European elections: Disappointing electoral debate on Austrian TV

Half a million viewers watched a debate by Austrian top candidates in the European elections on television on Tuesday night. The daily Die Presse writes that the discussions were the strongest argument for not casting your ballot: "The absurd thing was that - with the exception of the Green politician Ulrike Lunacek - apparently everyone agreed on practically everything in an emotional gush of unanimity. They were against Turkey, against the asylum directive, for more police officers and against transit traffic. Nevertheless no one bothered to develop their position, and everyone just contradicted each other. Hardly anyone had special knowledge of European politics, all they knew about was what other people had done wrong. Do we want to vote for these politicians, this caustic, frustrated troupe? ... We, the half million viewers, can perhaps find consolation in the fact that what is at stake far exceeds these televised debates. What's at stake is the future of a parliament in which 731 more MEPs will be sitting - some of whom have the calibre required for the job."

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Austria, » Europe
All available articles from » Wolfgang Böhm

» To the complete press review of Thursday, June 4, 2009