03 October 2013

Austrian elections: Renewal of the grand coalition most likely outcome

The current coalition partners, the centre-left SPÖ and the centre-right ÖVP, came out top in the parliamentary elections with 27.1 per cent and 23.8 per cent respectively, but the results are a historic low for both parties. Anti-euro parties won a combined vote share of 31 per cent.

As OpenEurope reported, populist, anti-euro parties did well with the Freedom Party (FPÖ) winning 21.4 per cent, Team Stronach winning 5.8 per cent, and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) winning 3.6 per cent of the votes - a combined vote share of 30.8 per cent, even though the BZÖ did not meet the 4 per cent threshold necessary to secure parliamentary seats. Other parties to win seats include the Greens on 11.5 per cent and the new liberal NEOS party on 4.8 per cent.

The result leaves a renewal of the grand coalition the most likely outcome, although Die Presse cites Foreign Minister and vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) as saying that "Voters have taught us a lesson – we cannot carry on as before". 

The Fondation Robert Schuman quoted Werner Faymann in their brief on the occasion of the Austrian elections: "There is a great deal to do, on the one hand to deserve this result and on the other to strengthen confidence in the future", he declared on the TV channel ORF. "We are happy to form the next government", stressed also the SPÖ’s campaign chief, Norbert Darabos, on the announcement of the results. Faymann said on the eve of the election: "If we come out ahead and we win the mandate to govern I shall turn to the ÖVP to form a grand coalition".

Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, commented on the election result: "In view of Austria's relatively secure economic situation, the election outcome is certainly disappointing for the country. Things will have to change under the next government, both in terms of communication and the will to reform. This includes the SPÖ which will have to win back both non-voters and young people.

"In the interests of the country and its role in Europe, there must be a new coalition between the two main parties, despite the losses they both incurred. The only alternative – a coalition of ÖVP with the far-right FPÖ and the new anti-euro party of Frank Stronach – would propel Austria and Europe into instability. The ÖVP may have recently moved away from its anti-European stance, but a coalition like that would have an anti-European majority."

Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, called the leader of NEOS, to congratulate him: "We are delighted to see the breakthrough of a pro-European liberal force in Austria. Austria needed to break out of its duopoly of the two large parties. And NEOS is the only party that does not provide for simplistic and populist answers."

Ultimately, writes the Wall Street Journal, a majority of Austrians appear to have endorsed the country's current, pro-European course. Austria, which has close economic and cultural ties to Germany, has been an island of calm in the euro crisis. Unemployment in the country is low, and its economy continues to grow, despite the crosswinds unleashed by the eurozone crisis. A coalition between the right-wing parties — People's Party, Freedom Party and Team Stronach — though technically possible, is unlikely.