Former political star Sebastian Kurz (36) is back. A year after his resignation as Austrian chancellor, he published a book looking back on his meteoric rise to international leadership and meetings with presidents such as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. SonntagsBlick met him in Vienna for an interview.
Mr Kurz, you resigned as chancellor a year ago. Have you ever regretted this decision?
Sebastian Kurz: As much as I enjoyed working in politics and serving my country and Europe, I now enjoy doing something different in the private sector and broadening my horizons. I look back fondly, but feel very comfortable in my new role.
A lot has happened since you retired. Did you ever believe that Putin was capable of this aggression against Ukraine?
I’ve always seen him as someone who not only knows what he wants, but is also very cool and willing to push boundaries and red lines. At the beginning of the year, I expected military action, but the magnitude surprised and frightened me.
Do you have any sympathy for Putin’s anger at the West?
I think a lot has gone wrong in recent years. But nothing justifies a war of aggression with such bloodshed and unbelievable suffering.
Should the West have been tougher on Putin sooner?
Perhaps that could have prevented the war, but perhaps it had broken out earlier. You do not know. You just need to be aware that Russia is a nuclear power and it is therefore imperative to return to the talks at the negotiating table. Everything else is extremely dangerous and can have disastrous consequences. I am very concerned that Putin will stop at nothing.
In recent years, Austria has always had remarkably good relations with Moscow. Were you not critical enough? Too pro-Russian?
We are a small, neutral country and have always tried to be a place for dialogue and to find a basis for discussion with all countries in the world. I’ve always thought that was right. Partly due to the decoupling of China, the world is increasingly divided in two. Losing an export market as a result will have a huge impact on our level of prosperity and jobs. That shouldn’t be our goal.
Just three months after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Austrian SPÖ president Heinz Fischer received Vladimir Putin with military honors in Vienna. Other EU countries reacted with horror. Her foreign minister Karin Kneissl invited Putin to her wedding in 2018 and even bowed to him…
It is true that Austria has always tried through all political camps to have a good basis for talks with Moscow.
Austria also pushed for the commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline…
One of the reasons for the success of the German and Austrian industry is that we have always had cheap and stable energy costs in international comparison, despite high wages. We have all benefited economically from it.
After their departure, former chancellors Christian Kern and Wolfgang Schüssel sat on the boards of directors of Russian companies. Do you also do business with Russian companies?
My professional activities take place in Europe, the US and the Middle East. There is no connection to Russia.
Sebastian Kurz (36) was a political high flyer. He became Austrian Foreign Minister at the age of 27 and Chancellor at the age of 31, making him the youngest head of government in the world. He resigned on 9 October 2021 and retired from politics altogether after corruption allegations – which are fake polls funded by taxpayers’ money and bribery of the media through advertisements.
He became self-employed at SK Management GmbH, advises companies and works for American tech investor Peter Thiel (55) in the US. With his investment company, he recently joined the healthcare platform Heldyn, which aims to bring people in need of care together with nurses and therapists with just a few clicks.
Kurz has been in a relationship with Susanne Thier (36) since her teenage years, they are the parents of Konstantin (11 months). A quick glance: “The wedding is planned!” He declined to say when that will happen. (female friend)
Switzerland only hesitantly accepted the sanctions against Russia. Do you think it is right that Switzerland, as a neutral country, supports the sanctions?
I don’t want to give Switzerland tips from outside. Switzerland is an incredibly successful model, where as Chancellor I always liked to watch to learn and copy some good idea.
In which areas did you copy?
Switzerland has achieved incredible economic power and an impressive level of prosperity. I am also fascinated by access to the direct-democratic decision-making structure and the calm and objective approach.
Today you are an investor and advisor. Are you earning more than when you were chancellor, when your annual salary was $300,000?
Yes, but I have hardly changed my standard of living. What I earn is immediately reinvested.
You founded the startup Dream Security, which takes action against cybercrime. How important is this business going to be?
My experience is that cyber attacks are becoming more and more of a problem for large companies and also countries.
Your business partner will be Shalev Hulio. With his cyber company NSO, he developed the controversial software Pegasus, which used to spy on human rights activists. Is this engagement not sensitive to you?
It is true that my Israeli partner has been involved in cybercrime in the past. But he gained good experience there that we can now use for cybersecurity solutions against attacks on critical infrastructure. We have already attracted US and Israeli investors and raised $20 million.
In your book you look back on your special career. What would you do differently today?
There are many areas where I wonder if I would have acted differently with today’s knowledge. This includes the dissolution of the coalition with the FPÖ after the release of the Ibiza video. We had a well-functioning intergovernmental cooperation. Today, in the pandemic, I would also reduce government measures more quickly and assume personal responsibility.
What is your favorite memory?
It was wonderful to win elections twice in a social-democratic country and to steer politics in a different direction, even across Europe in the case of migration.
So far, you’ve ruled out a political comeback. stick to it
Just as I enjoyed being a politician, I am now happy in my new role. I see myself there in the future too.
Her son Konstantin will soon be one year old. How often do you see him?
Always, of course, when I’m in Vienna. I miss him a lot when I’m alone. We often do a video link, which of course is never the same as being able to hold him in my arms.
What was his first word?
He babbles a lot. If it’s something recognizable, it’s usually “mama.”
How did you share the upbringing with your partner?
My girlfriend is on maternity leave and therefore bears the main responsibility. But I try to do my part, changing diapers is of course part of that.
Should Konstantin ever become a politician?
I am always grateful to my parents for raising me lovingly, generously, with great certainty and for making me feel like I could do what made me happy. If I can only do half with Konstantin, I’ll be happy.
The book “Sebastian Kurz – Let’s talk about politics” was written by Conny Bischofberger, a journalist at the newspaper “Krone”. It is published by the publishing house «Edition a» in Vienna.