Josef Höchtl, former member of the National Council and now President of the Austrian Society for International Understanding, has been a connoisseur of the US political scene for many years. But what shocked the whole world last week was also a unique experience for him. During a video conference, which was also attended by Republican and Democratic US MPs, he was, so to speak, live when the Capitol was stormed – by phone.
The video conference appointment was planned a long time ago. Politicians from 15 countries – including Germany, Great Britain and Saudi Arabia – had agreed to meet. Among them also Höchtl. The Klosterneuburg politician was virtually there live when the Capitol, the parliament building of the Senate and the House of Representatives, was stormed by supporters of the incumbent US President.
US politicians are dismayed
“As a result of this coincidence, you can imagine, I was able to receive interesting information – live – immediately,” reports Höchtl. For many years he has been friends with US politicians from both parties, some of whom also took part in this video conference. The US politicians informed their colleagues around the world about the dramatic events in the power center of the USA, so to speak via live ticker. For the politicians of both US factions, the storm of the Capitol was an attack on “their country and their freedoms.”
For Höchtl, who has been active on the political stage for many years, this evening was also something special. “In any case, it was very exciting – I was happy that I have maintained these close contacts with both US parties since 1981, because it is nice to receive direct information ‘at first hand'”, concludes Höchtl.
– .
