Austria's Chancellor Launches Nationwide 'Listening Campaign' This Summer
Austria’s Vice Chancellor and Chancellor, Christian Stocker, will embark on a nationwide tour this summer. Named Austria in Conversation, the series of events aims to connect directly with citizens across all federal states. Stocker insists that real concerns are best heard face-to-face, not in government offices or meeting rooms. The tour kicks off on 16 July 2026 in Tulln, Lower Austria, with further stops planned until late August. Each event will host up to 200 participants, chosen by pollster Peter Hajek, who will question Stocker on key issues. The discussions will be guided by Christa Kummer, the former ORF weather presenter and experienced moderator.
Stocker has repeatedly stressed the importance of engaging with people outside formal settings. He argued that *‘you can only truly shape a country when you’re out among the people’*—a principle driving the tour’s open-format approach. By visiting every federal state, the Chancellor hopes to gather unfiltered opinions and address local priorities firsthand.
The Austria in Conversation tour will run through the summer, offering citizens a direct line to their Chancellor. With structured discussions and a broad regional reach, the initiative seeks to turn public input into actionable policy. The first event in Tulln marks the start of what Stocker calls a ‘listening campaign’ across Austria.
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