Austria faces rocky time

– Austrians voted yesterday, with the conservatives expected to win most seats but not a majority, forcing them into difficult coalition negotiations after a corruption scandal brought down their coalition government with the far-right.

The People’s Party (OVP) led by 33-year-old Sebastian Kurz is predicted to win about 33%, up slightly from the previous election two years ago, but not enough to form a government on its own.

“We’ve had too much chaos in the last months. We hope for something less chaotic,” Vienna voter Clara Heisinger said

The parliamentary election was brought about by the “Ibizagate” corruption scandal that engulfed Kurz’s far-right coalition partner in May, after just 18 months in government together.

“Our most important election goal is that there will be no majority [in parliament] against us,” Kurz said after casting his vote in Vienna.

The former law student, who has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the ranks to become the youngest-yet chancellor in 2017, has “nothing to win, but a lot to lose”, Die Presse daily warned in an editorial on Saturday.

“Even with a nice plus on Sunday, it is more difficult for him than in 2017,” it said, adding there was no partner that quite suited any more.

The vote is also seen as a test for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) after Ibizagate brought down its long-time leader.

A fresh investigation against him – this time of alleged fraudulent expense claims – was announced this week.

A renewed coalition with the far-right – touted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other nationalists as a model for all of Europe – looked likely until the new allegations shook the party this week, threatening to lower the 20% of votes it was expecting to get.

“We vote to decide in which direction we will go – that of Orban and the populists, or if we stay oriented toward Europe... we decide if the corruption will go on,” said Vienna voter Gabriel Steiner, 29.

One option for Kurz could be a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPO) who, according to surveys, stand at a new historic low of 22%.

Since World War II, either the OVP or SPO have always governed, and for 44 years the two ruled together, but it was Kurz who ended their last partnership, leading to the 2017 polls.

He has also floated the idea of ruling in a minority government. But this would potentially further political uncertainty and even trigger another election.

– AFP

Our most important goal is that there will be no majority in parliament against us.

Sebastian Kurz