Attacks against Austria’s Chancellor: “The Kurz system continues to rule”

Austria’s new Chancellor Schallenberg blew a sharp wind against the opposition during his inaugural speech. The reshuffle of the government is a farce, “shadow chancellor” stays short, according to SPÖ leader Rendi-Wagner.

The special session begins with a government declaration, and Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) addresses Parliament for the first time as Federal Chancellor: “Difficult times sometimes require extraordinary steps. And I never thought that one day I would be Chancellor here in the House I’ll talk to you. ”

Schallenberg speaks for around ten minutes and outlines the most important government projects. Combating the pandemic has top priority. The economy is on the right track, said Schallenberg, which is why the tax reform that has already been agreed must also be implemented – one of the “core pieces” of this government, said Schallenberg. The hand of the People’s Party was outstretched to continue the work that had begun, so his message to the Green coalition partner.

Criticism of “wanton actions” by the opposition

And in the direction of the opposition, he says: “Willful actions, like today, when a motion of censure is being tabled again and again against Finance Minister Gernot Blümel, and the minister who has just negotiated one of the largest tax reforms – with the best will in the world, this is incomprehensible . ” What are meant are the Social Democrats, who are targeting one of the closest political confidants of ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz with a motion of censure against Blümel.

SPÖ demands respect

SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner reminds Schallenberg that he was sworn in as Federal Chancellor and not as head of the ÖVP: “In this role, you are certainly not entitled to question parliamentary instruments such as a motion of censure. You are not entitled to question to instruct Parliament, but to treat it with respect. ”

Rendi-Wagner accounts in her speech with ex-Chancellor Kurz. A system of unscrupulousness has emerged. She describes the government reshuffle as a farce:

Because there is someone who continues to pull the strings as the shadow chancellor and that is not you, Mr. Chancellor, that is Sebastian Kurz. The Kurz system continues to rule. And this threatens further chaos, instability, attacks on the judiciary and the rule of law. All of this will continue to be on the agenda.

Kurz is not present at today’s meeting and has not yet been sworn in as a member of parliament. Nevertheless, the ÖVP parliamentary group unanimously elected him as parliamentary group leader yesterday.

Schallenberg is too short

In his speech, Federal Chancellor Schallenberg emphasized what he said yesterday after he was sworn in – he would continue to work closely with Kurz, anything else would be absurd in terms of democratic politics.

Schallenberg does not comment on his statement yesterday that he considers the accusations of the economic and corruption prosecutor’s office against Kurz to be false. But Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens: “Let’s let the judiciary work. Let them investigate independently.” Kogler goes on to say that the republic now needs stability and orientation – the Greens and ÖVP agree on this. He thanked the ÖVP for making “decisions that were certainly not easy” very quickly.

And I would like to expressly state that I recognize Sebastian Kurz’s step and that he also deserves the necessary respect. That is certainly not easy either.

Motion of censure has no chance of a majority

The special session of the National Council will last until late afternoon. The FPÖ wants to put a motion of censure against the entire government – both against the turquoise and against the green members. The motion of no confidence has no chance of a majority, just as little as the one against Finance Minister Blümel.

The liberal Neos do not want to express their distrust of anyone. Instead, they want to introduce a media transparency law – as a reaction to the trigger for the current government reshuffle, which involves manipulated surveys and corresponding press coverage.