The Austrian Chancellor wants to hold onto his office so far.
(Photo: Reuters)
Vienna Despite the government crisis in Austria, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) still sees no reason to resign. He and his party were “able to act and, above all, willing to act,” said Kurz on Friday evening. He wants to do everything possible to ensure political stability. To this end, he will remain in close dialogue with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.
The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) is investigating Kurz on suspicion of breach of trust, bribery and corruption. The Chancellor rejects the allegations and wants to maintain the alliance with the Greens. However, the junior partner doubts the Chancellor’s ability to act. The ÖVP, on the other hand, holds its party chairman in line and only wants to remain at the top in a government with Kurz.
The opposition unanimously calls for Kurz to resign. Otherwise, a motion of no confidence against the Chancellor will be introduced at the special session of parliament on Tuesday.
According to the opinion of the opposition SPÖ, Kurz should not rely on his party’s previous expressions of solidarity. A party like the conservative ÖVP, which has been in power for decades, is ready to sacrifice shortly before the vote of no confidence planned for Tuesday in parliament, said SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner on Friday evening on the ORF news program “ZiB2” . “From my point of view, that is the most likely scenario”. Kurz’s departure is a prerequisite for the continuation of the current coalition of ÖVP and Greens.
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Together with the opposition, the Greens want to look for alternatives to the conservative-green government. Green leader and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler had therefore invited the heads of the other parliamentary parties – the Social Democrats (SPÖ), the right-wing populist FPÖ and the liberal Neos – to individual talks. “We will now explore what options there are,” he said. Meetings with SPÖ boss Pamela Rendi-Wagner and Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger took place on Friday.
Van der Bellen urges order
In view of the acute government crisis, Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has warned the parties to think about Austria’s wellbeing. “Party interests have to be put on the back burner, Austria can now afford no selfishness,” said the head of state on Friday evening in a speech to the population.
He will not give any advice publicly, but will ensure that there is always a stable government. “There are serious allegations in the room,” said Van der Bellen about the investigation against Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). At the moment it is not yet known whether these will lead to charges.
Until a court ruled, the presumption of innocence applies to all those affected. “What we see clearly, however, is a moral image that is not good for democracy.” He has different expectations of the behavior of political leaders.
What the next few days would bring cannot be said with certainty today, said Van der Bellen. This is the subject of deliberations and discussions between the parties. The head of state addressed words of reassurance to the population: It will certainly not happen that politics will lose its balance, that “our unshakable Federal Constitution will take care of”. What is happening right now is a government crisis and not a state crisis.
More: The state as a self-service shop: is Austria’s Chancellor Kurz at the end?