Dealmaking

At some point in a decade or two, last Saturday may be looked back on as a turning point in Austrian politics. Herbert Kickl gave his speech at the FPÖ’s New Year’s meeting. And he announced how he intended to conduct politics in the future: without compromises.

Has this blocked his path to chancellorship? Not at all. He has declared his radicalism non-negotiable.

Kickl spoke for 70 minutes in Klagenfurt. A huge stage was set up in exhibition hall 1, which looks like an aircraft hangar, with a gigantic video screen behind it. It’s the well-known jokes that Kickl played there. He talked about the system parties and that Austria I finally need a people’s chancellor – that is, him. He talked about his car, which was of course a turbodiesel, and railed against “climate communism” and the Russian sanctions. And the government, this “loser traffic light,” is saving money everywhere, but not “with the asylum seekers.” A tough speech – but everything is quite to be expected.