Austrian ministers Köstinger and Schrambock have surprisingly announced their resignations – just days before the OVP party convention, at which a fresh start is to be staged. What’s going on there?

Austrian media recorded violent deflections on domestic political earthquakes: “Minister earthquake”, “OVP in turmoil”, “political cracker”, “System in short at the end?”. No wonder: Elizabeth Kostinger and Margaret Schrambock, two ministers from the People’s Party, draw a political rift a few days before next Saturday’s OVP party convention, at which a fresh start is to be staged – so to speak, a People’s Party. The color is painted turquoise back to the traditional black color, without the brief.

clemens varencote
ARD studio Vienna

Both politicians had risen sharply with the ex-chancellor and ex-party leader and, since their abrupt departure from the political scene last autumn, the future of both ministers was anything but good. It was only a matter of time before they would vacate their posts, it has been said since then.

A close confidant of former Chancellor Kurzo

In the morning, Agriculture and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Kostinger, who was believed to be 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 seminal remark, she revealed that women in politics were often judged very harshly and unfairly, which she herself had experienced: 13 years of politics must have left its mark on her.

According to Austrian media, Koestinger will start a job in the economy. Encouraged by his former boss: “Dear Ellie Costinger,” tweeted Sebastian Kurz, who had already moved into the private sector, “you fought every day for the values ​​and beliefs of the People’s Party.”

Hours later, via a pre-recorded video message, Economics and Digitization Minister Margaret Schrambock 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, surprisingly, gave a political farewell: “I have never regretted the move.”

The VP’s personnel tableau is getting thinner and thinner

The personnel tableau of the People’s Party is getting thinner and thinner. Already in early December 2021, when the then Interior Minister Karl Nehmer replaced short-lived Chancellor Alexander Schalenberg, the OVP exchanged some ministers. But it didn’t help much. According to a survey by the daily newspaper “Courier”, the population is not particularly convinced of the current squad: most of the respondents have a “good opinion” of Nehmer and Labor Minister Martin Kocher alone.

The remaining OVP ministers are far behind in negative territory. According to this survey, 61 percent have a “less good opinion” of Elizabeth Costinger, and 56 percent have Margaret Schrambock. The party after Kurz is also not doing well across the country. In Sunday’s question, the Social Democrats are now in front of the VP, right behind the right-wing FPÖ.

“Game over for Turquoise Green”

The two ministerial resignations are therefore a welcome opportunity for the SPÖ and the FPÖ to request a fresh start: the “game over for turquoise-green” is the opinion of the Federal Secretary of the Social Democrats, Christian Deutsch. Now a new election is needed. The federal government is a “cradle of chaos, instability, lack of planning and serious mistakes,” said SPÖ faction deputy Jörg Leichfried.

Almost the same as FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, who has left no chance to attack the People’s Party since the fall of the turquoise-blue coalition in the Ibiza summer of 2019: these “days of chaos in the government” must come. an end. Federal President Alexander Van der Belen could pave the way for new elections. Only the OVP’s green coalition ally, which now sees itself as the only stable and predictable force on the cabinet table, remains calm.