Support Association Founded for Niessl's 2028 Austrian Presidential Bid

A new association is being established to support Hans Niessl, a former regional governor of Burgenland, in his potential bid for the Austrian presidency in 2028. The group, tentatively named "Gemeinsam für Österreich - Hans Niessl" (Together for Austria - Hans Niessl), will facilitate the necessary formalities for his candidacy.

The primary objective of the association is to collect the 6,000 support declarations required for Niessl to officially enter the presidential race. Additionally, it will serve as a platform for fundraising to support his campaign efforts. Niessl also intends to create an election and citizen platform to foster dialogue across all societal strata and political parties.

Niessl expressed concern over the current political climate, stating that people are talking past each other rather than engaging in constructive conversation. He believes in the importance of speaking with all parties and views the current policy of exclusion towards the FPÖ as inadvertently strengthening the party.

Key themes for Niessl's potential presidency include alleviating the burden on the middle class and upholding Austria's neutrality. He emphasized that while the president does not directly participate in parliamentary decisions, having a clear stance and speaking out is crucial.

Initial supporters of the association include former SPÖ State Secretary Peter Wittmann and entrepreneur Andreas Binder. Both are involved in a company with Niessl. The organizers plan to announce more prominent supporters in the coming weeks. Niessl had previously indicated his interest in running for president in February, aiming to build a cross-party platform.