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From politics to cinema: Austria’s ex-chancellor returns to limelight

Austria's former chancellor Sebastian Kurz - who is to stand trial for allegedly giving false testimony - recently grabbed the limelight again, with several movies about him released all at once.

Published: 16 October 2023 09:33 CEST
A huge poster in Vienna advertising a film called
A huge poster in Vienna advertising a film called "Kurz - The Film" about the former Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz. Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP

The release of the films – including two fawning biopics – has reignited the debate about his potential return to politics, after he resigned as chancellor in 2021 amid wide-ranging corruption allegations.

Kurz, 37, has repeatedly denied such rumours while jetting around the world as an international strategy consultant, posting photos with Israeli leader
Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on social media.

“He is like a Hollywood-esque operetta character, with a powerful myth surrounding him,” political analyst Thomas Hofer told AFP.

‘Influencing the narrative’

The long-awaited critical documentary “Projekt Ballhausplatz” premiered in mid-September, illustrating the meteoric rise and fall of Kurz.

The title refers to Kurz’s plans to take power, culminating in him becoming chancellor in 2017 at the age of 31.

The flattering biopic “Kurz – The Movie” was also released around the same time, with movie posters showing the former-leader in a dark suit illuminated by golden light.

The producers were quick to rebuff several accusations surrounding the film, saying that tickets were bought in bulk as a “precautionary measure” due to planned PR events rather than to skew the film’s success.

READ ALSO: Austrian ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz to go on trial for false testimony

Interviewees also claimed they had been tricked into participating in the film under false pretences.

A third film called “Kurz – The Truth” by controversial director Jakov Sedlar followed, with a saintly depiction of the ex-chancellor.

While Kurz declined an interview request from the director of the critical “Ballhausplatz” documentary, blasting the film as not “objective”, he gave interviews for the two favourable films.

Kurz has a habit of “only making himself available for books or films which are in his favour, to influence the narrative,” analyst Hofer said.

The films have certainly led to ample local media coverage, including speculations of a Kurz comeback.

“In three to five years, after being cleared of all legal accusations, he could very well plan his return,” Hofer said.

Analyst Peter Filzmaier told AFP that Kurz “succeeded in presenting himself as different from established – usually significantly older – politicians and parties”.

“There is hardly any lasting legacy of his politics, because he barely had a vision of how to shape Austrian society. He was more concerned with power,” Filzmaier said.

By Kiyoko METZLER

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POLITICS

‘Glass half full’: Who is Austria’s Beer Party candidate for chancellor?

Austria's controversial but increasingly popular Beer Party announced it would run in the upcoming National Council elections, with party leader and former rock star Dominik Wlazny seeking the chancellery.

Published: 30 April 2024 16:38 CEST
'Glass half full': Who is Austria's Beer Party candidate for chancellor?

With his distinctive long dark hair and rebellious torn jeans, punk rock singer Dominik Wlazny of Austria’s Beer Party has emerged as an intriguing candidate for the country’s next chancellor, just as he did when he ran for president—and surprisingly did better than expected.

Yet, Wlazny announced this Tuesday that the Beer Party will definitely be running in the national elections and seeks to reach a self-imposed funding target of  €1.2 million. “Our glass is more than half full, and there is massive support,” he said at a short press conference.

Wlazny, who joked that his announcement would probably cause “gasps” at the other parties’ headquarters, did not answer any questions after his statement but announced another press conference next week with more details. 

READ ALSO: How do Austrians elect their chancellor?

In almost all of the most recently published polls, the Beer Party would overcome the four percent hurdle, meaning Wlazny may not be the country’s next chancellor. Still, the protest party might grab seats in Austria’s National Council. The left-of-centre movement is likely to attract protest voters in particular and could be an unpleasant opponent for the SPÖ, Greens and KPÖ.

Wlazny’s previous electoral performance provides some insight into the Beer Party’s potential in the upcoming elections. In the 2022 presidential elections, the medical graduate, long known primarily as band leader Marco Pogo, came third with 8.3 percent of the vote and even came second in Vienna.

Who’s behind the beer party?

The Beer Party, a satirical political movement, was founded in 2015 by Austrian comedian, doctor, brewer, and musician Dominik Wlazny, known by his stage name Marco Pogo. The party was a response to perceived corruption and a lack of transparency in Austrian politic, aiming to bring a fresh and unconventional approach to governance.

Wlazny studied medicine in Vienna and worked as a general doctor in a hospital before quitting in 2014 to focus on music.

Wlazny said that he was inspired by one of the songs played by the punk band he was a part of, which included the lyrics: ‘If you like to be fat and drink a lot every day, then vote for us now, the Beer Party, and we’ll abolish the alcohol tax.”

More serious proposals have slowly replaced the controversial party policies. When he ran for president, Wlazny said he would vet candidates proposed as ministers, making them go through a hiring process like in a company, to seek to avoid political chaos due to unfit leaders.

Currently, the president usually doesn’t reject the government’s choices.

“I often have the feeling that it’s harder to get an apprenticeship in Austria than a ministerial post,” Wlazny said at the time.

Wlazny also said that, as president, he would want to push for establishing a so-called “Future Ministry” to check the impact of policy decisions on security, the environment, health, and other sectors.

He said measures should have been taken decades ago to avoid the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, which hurts it now amid the ripple effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Why is support for Austria’s far-right FPÖ rising?

But what are the party’s program points?

There have been none so far. The Beer Party hasn’t made its National Council election promises public and hasn’t announced a party list, at least not yet.

Austrian political commentator Thomas Hofer told the newspaper Kurier that the strategy is clever: “As long as he doesn’t have a detailed program, Wlazny remains less vulnerable in terms of content—even if this is, of course, problematic in terms of democratic politics.” 

There is also very little information on the party’s website. One page, called “menu,” holds some of the party’s general and superficial proposals, such as “active fight against child and family poverty,” “transparent and comprehensible rental price regulation,” “educational equality for all,” “expansion of the public transport network,” and more.

The party also claims women should have the “right to make decisions about their own body” and that small and medium enterprises are the “backbone of the economy” and a focus for the politicians. 

Additionally, they advocate for “appropriate doctor/patient care ratio”, “environmentally friendly, sustainable energy policy for a climate-neutral Austria”, and “promotion of research and development”, among others. 

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