Austria is gearing up for significant political change as the leaders of three parties—the conservative ÖVP, the social democrats SPÖ, and the liberal NEOS—have united under the coalition government, presented publicly this week with their agenda titled "Now Do the Right Thing. For Austria." This program outlines several ambitious reforms aimed at addressing pressing national issues.
The coalition has pledged to implement stricter asylum laws as part of its commitment to reducing irregular migration and preventing abuses of the asylum system. The expansive 200-page government program indicates plans to temporarily halt family reunifications to curb social abuse and prevent overloading Austrian systems, asserting alignment with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. A key part of the strategy includes establishing return centers aimed at preventing asylum seekers from going underground after being denied asylum.
Measures on integration feature prominently as well. The coalition's program proposes banning headscarves for girls under the age of 14, dubbed as protective against segregation and oppression. This policy stems from recent incidents, including terrorist acts and foiled attacks, which raised urgent calls for enhanced national security, hence the coalition's determination to tighten legal frameworks around criminal law and empower security forces against religious extremism.
Austria's federal budget also demands correction, with the coalition aiming to consolidate the budget to avert EU deficit procedures—a clear indication of the economic concerns directly affecting the nation's fiscal health.
The impending swearing-in ceremony for the new government is expected as early as Monday, subject to approval from party committees. Meetings for the SPÖ and ÖVP are set for Friday, and the NEOS will hold a decisive member assembly on Sunday, where two-thirds of the vote is necessary for ratification of the coalition.
During the program launch, ÖVP leader Christian Stocker expressed optimism about prioritizing national interests over party politics, describing the negotiations as possibly the toughest the country has faced. SPÖ’s Andreas Babler, anticipated to serve as Vice Chancellor, expressed pride about the coalition’s achievement, emphasizing the collective stance against the far-right FPÖ led by Herbert Kickl— the strongest party following the last elections. Babler articulated relief at preventing such right-wing influence from permeiting Austria’s central institutions.
After stalled negotiations previously, where the ÖVP attempted coalition with the far-right and ended discussions due to disagreements over ministerial distribution, this three-party arrangement marks a significant shift from the political atmosphere dominated by the FPÖ. Instead, the focus is now on creating pragmatic responses to the economic downturn, budgetary shortfalls, and the country’s inflation crisis, with the coalition leaders aiming to present actionable solutions through their newly formed unity.
This pivot indicates both the challenges and the resilience of Austria’s political framework. Reflecting on this complex political scenario, the coalition’s unity demonstrates the potential for cross-party efforts to navigate through pressing socio-economic issues without involving the right-wing factions.