Petr Jedlička: Austria between Kurz and Kickl: Shifts during the black-and-green coalition era

Saturday, Sep 28, 2024

Austrian politics shifts as ÖVP’s coalition weakens, FPÖ gains strength, and opposition parties evolve.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The current coalition government in Austria, formed by the ÖVP and The Greens since late 2019, has seen changes following Sebastian Kurz’s departure due to scandals; Karl Nehammer now leads the ÖVP. While the black-green coalition achieved reforms like eco-social measures and renewable energy incentives, it navigated the COVID-19 crisis and the Russian invasion of Ukraine amidst economic challenges, with critics noting ideological differences caused internal dissatisfaction. Opposition strength is rising for the FPÖ under Herbert Kickl, who polls strongly due to issues like migration and post-COVID discontent. Voter dissatisfaction is widespread, leading voters to oscillate between the FPÖ (on migration), the Social Democrats (during social hardship), and various protest parties. The Social Democrats have shifted leftward, focusing on wealth taxation, while NEOS has strengthened its position as a potential alternative junior partner for the ÖVP.


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