Austrian Elections & Politics 3.0 - Parliamentary Election: Oct. 15

[TheSaint250]

Meanwhile, I have finally decided that I will vote for Kern (and only reluctantly for the SPÖ) in this election. While I had some problems with their policy on immigration in the past, I still agree with their other (social) policies a lot more than what other parties have to offer. Kurz is a good guy, but like with the SPÖ, I don't like the party behind him (which has been in power for the past 35 years). I guess a vote for the SPÖ in this election will be a lost vote, because I think Kern and the SPÖ will lose the election and will go into opposition. But I will not become an ÖVP-FPÖ enabler. NEOS, another option I considered, is too neo-liberal on the issues for my taste. Besides, last year a good family friend of my mom (and me) died of cancer at the age of 75. She was a solid SPÖ-voter and I will dedicate my vote to her.

I am happy to hear that you made up your mind!

Very sorry to hear about your mom's friend.

[Tender Branson]

The SPÖ election campaign remains a disaster ...

It looked as if they got rid of the bad publicity surrounding the Tal Silberstein scandal a month ago, but now it is back:

The SPÖ's general secretary stepped down today, after it emerged he and Silberstein planned and launched dirty campaigning websites against Kurz, called "The truth about Sebastian Kurz" - in which they also posted fabricated and racist material.



The SPÖ general secretary first denied his or the party's involvement regarding these Facebook pages, but today evidence significantly increased in a "Profil" magazine article, which now forced his resignation.

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/wahl/nach-causa-tal-silberstein-spoe-bundesgeschaeftsfuehrer-georg-niedermuehlbichler-tritt-zurueck/289.218.914

---

Damn. Should I really vote for them ??!!??

[Lord Halifax]

Damn. Should I really vote for them ??!!??

No, you are better off with PILZ

[Tender Branson]

After all the scandals with the SPÖ and their inept campaign, it feels like voting for Hillary Clinton.



I might as well re-consider and vote for Kurz ... we'll see.

[Tender Branson]

Damn. Should I really vote for them ??!!??

No, you are better off with PILZ

Meh. I always get the feeling "It's a trap !" when considering voting for Pilz. Pilz still is very much a Green at heart and has candidates that are very pro-immigrant. I always fear that Pilz will re-unite with the Greens after the election and I have grown weary of the Greens over the past years.

Hmm, it seems I have to do some significant, careful thinking in the next weeks regarding my eventual vote choice ...

[Tender Branson]

This is what happens when you (= SPÖ) decide not to spend any money for ads in one of the biggest (and nastiest) tabloids in the country:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ö24 has also referred to Kern as a "whiny princess" lately ...

[mgop]

Tender tell me odds for post election coalition: OVP-FPO, OVP-SPO and (my favorite) FPO-SPO?

[Tender Branson]

Tender tell me odds for post election coalition: OVP-FPO, OVP-SPO and (my favorite) FPO-SPO?

ÖVP-FPÖ is like 90% certain.

Norbert Hofer, in an interview today, already eyed the cabinet post of Foreign Minister for himself.

Usually, the Foreign Minister is the most popular cabinet member and therefore Hofer could position himself for a re-match with Van der Bellen in 2022 (Hofer said he will challenge VdB again).

[mgop]

Thanks. What will Strache get in new cabinet?

[Tender Branson]

Thanks. What will Strache get in new cabinet?

Strache would become Vice-Chancellor and possibly either Interior Minister (responsible for the police and deportations) or Defense Minister.

[Tender Branson]

Picture of the weekend:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

---

The SPÖ and Kern (like Hillary) had all the chances to convince voters and lead a powerful campaign ... but they blew it.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

What are the major manifesto planks of the parties?

[Tender Branson]

What are the major manifesto planks of the parties?

http://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/nationalratswahl/5282083/Wahlprogramme-der-Parteien_Was-SPOe-OeVP-FPOe-Gruene-und-Neos-fordern

http://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/innenpolitik/5290054/Wahlprogramme-im-Vergleich-Teil-1_Von-Kindergarten-bis-Hoersaal

http://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/innenpolitik/5291087/Die-Wahlprogramme-im-Vergleich-Teil-2_Von-Mindestsicherung-bis

http://www.kleinezeitung.at/politik/innenpolitik/5291257/Die-Wahlprogramme-im-Vergleich-Teil-3_Orientierung-im-Dickicht-der

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/wahl/wahlprogramme

[Tender Branson]

Tonight at 8:15pm, the 2nd of the 3 major "elephant" debates with all frontrunners (incl. Pilz) will take place at ATV. It will be a 2 to 2.5 hour long debate, with audience.

This comes right after the resignation of the SPÖ's general secretary and campaign chief yesterday and Kern will be significantly under pressure.

Also today: the Burgenland municipal elections. Obviously a local thing (SPÖ and ÖVP dominate there), but we could see some SPÖ/scandal fallout there. Polls close at 5pm.

[Tender Branson]

Chancellor Kern to hold a press conference right now - on a Sunday !

About the Silberstein scandal and dirty campaigning resignation of the SPÖ general secretary !

But apparently, Kern will not announce his resignation. Maybe an apology to voters.

http://tvthek.orf.at/live/ZIB-Spezial-Bundeskanzler-Kern-zur-Causa-Silberstein/13932793

[Tender Branson]

Chancellor Kern to hold a press conference right now - on a Sunday !

About the Silberstein scandal and dirty campaigning resignation of the SPÖ general secretary !

But apparently, Kern will not announce his resignation. Maybe an apology to voters.

http://tvthek.orf.at/live/ZIB-Spezial-Bundeskanzler-Kern-zur-Causa-Silberstein/13932793

I think Kern can only apologize to voters right now and deliver an Obama-style "Rev. Wright" speech to save his election chances.

But somehow I still have a feeling that he could step down any moment ...

[Tender Branson]

Kern is not stepping down, but said the SPÖ will create a task force to investigate their Kurz-attack sites, Silberstein-scandal and party leaks.

Kern also attacks the tabloid Ö24 for launching a character assassination attempt against himself and his wife (Ö24 reported that Kern's wife has a 1% stake in an Israeli company that has ties to a corrupt Israeli-Georgian billionaire).

[Tender Branson]

Interesting: In his press statement, Kern did not apologize to voters in general or SPÖ-voters/volunteers in particular about the recent scandals.

I think that was a mistake on his part, with only 2 weeks to go (on the other hand, voters don't like apologizing leaders, so, who knows ?).

[Tender Branson]

Maria Maltschnig (32), from Zell am See, will likely become the new SPÖ general secretary.



She's the daughter of our former SPÖ-mayor here (1998-2008) and currently Kern's chief of staff and the leader of the Karl-Renner-Institute, a Social Democratic think tank.

[Tender Branson]

First results from the Burgenland municipal elections today:

44/171 cities counted.

SPÖ gains 1.3% relative to 2012 in the mayoral elections, ÖVP loses 2.5%, FPÖ gains 1.8%.

SPÖ loses 1.2% relative to 2012 in the city council elections, ÖVP gains 1.3%, FPÖ gains 1.8%.

Overall turnout: 87%

[Tender Branson]

First results from the Burgenland municipal elections today:

44/171 cities counted.

SPÖ gains 1.3% relative to 2012 in the mayoral elections, ÖVP loses 2.5%, FPÖ gains 1.8%.

SPÖ loses 1.2% relative to 2012 in the city council elections, ÖVP gains 1.3%, FPÖ gains 1.8%.

Overall turnout: 87%

With some 130/171 cities counted, the SPÖ performs surprisingly well.

They lost only 1% compared with 2012 in the city council vote and are virtually even in the mayoral vote count.

The ÖVP on the other hand loses 1% and 2% respectively ...

[Tender Branson]

Tonight at 8:15pm, the 2nd of the 3 major "elephant" debates with all frontrunners (incl. Pilz) will take place at ATV. It will be a 2 to 2.5 hour long debate, with audience.

This comes right after the resignation of the SPÖ's general secretary and campaign chief yesterday and Kern will be significantly under pressure.

Also today: the Burgenland municipal elections. Obviously a local thing (SPÖ and ÖVP dominate there), but we could see some SPÖ/scandal fallout there. Polls close at 5pm.

Debate has started ... should be fun.

[Tender Branson]

Strache and Kurz brutally attack Kern ...

[Tender Branson]

Kern had a good response against Kurz/Strache, accusing both of them of character assassination and being backstabbing.

Now Lunacek from the Greens attacks Kern ... and Kurz.

[Tender Branson]

Wow. Peter Pilz as the adult in the room !