Preface
If you were born before that shocking European bad hair band, 'Europe' ruined your ears forever by releasing the 'Final Countdown', then by definition you're a pensioner, well at least according to the Republik Österreich (Republic of Austria). Malaysia will obviously argue this point, as their Prime Minister comes in at the ripe old age of 94.
As I expressed in my piece on 10/25/2017 it’s not a good day when a Millennial with philistine views, Sebastian Kurz becomes the youngest democratically elected leader of a country. You see Kurz was re-elected as Austrian Chancellor on 9/29/2019 after caller for snap elections due to a corruption scandal. Now, you’d think a nation that gave birth to that homicidal maniac with a mustache would never accept anyone wanting to lurch to the right and inflame jingoism, but the wunderkind strikes again, so at the ripe old age of 33 he can continue leading the nationalistic Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and dismantle the democratic gains of what is supposedly a landlocked paradise.
There is one saving grace, Kurz might have been a pragmatist all along, seeing at the time in 2017 that Europe was amidst a far right frenzy he joined in on the fad. Maybe now that he sees Europe having some sort of rebellion against illiberal populism (France, Italy and Spain have had a mini resurgence of liberalism of late, the same can’t be said for Eastern Europe where the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland are being led by zealots) he might actually look towards forming a coalition with centrists/greens due to the fact that his junior coalition partner the party further to his right, Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) only attracted 16% of the vote, a far cry from its 26% in 2017.
Austria is the 96th most populated country on earth, however it definitely punches above its weight with a GDP that comes ranks it 14th globally, in layman terms, it's the 14th richest country. I see Austria as a barometer for the First world, it is what we should strive for regarding economic and social mobility, but also one that serves as a caution that just because you have wealth and home to pristine cities doesn't mean you can’t suffer from a virus that is more common among nation not so advanced. Maybe this election will be a turning point, two years is a lifetime in politics, Kurz might just see that simply winning an election by fueling nationalism is not befitting of a modern nation, the public wants a youthful leader but not one that has a majority, instead one that builds a coalition with liberal ideals at the forefront.
I usually announce a boycott of brands from a nation when they go all 1936, however, I will give
Austria the benefit of the doubt for now. By all means keep supporting Austrian brands by drinking Red Bull and buying Swarovski crystal, the landlocked land of Sound of Music is still open to liberal ideals, just…
If you were born before that shocking European bad hair band, 'Europe' ruined your ears forever by releasing the 'Final Countdown', then by definition you're a pensioner, well at least according to the Republik Österreich (Republic of Austria). Malaysia will obviously argue this point, as their Prime Minister comes in at the ripe old age of 94.
There is one saving grace, Kurz might have been a pragmatist all along, seeing at the time in 2017 that Europe was amidst a far right frenzy he joined in on the fad. Maybe now that he sees Europe having some sort of rebellion against illiberal populism (France, Italy and Spain have had a mini resurgence of liberalism of late, the same can’t be said for Eastern Europe where the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland are being led by zealots) he might actually look towards forming a coalition with centrists/greens due to the fact that his junior coalition partner the party further to his right, Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) only attracted 16% of the vote, a far cry from its 26% in 2017.
Austria is the 96th most populated country on earth, however it definitely punches above its weight with a GDP that comes ranks it 14th globally, in layman terms, it's the 14th richest country. I see Austria as a barometer for the First world, it is what we should strive for regarding economic and social mobility, but also one that serves as a caution that just because you have wealth and home to pristine cities doesn't mean you can’t suffer from a virus that is more common among nation not so advanced. Maybe this election will be a turning point, two years is a lifetime in politics, Kurz might just see that simply winning an election by fueling nationalism is not befitting of a modern nation, the public wants a youthful leader but not one that has a majority, instead one that builds a coalition with liberal ideals at the forefront.
I usually announce a boycott of brands from a nation when they go all 1936, however, I will give
Austria the benefit of the doubt for now. By all means keep supporting Austrian brands by drinking Red Bull and buying Swarovski crystal, the landlocked land of Sound of Music is still open to liberal ideals, just…
