They won't make it easy for me.

One thing's for sure: They won't make it easy for me. Neither my "party friends", nor the media, nor their allies and helpers.

Based on my experience, I know that there are three strategies for suppressing unwanted highly gifted people who do not come from privileged backgrounds, but from the ordinary population, and who no longer want to be mere "servants", but rather aspire to an office that would enable them to shape politics (which they feel called to do because of their talent): Denials, playing down, silence.

First, one tries to deny that the person in question is really highly gifted. "You are just a normal person," is the typical expression.

If, however, the gifted person has already achieved something that suggests that he or she can actually do more than most people, and if this is generally known, one tries to play down his or her talent. "Okay, you're gifted, but you're not sooooo outstanding either."

But as soon as it's established that the person in question is indeed an exceptional talent, the ultimate strategy begins: silence. You try not to mention the name of the person. You pretend that this person does not exist.

It turned out to be a brilliant move that I applied not only for the candidacy for another list place at NEOS, but also for the top candidacy. Because, as it has now turned out, I am actually the only one of more than thirty candidates who is courageous enough to compete against the candidate supported by the party leadership.

As a consequence, my party's press department was forced to mention my name in its official press release on the 2019 EU election primaries. Admittedly not without the additional remark that I was a "lesser known party member". But at least.

That's a great success.

See:

https://orf.at/stories/3106590/

https://diepresse.com/home/innenpolitik/5555697/35-Bewerber-fuer-die-EUWahl-bei-den-Neos

https://derstandard.at/2000095447168/35-Bewerber-fuer-die-EU-Wahl-bei-den-NEOS

I know self-praise stinks, but Well Done. I'm sure my friends will agree with me.

In the discussion in the forum on theStandard.at so far voices predominate, which are critical of the candidate supported by the party leadership. Obviously, it is not so clear that I will not succeed.

I hope for your support. The on-line voting begins on 18 January and ends on 24 January.