Austria’s Ruling Conservatives Face Crisis After Chancellor’s Resignation
The leadership of Austria’s ruling conservatives, the People’s Party (OVP), held a crisis meeting today to pick a successor to Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who announced his resignation yesterday as attempts to form a coalition government without the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) fell apart.
Crisis Meeting Yields Interim Leader
More than two hours after the meeting began, several Austrian media reported that OVP secretary-general Christian Stocker, 64, would take over as party leader in an interim capacity. There was no immediate comment from the party.
Few Options Left for President
The surprise collapse of three and then two-party talks aimed at cobbling together a centrist coalition that could serve as a bulwark against the far-right FPO leaves President Alexander Van der Bellen with few options. A snap election with support for the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO still growing or an about-face in which Van der Bellen tasks FPO leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government are now the most likely options, with only limited scope for alternatives or playing for time.
Growing Support for FPO
The FPO won September’s parliamentary election with around 29% of the vote, and opinion polls suggest its support has only grown since then, extending its lead over the OVP and Social Democrats to more than 10 percentage points while their support has shrunk. The OVP and FPO overlap on various issues, particularly taking a tough line on immigration, to the point that the FPO has accused the OVP of stealing its ideas.
National Dynamic Shifts
The national dynamic is now different because if they were to form an alliance the OVP would for the first time be junior partner to the FPO, making the position of OVP leader difficult and undesirable to many. After initial media reports that household names like former party leader Sebastian Kurz, who led the last coalition with the FPO and has since been convicted of perjury, could become OVP leader, Austrian media reported overnight that they were no longer in the running. That left lesser-known figures such as new chamber of commerce secretary-general Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, 45.
FPO Hammers Home Its Message
Meanwhile, the FPO hammered home its message. "Austria needs a Chancellor Kickl now," it said on X.
Conclusion
The crisis meeting has yielded an interim leader, but the situation remains precarious. The FPO’s growing support and the OVP’s need to adapt to the changing national dynamic will likely lead to a coalition government or a snap election. The future of Austria’s politics hangs in the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current situation in Austria’s politics?
A: The ruling conservatives, the OVP, are facing a crisis after Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s resignation. The party is struggling to form a coalition government without the far-right FPO.
Q: What are the options left for President Alexander Van der Bellen?
A: A snap election with support for the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly FPO still growing or an about-face in which Van der Bellen tasks FPO leader Herbert Kickl with forming a government are the most likely options.
Q: What is the current standing of the FPO in Austrian politics?
A: The FPO won September’s parliamentary election with around 29% of the vote, and opinion polls suggest its support has only grown since then, extending its lead over the OVP and Social Democrats to more than 10 percentage points.