Austria: This is what the new government could look like without Sebastian Kurz

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Alliance of four in Austria: This is what the new government could look like without Sebastian Kurz

Austria’s Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) considers Sebastian Kurz to be “no longer fit for office”.

© Georg Hochmuth / APA / DPA

After the scandal surrounding Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the parties are discussing a new government. At the moment, the Greens and the SPÖ would prefer an alliance with the FPÖ to a coalition with the ÖVP.

In view of the severe government crisis in Austria, the parties discussed how to proceed behind closed doors on Saturday. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) had refused to resign the evening before, despite the corruption investigation against him. However, Vice Chancellor and Green Leader Werner Kogler denied him official capacity. According to information from the APA news agency, it is becoming more and more likely that the Greens will express their distrust in parliament together with the opposition on Tuesday.

The pressure has been growing on Kurz for days after it became known on Wednesday that the public prosecutor’s office was investigating him and some of his closest confidants on suspicion of bribery and infidelity. The team is said to have secured Kurz’s rise to the top of the ÖVP and government since 2016 through embellished surveys and positive media reports. In return, the newspaper “Österreich” is said to have received lucrative orders for advertisements from the Ministry of Finance. Tax funds are also said to have flowed for this.

Kurz dismissed the allegations on Friday evening as “plain and simple wrong”. His party will “of course accept it if there are other majorities in parliament”. But he is still able to act and willing to lead the government.

Special meeting planned for Tuesday

Vice-chancellor and Green leader Kogler, on the other hand, called on Kurz’s party to nominate another Federal Chancellor. It is not only about the criminal allegations, but also about a “horrible moral image” in the center of power of the ÖVP, APA quoted him. The ÖVP must now propose someone “who is impeccable”. Previously, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen had already questioned the government’s ability to act. He too spoke of a “moral image that is not good for democracy”.

On Tuesday, the parliament in Vienna will hold a special session in which the opposition wants to introduce a motion of no confidence against Kurz. According to information from the APA, Kogler is said to have left no doubt in talks with the opposition leaders that the Greens will approve the request if Kurz does not resign beforehand.

Alliance with FPÖ possible

On Saturday, there were discussions within the party and among the parliamentary groups about the future leadership of the country, but there were no public appearances. According to information from the Austrian news agency APA, the Greens no longer ruled out cooperation with the right-wing populist FPÖ.

SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner also recently no longer ruled out an alliance of four with the Greens, Neos and the FPÖ. On ORF, she described such an alliance as “unlikely, but possible.” In such a constellation, it would be important that every minister carefully observed his departmental boundaries, she said. FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl, who is one of the vaccine opponents in the Corona crisis, would certainly not be health minister, said Rendi-Wagner. She herself is available as Chancellor. In the afternoon, according to APA, Rendi-Wagner met FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl for a conversation, without any details being disclosed.

The FPÖ with its 30 mandates is needed for a successful vote of no confidence against Kurz. On top of that, the Greens, SPÖ and the liberal Neos want to prevent new elections. The FPÖ is also necessary for this. In Austria, a majority in parliament can resolve new elections. ÖVP and FPÖ together would have enough votes for it.

The conservative ÖVP of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz used a possible government participation of right-wing populists in Austria for an attack. “All of Austria is witnessing how the Greens and the SPÖ throw decades of attitudes and convictions of their parties overboard,” said Agriculture Minister and brief confidante Elisabeth Köstinger on Saturday. Days of chaos threatened.

Accused should withdraw, demands Tyrolean education councilor

Meanwhile, the ÖVP’s support for Chancellor Kurz is beginning to crumble, the APA reported. The Tyrolean Education and Culture Councilor Beate Palfrader was the first to keep her distance in public. Instead of unconditionally standing behind Kurz, “it seems to me that it is more important, better and more correct to demand full clarification,” said Palfrader in the “press”.

As a possible scenario, she suggested “that those who are confronted with allegations withdraw until they have been fully investigated” – “and if I read that correctly, the Chancellor is one of them.”

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