"We have the image of a quarrelling bunch in Europe," says Christian Kern in our exclusive interview.
Christian Kern was Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and Chairman of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ). Before entering politics for three years in 2016, he worked in business for more than 20 years and held several board and C-level positions in the energy and railway industries in Austria, Turkey, Italy and France.
Today, Christian Kern is Managing Director of ELL Austria GmbH. He is President of the European China Business Council established by the China Europe Association for Technology and Economic Cooperation (CEATEC) and Vice President of the European Forum Alpbach.
The former Austrian Chancellor analyses for us the current political situation in Austria, the challenges facing Europe and the geopolitical upheavals resulting from the rise of populist movements and the influence of international players such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The situation in Austria
Christian Kern paints a worrying picture of the political situation in Austria. According to Kern, the right-wing populists have ‘reached the centre of society as far as their voters are concerned’. This illustrates a development that can be observed not only in Austria, but in many European countries. The social discourse has shifted and parties that were once considered marginalised are increasingly being perceived as a legitimate political force.
**Europe's future
Kern describes the situation in Europe as fragile. The European Union is facing profound challenges, ranging from economic problems to internal political conflicts. ‘We have the image of a quarrelling bunch in Europe,’ says Kern. The need for a strong political centre is greater than ever, but Europe's engine is stuttering.
Political developments in the USA
Another topic that came up in conversation with Christian Kern was the political development in the USA under Donald Trump and the increasing influence of tech billionaires such as Elon Musk. Kern warns against underestimating the geopolitical influence of such players, but considers Europe to be resilient in the face of this.
Conclusion: Europe's way forward
The interview with Christian Kern clearly shows that Europe is facing decisive decisions. A strong and united EU is essential to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
