Government crisis in Austria: Van der Bellen guarantees the ability to act

“At most a government crisis, but not a state crisis” – this is how Austria’s President Van der Bellen assesses the scandal surrounding Chancellor Kurz. In a statement, he announced a vote of no confidence by the opposition against the government.

“During these hours you may be asking yourself: What has happened again now?” Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen introduced his statement on the current scandal surrounding the government of Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) – only to answer the question himself: It is at best a government crisis, but not a state crisis, he said .

Opposition issues a vote of no confidence

It will certainly not happen that politics is unbalanced, van der Bellen continued – and announced a motion of censure by the opposition against the government in a special session of parliament for Tuesday. He spoke to all the chairmen of the parties represented in parliament and appealed to them to put party interests aside for the good of Austria. The Austrians have a right to a government capable of acting, especially since important decisions are pending.

Questionable outcome

A simple majority – i.e. at least 92 of the 183 MPs – is sufficient to withdraw confidence from a member of the government by means of a motion of censure. The ÖVP currently holds 71 ​​seats in the National Council, deviating from its ranks is not to be expected. The party backed Kurz again today as “united and united”.

Kurz has already been pushed out of office by a vote of no confidence: In May 2019, a majority in parliament voted against the ÖVP boss and his entire government. At that time, new elections followed, which Kurz and his party clearly won.

If there is no new election, the Greens would need not only the votes of the social democratic SPÖ and the liberal Neos, but also the right-wing FPÖ for a multi-party government without ÖVP participation.

Van der Bellen reprimands those responsible

Van der Bellen emphasized that the presumption of innocence applies to all those accused in the affair. However, the facts that have become known so far show a “moral image that is not good for democracy”. “I have a different expectation of all those who are politically responsible.” The president said that he himself would “watch with eagle eyes” that there was a government capable of acting at all times.

Demands for short resignation

Previously, in view of the allegations against Kurz, calls for resignation against the Chancellor and ÖVP boss had become louder. The Greens – coalition partners of the ÖVP – also distanced themselves from Kurz. “It is very clear that someone like that is no longer capable of office,” said the green parliamentary group leader Sigrid Maurer in Vienna. A continuation of the coalition with the conservative ÖVP is only possible without him in view of the serious corruption allegations against Chancellor Kurz. The ÖVP was now asked to nominate an “impeccable person” who could continue to run the government.