Language, Key Terms, Analogies
Patience was required from the audience to identify Kogler’s key messages in this summer interview. They only became clear in the final 20 minutes: other parties (whether previous governments or opposition parties) are the ones slowing things down, while the Greens are the only party committed to environmental and climate protection. Kogler repeatedly stated, “Nobody does this except us” or “Only we are tackling these issues.”
Unsurprisingly, Kogler blended standard German with his authentic Styrian dialect. His speech was filled with filler words and conditional phrases, which weakened his already somewhat unclear positions. One of his favored rhetorical devices was posing questions to himself, such as “Why is that?”
Facial Expressions, Gestures, Posture
Despite his political experience, Kogler appeared surprisingly nervous and uncertain at the start of the interview. He frequently looked downward, and his hand movements changed rapidly. At times, he folded his hands in a prayer-like position, only to move them to his chin and back again. His posture was consistently upright, but leaning slightly too far forward, causing his jacket to sit awkwardly on his shoulders.
Known for his humor, Kogler remained serious throughout the discussion. However, he couldn’t help but smirk occasionally at some of his light jabs.
Explicitly Mentioned Target Groups
Kogler addressed broad groups, including citizens, taxpayers, and voters. He also referenced more specific demographics, such as Swifties and the younger generation.
Responses to Critical Questions
Kogler stumbled on the opening question about healthcare. When asked when he last tried to get an appointment with a public health insurance doctor, he spontaneously replied, “Ages ago.” Seemingly caught off guard by his own response, he launched into an unstructured monologue, criticizing past governments while praising Health Minister Rauch.
His response to why Austria did not nominate both a man and a woman for the EU Commission, as requested by the Commission President, was clumsy. He argued that it didn’t make sense since many other countries also failed to comply with the request.
How Often Did the Word “Austria” Appear?
We counted 11 mentions of the word “Austria.”
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