NationStates

This will probably be dormant for long periods until late July, but the vote's been called. Anyway:

By now you probably know about the Ibiza Video involving Austrian Freedom Party leader and former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache. And if not, here's the thread for it: https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=464674

Long story short, Strache is in hot water over potential corruption where a Russian oligarch's niece offered favourable FPÖ media coverage in exchange for Russian companies getting government contracts. The whole thing was on tape, which has lead to Strache's resignation, the collapse of the current governing coalition, and early elections being called for sometime in September of this year. Most likely, they'll be on either the 8th or the 22nd, I'll have the date up when it becomes known.

Anyway, the Nationalrat has been dissolved, and its 183 members are elected on an open-list PR basis with a national constituency, 9 state constituencies, and 39 regional ones. Seats get picked using Hare on the regional and state levels and D'Hondt on the federal. The national threshold is 4% for a federal seat, though people can get in without meeting it if they win one of the smaller levels.

Now then, let's meet the parties!

Austrian People's Party(ÖVP) led by current Chancellor Sebastian Kurz: Centre-right, Christian Democratic, Liberal Conservative

Social Democratic Party(SPÖ) led by Pamela Rendi-Wagner: Centre-Left, Social Democratic, Pro-European

Freedom Party of Austria(FPÖ) led by interim Chairman Norbert Hofer: Far Right, National Conservative, Social Conservative, Hard Eurosceptic, Right Populist

New Austria and Liberal Forum(NEOS) led by Beate Meinl-Reisinger: Centre, Liberal, Eurofederalist

Greens-The Green Alternative (Grüne) led by Werner Kogler: Centre-left, Green Policy, Pro-Europe

There's JETZT too, but I'm not adding them since Pilz's sexual harassment allegations have all but destroyed the party in the polls, and thus they have no real chance at getting seats.

So, who do you support, NSG?

Personally, I'm leaning more towards Grüne myself, but I also support SDP as one of the bigger parties.

I strongly support ÖVP or NEOs.

I hope Kurz remains in office and can get enough votes to form a new government, preferably without the FPÖ.

Vote of No Confidence might happen this week or next one, so elections could come sooner than expected.

I'm hoping the Greens and SDP do well.

Nakena wrote:I strongly support ÖVP or NEOs.

I hope Kurz remains in office and can get enough votes to form a new government, preferably without the FPÖ.

Vote of No Confidence might happen this week or next one, so elections could come sooner than expected.

Well, if the polls are anything to go by(and I know how early it is) it'll either be a classic black-and-red or possibly ÖVP-Neos-Greens as I see it.

I hope NEOS does well. Eurofederalists are always good, though I'd prefer they be more left-wing economically.

Kurz's government has officially been ousted by the Nationalrat, the first time this has happened in Postwar Austria's history, so Austria will have a technocratic caretaker government until September. https://orf.at/live/5074-Die-Abwahl-der-Regierung-Kurz/

They all suck

The Montana Enclave wrote:They all suck
(Image)

If you like Adolf, you can always go with FPÖ, for they like him too.

FPÖs interior minister even wanted to "concentrate" some refugees. ^^

Oof. There's a lot I could say to this. I don't really do NSG but I can't resist the chance to talk about Austria. For reference, I'm not Austrian myself, but I'm an American student who studies German and currently lives in Vienna. Needless to say I've been following German and Austrian politics with great interest around the Europawahl.

It somehow does not shock me that Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the party whose nationalist slogans like "Steh auf für unsere Heimat!" projected the imagery of a party that wouldn't sell out, was caught ready and willing to sell out to Russia.

I'm not surprised that Kurz got the boot. The Social Democrats have had it in for him for a long time. He burned so many bridges with them upon his ascent to chancellor, with the dissolution of the coalition, then changing the ÖVP color from black to turquoise, then making good on his campaign promises to work with the far right and now we've all seen how that turned out. He's also now burned his bridges with the FPÖ over the current scandal that will make it very difficult for him to assemble any kind of governing coalition going forward when and if if ÖVP becomes the largest party in September.

As far as the election goes, my preferred outcome is this: It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that ÖVP will remain the largest party. Disillusioned FPÖ voters are unlikely to vote red or green. But my hope is that they will be unable to assemble a coalition with Kurz as leader and the SPÖ can work something out with the resurgent Green party and maybe NEOS if necessary that will put the super-awesome Pamela Rendi-Wagner into the chancellor's residence. If I were voting, I'd vote green for sure, but this is my preferred outcome.

(As a side note, I find it very funny as a student of German that someone named "Kurz" now holds the record for shortest chancellorship. )

Witchcraft and Sorcery wrote:Oof. There's a lot I could say to this. I don't really do NSG but I can't resist the chance to talk about Austria. For reference, I'm not Austrian myself, but I'm an American student who studies German and currently lives in Vienna. Needless to say I've been following German and Austrian politics with great interest around the Europawahl.

It somehow does not shock me that Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of the party whose nationalist slogans like "Steh auf für unsere Heimat!" projected the imagery of a party that wouldn't sell out, was caught ready and willing to sell out to Russia.

I'm not surprised that Kurz got the boot. The Social Democrats have had it in for him for a long time. He burned so many bridges with them upon his ascent to chancellor, with the dissolution of the coalition, then changing the ÖVP color from black to turquoise, then making good on his campaign promises to work with the far right and now we've all seen how that turned out. He's also now burned his bridges with the FPÖ over the current scandal that will make it very difficult for him to assemble any kind of governing coalition going forward when and if if ÖVP becomes the largest party in September.

As far as the election goes, my preferred outcome is this: It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that ÖVP will remain the largest party. Disillusioned FPÖ voters are unlikely to vote red or green. But my hope is that they will be unable to assemble a coalition with Kurz as leader and the SPÖ can work something out with the resurgent Green party and maybe NEOS if necessary that will put the super-awesome Pamela Rendi-Wagner into the chancellor's residence. If I were voting, I'd vote green for sure, but this is my preferred outcome.

(As a side note, I find it very funny as a student of German that someone named "Kurz" now holds the record for shortest chancellorship. )

Short's short term...I like it.

I uh, don't know which party to support, except that I probably wouldn't support FPÖ. That's... humiliating.

North German Realm wrote:I uh, don't know which party to support, except that I probably wouldn't support FPÖ. That's... humiliating.

FPÖ is bad. They're sucessors of people who caused considerable drama in the late Austria Hungary.

I personally tend to ÖVP, mostly because I think Kurz is the best guy Austria has to offer at the moment.

Nakena wrote:

North German Realm wrote:I uh, don't know which party to support, except that I probably wouldn't support FPÖ. That's... humiliating.

FPÖ is bad. They're sucessors of people who caused considerable drama in the late Austria Hungary.

I personally tend to ÖVP, mostly because I think Kurz is the best guy Austria has to offer at the moment.

Oh, make no mistake, I despise FPÖ as much as the next rational person, but apart from that, the other parties listed on the OP aren't bad at all. I mean, I'd probably not support ÖVP myself, but meh.

Totally and amazed and disgusted at how Kurz has been treated. The SPO working with the FPO to oust him because of Strache's corruption is ludicrous. Considering he has polled well above all the other candidates as preferred Chancellor, it seems useless to oust him just now. Oh well, it will be interesting to see the OVP return a solid result and work with the post-Strache FPO. Personally love Kurz.

If polling keeps up the way it is and there aren't any significant events, the OVP and NEOS will make gains. I suppose the Greens will too, but they'll just swap places with JETZT.

Great Kauthar wrote:Totally and amazed and disgusted at how Kurz has been treated. The SPO working with the FPO to oust him because of Strache's corruption is ludicrous. Considering he has polled well above all the other candidates as preferred Chancellor, it seems useless to oust him just now. Oh well, it will be interesting to see the OVP return a solid result and work with the post-Strache FPO. Personally love Kurz.

If polling keeps up the way it is and there aren't any significant events, the OVP and NEOS will make gains. I suppose the Greens will too, but they'll just swap places with JETZT.

I myself am no fan of Kurz, I'll be honest, but he dealt with the situation with FPO pretty well, if we're being honest. He's not likely not to win again (Given how popular he is in Austria)

North German Realm wrote:

Great Kauthar wrote:Totally and amazed and disgusted at how Kurz has been treated. The SPO working with the FPO to oust him because of Strache's corruption is ludicrous. Considering he has polled well above all the other candidates as preferred Chancellor, it seems useless to oust him just now. Oh well, it will be interesting to see the OVP return a solid result and work with the post-Strache FPO. Personally love Kurz.

If polling keeps up the way it is and there aren't any significant events, the OVP and NEOS will make gains. I suppose the Greens will too, but they'll just swap places with JETZT.

I myself am no fan of Kurz, I'll be honest, but he dealt with the situation with FPO pretty well, if we're being honest. He's not likely not to win again (Given how popular he is in Austria)

How so? He'll be able to mobilise his base very efficiently following the purely political ousting of him, and he remains the most favourable candidate for chancellor. Just last month, 59% said he was their preferable chancellor

Greens. Make the european green wave bigger.

Left or right, the Austrian vote should never go to Russian puppets again.

Great Kauthar wrote:

North German Realm wrote:I myself am no fan of Kurz, I'll be honest, but he dealt with the situation with FPO pretty well, if we're being honest. He's not likely not to win again (Given how popular he is in Austria)

How so? He'll be able to mobilise his base very efficiently following the purely political ousting of him, and he remains the most favourable candidate for chancellor. Just last month, 59% said he was their preferable chancellor

"He's not likely not to win again". I agreed that he will probably become Chancellor again. Probably in coalition with a less insane party, anyway.

North German Realm wrote:

Great Kauthar wrote:How so? He'll be able to mobilise his base very efficiently following the purely political ousting of him, and he remains the most favourable candidate for chancellor. Just last month, 59% said he was their preferable chancellor

"He's not likely not to win again". I agreed that he will probably become Chancellor again. Probably in coalition with a less insane party, anyway.

That's how I see it, probably an old-fashioned Black-Red like it used to be.

Shrillland wrote:

North German Realm wrote:"He's not likely not to win again". I agreed that he will probably become Chancellor again. Probably in coalition with a less insane party, anyway.

That's how I see it, probably an old-fashioned Black-Red like it used to be.

Will Kurz be inclined to side with them following this?

Great Kauthar wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
That's how I see it, probably an old-fashioned Black-Red like it used to be.

Will Kurz be inclined to side with them following this?

I don't know if he'll have much choice. Right now, ÖVP's taking up all the slack from FPÖ's drop, but that's still putting them at just 35% or about 70 seats. Unless NEOS and the Greens can get enough to get him over, he'll have no one to turn to but Rendi-Wagner for a government.

-Ocelot- wrote:Greens. Make the european green wave bigger.

Left or right, the Austrian vote should never go to Russian puppets again.

Meh. Better not let that shit go to wannabe authoritarians aping fucking Orban.

First American Empire wrote:I hope NEOS does well. Eurofederalists are always good, though I'd prefer they be more left-wing economically.

NEOS voted for the new twelve hour workweek proposal and a plethora of other heavily right wing economic positions while in parliament, backing the OVP.

It won't bother some people, and I respect their opinion here, but for me that's enough to turn me off NEOS, despite the fact that I agree with a decent portion of their ideology. Personally - I'd root for the SPO, even if they'll probs end up in another coalition with the OVP.

Hoping for the Greens. The EU’s links tightening is always good.

We now have an official date, the vote will be on Sunday, September 29. And if the polls are anything to go by, there may well be an ÖVP Majority Government.