The Kurz era in Austria ends, in Vienna it is a real political earthquake
In Vienna there is only the embarrassment of choice: the farewell to politics given by Sebastian Kurz or the premature end of Alexander Schallenberg which head of the executive? Within a few hours, the Austrian political world was turned upside down. In the early hours of the morning the news of the end of the Kurz era had arrived. The corruption investigation which involved him personally it first caused the fall of his government on 6 October and now his withdrawal from politics. In the afternoon, however, it was his successor who announced a step back. Schallenberg is in fact ready to sign the resignation. What is happening in the Austrian capital?
The end of the Kurz era
Schallenberg had no ambitions as a party leader. That role was, until this Thursday, in Kurz’s hands. The latter has been the absolute protagonist of Austrian politics in recent years. After a fast-paced career that led him, at the age of just 27, to become foreign minister, in 2017 he took on the position of secretary of theOvp, the Popular Party. From this seat his voice has echoed in various parts of Europe. Especially when, once he also assumed the position of canceller, he moved the Ovp towards more right-wing positions. A bet that was won at first. The hard fist onimmigration led to the 2017 election victory and won him sympathy in those conservative European circles that were beginning to wink to the right. The so-called “Port of Ibiza“, A scandal about alleged political favors involving the then vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the allies of the Freedom Party (Fpo), however, caused the first halt to his experience as head of government.
Kurz resigned but in January 2020 he was able to get back on the saddle. The early elections confirmed the Ovp as the first party and in the end it managed to gain new trust in parliament, albeit with a different one now formed with the greens. In May 2021, other legal problems arrived. The long wave of the Ibiza gate involved Kurz himself, under investigation for having declared false testimony to the suspects during the hottest phases of that investigation. On 6 October, however, the Vienna prosecutor’s office confirmed the inclusion of the chancellor’s name among the suspects in an investigation into alleged corruption cases. That same day, the leader of the OVP resigned as head of the government. But it seemed like a momentary exit from the scene. The words of this Thursday have instead overturned the picture: “I’m not a criminal – Kurz told the press announcing the farewell to the presidency of the Ovp – I will prove it. Lately, however, the flame of enthusiasm has gone out. With my staff we felt like hunting prey ”. Thus ended the political career of prodigy, the prodigy boy. Kurz has also ignored the stages of retirement, closing his political path at just 35 years old.
The resignation of Alexander Schallenberg
Alexander Schallenberg, also from the Ovp and always with a majority formed with the Greens, had taken Kurz’s place. In October, the oath of the new government which immediately led to the tightening of anti Covid measures. But the early end of Kurz’s political career marked the destiny of the executive. A few hours after the declarations of the now former Ovp leader, Schallenberg’s resignation arrived: “It is not my association of the Popular Party – he told journalists in Vienna – I am of the firm opinion that both offices must coincide in the same person”. In short, with the end of the Kurz era, the Ovp is called upon to choose its new president. Which will then be called to the new government. In fact, no elections on the horizon, at least for the moment. When the Popular Party acquires a new balance, another executive will be appointed. Austria is therefore on the eve of a completely internal turning point in its politics.