What would Austria have been spared if Burgenland, formerly German-West Hungary or Felsöörvidék, had not joined the state territory governed from Vienna in 1921.
For example, someone like Gerald Fleischmann would have been missing on the current political stage.
The communications expert, who grew up in Wimpassing an der Leitha in Burgenland, has been advising the governing party ÖVP for years.
Feared by journalists, but highly respected by ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Fleischmann was and is considered an expert in "message control", i.e. for public relations work that is tightly structured primarily via WhatsApp.
Until Kurz's fall, he was one of the most powerful men in the wings.
In the meantime, Fleischmann – like many others from the environment of the ex-chancellor – is being investigated by the business and corruption prosecutor on suspicion of bribery and breach of trust.
It is the presumption of innocence.
So far, so well known.
What is new is that Fleischmann is now reappearing in a prominent position despite ongoing investigations – as head of communications in the ÖVP, which is now led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
»Beggar have no choice«
Does Fleischmann have to go back into the limelight because he has more knowledge than others about the past but legally unresolved era of Kurz?
Or has Nehammer simply not found anyone else who could put an end to the ongoing cacophony in the Chancellor's Party?
Probably the latter.
"Beggars don't choose," scoffs someone from within the party, looking at the thin ÖVP personnel cover: beggars have no choice.
In the end, it seemed as if everyone in the Christian Conservative camp could do or not, but above all say what was on their mind.
The interior minister, for example, openly spoke out in favor of a veto against Croatia's entry into the Schengen zone;
he then had to be called back publicly by his party colleague and head of government Nehammer.
Nehammer himself thought it appropriate to appear alongside the Serb Alexander Vucic and the Hungarian Viktor Orbán in Belgrade – in association with Europe's most vocal critics of migration.
The campaigning ÖVP politicians in Lower Austria even decided to give themselves a new name after the decline of their party due to suspected corruption and mismanagement: they are now running for office, almost unrecognizable, under the name »VPNÖ«.
The right-wing populist FPÖ is the main beneficiary of the People's Party's weakness.
Concern about the hoped-for election victory
In polls, it is neck and neck with the social democratic SPÖ.
Their boss Pamela Rendi-Wagner also has a problem with someone who has roots in Burgenland: her party "friend" Hans Peter Doskozil, governor of the small kingdom on Hungary's western border, which is governed from Eisenstadt, constantly lashes out at the chairwoman.
The former state police director is doing his best to ensure that the SPÖ cannot convert the "imposed penalty", as it is called in Vienna - so that it is endangering the election victory that is looming in 2024 thanks to the crisis in the Chancellor's party.
Doskozil does not say publicly that he wants to become Austria's next head of government.
His voice, which was weak after five larynx operations, was temporarily banned from speaking by a doctor – but it was still strong enough to cause discord in the left-wing camp.
Austria's Social Democrats would certainly have five percent more votes if he, Doskozil, ran for chancellorship instead of Rendi-Wagner - that was the result of a recent survey commissioned and paid for by the Burgenland SPÖ.
As a hybrid between quasi-communist social policy and a strict right-wing law-and-order approach, the rowdy Doskozil sees himself as predestined for higher ordinations – without his party and its leader putting him in his place resolutely enough.
There is no shortage of role models for unusual Burgenland careers.
"It's a real privilege that someone who looks like me can become a minister," said Fred Sinowatz, who is not known for being a beau but for his sense of humor, a good half century ago.
In 1983 he became Chancellor.
Stories we recommend:
What Austria's Chancellor lost alongside a Hungarian autocrat:
Viktor Orbán wears a scarf with a map of Greater Hungary in the stadium.
He has been dealing with nationalist symbolism for a long time – a particular affront since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The situation in Austria - one year after Sebastian Kurz's resignation:
The corruption investigations by the public prosecutor's office in Vienna have revealed a problematic political culture in Austria.
Can the country make a fresh start?
How the SPÖ troublemaker Hans-Peter Doskozil works:
Burgenland's head of state is a master of internal cross-shots, he is considered a political talent and obsessed.
A psychogram.
Kind regards
Walter Mayr (Correspondent for Austria and Southeast Europe, DER SPIEGEL)
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