ÖVP after Kurz' departure at the poll abyss - "traffic light" suddenly also conceivable in Austria

Created: 07/03/2022, 20:16

By: Andreas Schmid

Austria's ÖVP Chancellor Karl Nehammer and SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner.

In polls, the SPÖ clearly overtakes the former Kurz party.

© Dragan Tatic/picture alliance

The ÖVP loses approval in Austria.

In a poll, ex-Chancellor Kurz's party is falling.

Currently even a new coalition seems possible.

Vienna - Bavaria's former Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) summarized the political situation in Austria a year ago as follows: "You become speechless.

The Greens also rule in Austria.

The Greens!” Together with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Greens currently form the government.

According to current surveys, the eco-party could also be part of the government in the future - albeit with other coalition partners.

Austria survey: SPÖ clearly ahead - traffic lights possible

Because according to a recent survey by the opinion research institute Insa, there is a new strongest force in political Vienna: the social democratic SPÖ with 29 percent.

It is followed by the current chancellor party ÖVP with 22 percent and the right-wing FPÖ (20 percent).

The Neos (11) and the Greens (10), which are comparable to the FDP, have half as many percentage points.

According to current surveys, for the formation of a government after the next election in 2024, this may mean, at least in the colors of the German party equivalents: traffic light coalition.

That has never happened in Austria before.

The three-party alliance of SPÖ, Neos and Greens has a government majority.

The SPÖ would probably also achieve this with a grand coalition with the ÖVP, which is considered an unlikely scenario.

Just like a new edition of the ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.

Austria survey: 69 percent dissatisfied with the government

In the summer 2022 snapshot, the SPÖ is the clear favorite of those surveyed.

Other surveys see the Reds at over 30 percent.

The reason for the good performance of the Austrian Social Democrats, who have by no means been accustomed to success recently, is dissatisfaction with the turquoise-green government, in addition to their work in the opposition.

69 percent of respondents are “less satisfied” (32) or “not at all satisfied” (37).

For comparison: In Germany, dissatisfaction with the government was 49 percent in April.

The fact that the ÖVP falls back so much could also be due to the chaos in the party.

In the last National Council election in 2019, the conservatives were the clear winners with 37.5 percent.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz seemed to emerge stronger from the Ibiza affair about coalition partner FPÖ, but after several missteps including allegations of corruption that burdened the ÖVP as a whole, he was eliminated himself.

Alexander Schallenberg took over and after just two months made room for the new ÖVP boss Karl Nehammer.

If the chancellor could be elected directly, Prime Minister Nehammer, who was quite offensive in the Ukraine war, would still be just a step ahead with 32 percent.

SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner would get 29 percent, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl 20 percent, Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger 10 percent and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) 9 percent.

However, all of this can still change massively before the ballot: the next National Council election will not be scheduled until autumn 2024.

However, the Federal President will be elected this year.

The office is held by the Green Alexander van der Bellen.

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