Surprising resignations: “Minister earthquake” in Austria

The Austrian ministers Köstinger and Schramböck have surprisingly announced their resignation – just a few days before the ÖVP party conference, at which a new beginning is to be staged. What’s going on there?

“Minister earthquake”, “ÖVP in upheaval”, “political cracker”, “system in short at the end?”: Austria’s media are recording violent deflections on the domestic political seismograph. No wonder: Elisabeth Köstinger and Margarete Schramböck, two ministers of the People’s Party, pull the political ripcord a few days before the ÖVP party conference next Saturday, on which a new beginning is to be staged – so to speak, a People’s Party colored from turquoise back to the traditional black, without short .

The two politicians had risen steeply with the ex-Chancellor and ex-party leader and since his abrupt departure from the political scene last autumn, the future of the two ministers was anything but good. It was only a matter of time before they would vacate their posts, it has been said ever since.

Close confidants of ex-Chancellor Kurz

In the morning, Minister of Agriculture and Tourism Elisabeth Köstinger, who was considered a close confidant of Sebastian Kurz, made a personal statement in front of the cameras. It was a great honor to be able to serve the country. A lot has been achieved. Words that are always used when resigning. However, with a rather fundamental remark, she revealed that women in politics were often judged very harshly and unfairly, which she had experienced herself: 13 years of politics must have left their mark on her.

According to the Austrian media, Köstinger will start a job in the economy. Encouragement came from her former boss: “Dear Elli Köstinger,” tweeted Sebastian Kurz, who had already switched to the private sector, “You fought for the values ​​and beliefs of the People’s Party every day.”

A few hours later, via a pre-recorded video message, Economics and Digitization Minister Margarete Schramböck announced her resignation. The former manager said she remembered the moment “when Sebastian Kurz called and asked if she wanted to take over the department. And, unsurprisingly given the political farewells: “I have never regretted this step.”

The personnel tableau of the ÖVP is getting thinner and thinner

The personnel tableau of the People’s Party is getting thinner and thinner. Already at the beginning of December 2021, when the then Interior Minister Karl Nehammer succeeded the short-term Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, the ÖVP exchanged some ministers. But it didn’t help much. According to a survey by the daily newspaper “Kurier”, the population is not particularly convinced of the current squad: The majority of respondents have a “good opinion” of Nehammer and Labor Minister Martin Kocher alone.

The remaining ÖVP department ministers are far behind in negative territory. According to this survey, 61 percent have a “less good opinion” of Elisabeth Köstinger, and 56 percent of Margarete Schramböck. The post-Kurz party is also not doing well nationwide. In the Sunday question, the Social Democrats are now in front of the ÖVP, just behind the right-wing FPÖ.

“Game Over for Turquoise Green”

The two ministerial resignations are therefore a welcome opportunity for the SPÖ and FPÖ to plead for a new beginning: “Game Over for Turquoise-Green” is the opinion of the Federal Secretary of the Social Democrats, Christian Deutsch. New elections are needed now. The federal government is a “cradle of chaos, instability, lack of planning and serious mistakes,” added SPÖ faction deputy Jörg Leichtfried.

Almost identically to FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, who since the collapse of the turquoise-blue coalition in the Ibiza summer of 2019 has not missed an opportunity to attack the People’s Party head-on: These “days of chaos in the government” should come to an end. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen may initiate the way to new elections. Only the green coalition partner of the ÖVP, who now sees himself as the only stable and predictable force at the cabinet table, remains calm.