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01. 12. 09. - 13:00

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01. 12. 09. - 13:00

ÖVP in the lead one year on from coalition taking power

Analysis by Thomas Hochwarter

Opinions vary on the government’s achievements one year after the SPÖ and ÖVP formed a coalition.

Political analysts say the coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) which was sworn in on 2 December has done a decent job combating the effects the global economic crisis has had on Austria.

The government introduced two stimulus packages focusing on the bank sector and a tax reform which, according to ÖVP Finance Minister Josef Pröll, was a successful bid to unburden those with lower incomes.

But constitutional reform – regarded by economic experts as a crucial move to cut costs in the public sector – is still on the coalition’s to-do list.

Another key issue yet to be dealt with is the situation in the country’s universities – overcrowding and bad standards of education – as highlighted by student protests.

The conservative ÖVP, whose former leader Wilhelm Molterer called for early general elections in summer 2008 after he claimed it was impossible to cooperate with the SPÖ any longer, seem to be doing well since the vote in September 2008.

The party headed by Josef Pröll won four of the seven various elections which have taken place since the general elections.

The SPÖ meanwhile suffered losses in all of the elections it ran in since Werner Faymann replaced Alfred Gusenbauer as party leader. A historic low was reached in September’s Upper Austrian vote where the Social Democrats suffered their most drastic losses since World War Two (minus 13.4 per cent).

SPÖ Chancellor Werner Faymann – who has faced criticism from within the party for giving in to coalition partners ÖVP too easily over various issues – said he was satisfied with the SPÖ-ÖVP coalition’s first year in office.

Asked by political magazine profil to choose a headline for an article on the government’s work so far, he said he would go for "Less arguments – more achievements".

Pollsters however found only 20 per cent of Austrians would opt for Faymann as Chancellor if they had the chance to do so in a direct vote, while 25 per cent said they would vote for ÖVP Vice Chancellor Pröll.

Wolfgang Bachmayer, head of public research agency OGM, said the ÖVP would benefit from the SPÖ’s weaknesses and failures. He explained the SPÖ would – as Social Democrats everywhere in Europe – have problems answering challenges of today.

Bachmayer said the SPÖ had become a "conservative party" over the years, adding: "In contrast to his predecessor Wilhelm Molterer, Erwin Pröll managed to benefit from being Finance Minister (in the economic crisis)."

Austrian Times

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