Federal Chancellor Stocker launches citizen tour through all federal states

Structurally, the tour is designed for a total of nine stops, one in each federal state. Each stop provides for up to 200 places at which citizens can ask the Chancellor questions or present concerns. Registration requires the submission of age, number of children, place of residence, and political orientation to the Federal Chancellery. Pollster Peter Hajek selects a cross-section of the population from the registrations.

FPÖ criticism of selection process and costs

The FPÖ has sharply criticized the selection process. The Freedom Party suspects that the pre-selection by the pollster is intended to ensure that only persons well-disposed toward the ÖVP and Stocker gain access. In addition, the FPÖ accuses the Chancellor of having the tour financed with taxpayers' money. Stocker rejected the accusations and emphasized that he is conducting the tour in his capacity as head of government, not as ÖVP chairman. "Wenn uns das nichts mehr wert ist, ist uns auch die Demokratie nicht viel wert."

When asked why the coalition partners SPÖ and NEOS are not participating in the tour, Stocker explained that this had originally been considered, but scheduling had failed. He did not rule out participation by SPÖ chief Andreas Babler and NEOS frontwoman Beate Meinl-Reisinger in a continuation next year.

SPÖ and NEOS: their own paths to citizen outreach

Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler is pursuing a different approach in the meantime. The SPÖ government representatives do not appear as a unified bloc, but mingle individually or in pairs among the population. Planned stops include the Donauinselfest in Vienna, the summer festival in Korneuburg, and the Poolbar Festival in Feldkirch. The motto of the SPÖ summer tour 2025 is "Orden statt spalten"; according to a presentation in June, it leads "vom Bodensee bis zum Neusiedlersee".

Babler himself formulated his aspiration in an unusual turn of phrase: "Ich bin ein Vizekanzler, den man angreifen kann." In doing so, he underscored his willingness to face citizens' criticism directly. Meetings with officials, party members, and supporters are planned "im Wirtshaus oder im Vereinslokal," with listening taking priority over speaking.

Greens celebrate 40 years with home visits

The NEOS federal party is not planning its own summer tour this year. Instead, the state organizations are running their own actions, supported on a case-by-case basis by officials from Vienna. At the end of July, NEOS club chairman Yannick Shetty appeared at the Popfest on Karlsplatz and at the after-work event on the Donaukanal. In August, he will reinforce the Carinthian NEOS at the Villacher Kirtag.

The Greens, meanwhile, are relying on a birthday campaign titled "Auf deinen 40er mit Leonore." The party is celebrating its 40th parliamentary anniversary, and people who turn 40 in the same year as the Greens can apply. A lottery will decide whom party leader Leonore Gewessler visits at home with snacks and drinks. The campaign will take Gewessler through the federal states. Her credo: "Die besten Ideen entstehen oft dort, wo Menschen zusammenkommen und offen miteinander reden."

FPÖ rally at Stephansplatz

Parallel to the government tours, the FPÖ mobilized for a so-called Volksfest at Stephansplatz in Vienna. After the Hofburg event in June, at which the FPÖ solemnly celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding, FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl invited supporters to Stephansplatz, where he railed against the government. Musically, the event was accompanied by the John Otti Band and Schlager star Roberto Blanco. According to the organizers, several thousand listeners attended.

Organizationally, the tour is described by Stocker's team as an informational mandate of the government. The moderation of the stops was originally to be taken over by former ORF presenter Christa Kummer, who however fell ill. In Tulln, Vera Russwurm stepped in as a star guest instead, and Arabella Kiesbauer is also scheduled as a moderator for further stops.

Stocker emphasized the unprotected character of the event series. He is conducting the tour "ohne Netz und mit hohem Risiko," he said. He had not selected either the questions or the participants himself, in order to ensure a representative cross-section. They had tried to keep costs deliberately low, he assured.

Political background: government without a polling majority

The current mood is also the backdrop to the summer tour. The Austrian federal government currently no longer commands a majority in opinion polls. Against this background, the governing parties' attempt to seek direct contact with the population appears to be a deliberate strategy. Whether the tour achieves the desired effect will become clear in the coming weeks.

Overall, the picture emerges of a political summer in which all parties represented in the National Council are trying in different ways to show a presence among the population. While Stocker relies on personal encounters in small settings, Babler takes the SPÖ to the festival grounds, Gewessler into private settings, and Kickl onto the big stage. The coming weeks until the end of August will show which form of citizen outreach generates the greatest response.