»Now something has happened again«, so begin the well-known novels by the writer Wolf Haas, in which the main character investigates criminal cases in Austria.
In addition to the tension, the pun and the bizarre storylines, a Haas story ends with the plot dissolving into knowledge.
The situation is similar with Austrian domestic politics: it is exciting and thoroughly amusing and often bizarre: noisy campaigns are constantly running, scandals are revealed, hardly a month goes by in which factual issues dominate the political agenda.
On many days of the year, the following sentence applies: "Now something has happened again."
In the past five years Austria had five chancellors and one female chancellor
Austria has now developed a unique selling point among the German-speaking countries.
In Bern and Berlin, despite all their own problems, one is always amazed at how much chaos is possible in Vienna.
The constant Austrian spectacle may be entertaining for outsiders, but it actually has an impact on political stability.
In the past five years alone, a chancellor and once a chancellor moved into the offices in the Palais on Ballhausplatz - as a result of political maneuvers, investigations and the Ibiza affair.
Sebastian Kurz came and, as is well known, went in and out of the Chancellery twice.
Despite or because of the domestic political unrest, the conservative was able to become the most powerful man in his country.
In the excitement-used political climate he seemed to be constantly present in the media, briefly here, briefly there.
And that in Austria, which is already exhilarated.
Kurz was successful for a long time.
At the end of August, his people's party, the ÖVP, re-elected him as chairman with 99.44 percent, but little looked like an end to the "era" of Kurz.
About three months later everything is different: The resignation as Chancellor due to corruption allegations in October was followed last Thursday by a complete farewell to politics.
Kurz sealed the end of his »era« with a 20-minute statement
In a press conference held at short notice, he took less than 20 minutes to take stock of his political career and was - a novelty - even a little self-critical.
Then, looking at his son, who was only a few days old, explained that a new phase of life was beginning for him as a father.
And then the two-time former Chancellor, who was just 35 years old, disappeared.
After that it happened in quick succession.
Alexander Schallenberg declared his chancellorship ended after less than two months.
In a SPIEGEL interview, he has only just given an assurance that he will remain in office until 2024.
Finance Minister Gernot Blümel, Kurz confidante suspected of corruption, also announced his departure.
So something had happened again.
On that day, many people feared that, after Kurz had left, the government coalition made up of the ÖVP and the Greens would collapse.
Above all, the new Chancellor signals: I am different from Kurz
But the opposite was the case: 24 hours after the short departure, the previous Minister of the Interior, Karl Nehammer, presented himself as the new ÖVP boss and a squad of new people.
He has been Austria's new Federal Chancellor since Monday lunchtime and communicates internally and externally that he is different from Kurz.
Nehammer explained, for example, that he wants to give "series interviews" and thus demonstrates an important difference to his predecessor, which is primarily about expanding and securing power.
The Federal President also expressed an expectation in these turbulent days.
Even before Nehammer was sworn in, Alexander Van der Bellen was unaccustomed to the chancellor's party ÖVP, with an unusually direct ruff of "not just looking at spheres of power and influence."
In any case, the smaller coalition partner is optimistic that the climate will be better after Kurz's departure.
Nehammer has "handshake quality", it is said from green government circles.
In the event of a conflict, he is not resentful, instead he negotiates in a solution-oriented manner.
They all agree: the top priority is dealing with the pandemic.
Perhaps a phase is actually beginning now in which staging and tactics move into the background in favor of political objectification.
It would do Austria good.
Social media moment of the week
The new Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was previously mayor of the Texing community, which sponsors a local museum: It is the birthplace of Engelbert Dollfuss, the founder of the Austro-Fascist dictatorship. It established itself at the same time as the Nazis came to power in Germany. The admiration for the Christian social rulers (1892-1934) extends to the present - and in the conservative Chancellor party ÖVP, the predecessor organization of Dollfuss' Christian Socials. A painting by Dollfuss even hung in the rooms of the ÖVP parliamentary club until a few years ago. The Viennese cabaret duo Gebrüder Moped impale this bizarre glorification and the now alleged critical confrontation with the Alpen-Mussolini with a photo montage on Twitter. There is a plaque under a Dollfuss painting that says:“He wasn't just a good guy. For example, in 1905 he had a threesome in the certificate in Turnen at the prince-archbishop's college for boys in Oberhollabrunn. In other words: The ÖVP's criticism of Dollfuss is soft as wax.
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Austria's new Chancellor Nehammer: The man with the flex
At his first press conference as Chancellor, Karl Nehammer decided to end the general lockdown.
In addition to retail, the catering and hotel industries are also expected to reopen for the immunized next Monday.
However, it is still unclear under what conditions the easing should take place.
Chancellor Nehammer has decided to end the general lockdown
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Sebastian Kurz brought Markus Gstöttner into the Chancellery, who in future will manage the government headquarters under Karl Nehammer - and is still a member of the Viennese state parliament.
Portrait of a young conservative who has brought hard work and idealism to the center of power.
Markus Gstöttner: With idealism and diligence in the center of power
The new Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, has been mayor of the Texing community, which sponsors a local museum: It is the birthplace of Engelbert Dollfuss, the founder of the Austro-Fascist dictatorship.
A visit.
Looked up in the Dollfuss Museum: Renewers of Austria
Reinhold Mitterlehner was ousted as ÖVP boss by Sebastian Kurz.
For the first time after the corruption allegations against his successor, the former Vice Chancellor broke his silence - and settled with Kurz.
Ex-ÖVP boss Mitterlehner: "Kurz stumbled upon himself"
Money as a lubricant between politics and journalism is common in Austria.
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz only professionalized the "tabloid democracy" and pushed it to the extreme.
That cost him the office.
Affaires: "Feeding the Beast"
In spring he was confident that the corona pandemic was approaching its end, says the internationally renowned Styrian vaccine expert.
Vaccine skepticism and the Delta variant would have prevented that.
An interview.
Florian Krammer: "Nobody expected so many mutations"
Kind regards and stay healthy!
Oliver Das Gupta
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